All You Can Eat, Baby (But How Long Will It Take to Eat It?)

Omaha 8/b:

Four players went to a raised flop, which came out {a-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds} {7-Spades} . Greg Raymer checked, and Brian Hastings bet. Ted Forrest quickly folded, and Scotty Nguyen raised. Raymer went into the tank, removing the giant rock over his cards to check them a few times.

With the action stuck on Raymer for awhile, Amnon Filippi called over the floor to negotiate the break schedule. Between every level, the players are supposed to have a 20-minute break, and then after the third level, they're slated for a 60-minute dinner break. In past years, the highest buy-in events had at least 90-minute dinner breaks to allow the high rollers to eat in the fancy establishments they're used to (and/or to watch various sporting events or visit the pits while wagering enough money to make them feel like the $50k they spent on the event is mere pocket change.) Filippi wanted to switch to 10-minute breaks between levels in exchange for a longer dinner break. Michael Mizrachi and a few other players joined in the lobbying effort , and the floor said they'd see what they could do.

And back to the hand. Raymer finally folded, and Hastings called Nguyen's raise. Refresher for those of you who got hungry during the five-minute discussion about food and went to get a snack, flop came {a-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds} {7-Spades} , check, Hastings bet, fold, Nguyen raised, fold, and Hastings called. On to the turn, the {J-Diamonds} . Hastings check-called a bet from the Prince of Poker. Same action on the {2-Clubs} river. Nguyen turned over {6-Diamonds} {5-Diamonds} {5-Clubs} {3-Clubs} . His baby flush was good for the high half of the pot and his 7-5 worked for the low half, leaving Hastings with nothing.