There is a new rule in effect today at the Rio that is causing some commotion amongst the spectators.
It began a few hours ago when we tried to order a water from the cocktail servers at our media desk, as we often do. The media is notorious for tipping well, yet we were refused service. The server told us, "I'd love to serve you, but we had a meeting today, and we're no longer allowed to give you water." That raised our eyebrows, but fortunately, we know the location of every free, clean water dispensary in the building. So we forgot about it for a little while.
But the issue has reappeared here at the final table. Michael Mizrachi's wife is on the rail with David Levi, and the two of them just asked a server for water. She looked confused and frustrated herself, and she told them she wasn't able to serve them. Mrs. Grinder was likewise confused: "I don't understand. They were letting us buy drinks at the last final table." After a little poking on our part, we've learned that Harrah's is no longer serving drinks to anyone other than players and supervisors, effective today.
A short while later, the server came back to our final table rail, and she brought Mrs. Grinder a beer and a water with her apologies. Apparently, immediate family members are still allowed drinks, but everyone else will have to go to the cash bar and buy their own water or cocktails. "Even first cousins," said one of the bosses.
We're anxious to see what effect this has on the spectators, but we're already envisioning some sparsely populated, rather quiet and unexciting final table galleries without the proper free alcohol to keep things lubricated.
Kyle Ray open-raised, Michael Mizrachi three-bet and Ray called.
Ray checked the over to Mizrachi, who bet his last 41,000. Ray called.
Mizrachi
Ray
"I'm freerolling!" exclaimed Mizrachi as the dealer burned and turned. It was the , however, sealing a chopped pot. The meaningless river card was the .
Simon Morris opened for a raise, Brock Parker three-bet and Morris called.
Morris checked the flop over to Parker, who bet. Morris raised and Parker called. The turn was the and Morris bet out. Parker called. Both players checked the on the river.
Morris turned over , but Parker had the better ace-high with and raked in the pot.
Matt Keikoan raised from the cutoff seat, and Zvi Groysman three-bet from the button. Keikoan called the extra bet, and the two men saw a flop of . Keikoan checked, and he stuck in a raise when Groysman bet.
Each of them put in two small bets to see the on the turn. Keikoan check-called a big bet this time, and both players checked the river. At showdown, Keikoan tabled , and his pair was good enough to win the pot, pushing him up close to 700,000.
Zvi Groysman was all in for his last 91,000 before the flop, and Jameson Painter and Daniel Idema were involved in the hand as well, playing for the side pot.
They'd check down a board of , and it was off to a showdown with Groysman at risk:
Groysman:
Painter:
Idema:
Groysman works his triple up with a full house, taking the main pot to vault back close to 300,000. Idema gets the side pot with his ten kicker, and we're still eight-handed for the bracelet.