So I couldn’t resist the draw of the Coushatta sbo poker room after having such a successful session last weekend. This time, I decided to try the Sunday afternoon crowd.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived is that the Sunday crowd is much, much smaller. I figured that meant fewer fish and maybe things would be a little tougher this time. I got my name on the NL list and headed to the craps table.
When I heard my name called for a new NL table at 3:00pm, I had $45 left from my $140 in the rack in front of me, and $120 on the table waiting for a 7. It came on the next roll and I finished up about $85. It was a good start… but not necessarily a sign of things to come.
The Quick Slide Down
First hand I’m dealt pocket 10’s, I raise it up and everyone folds. Second hand I’m dealt A2 of diamonds, flop comes A-x-x, I bet out and everyone folds. I’m up $8. Let’s just say up $8 would sound really, really good in about an hour and a half.
A few hands later, I’m dealt ATo on the button. I raise to $10 (remember, blinds in this NL game are $1/$3, and the buy in is $100 min/$200 max), and I get called by the BB. I measured my opponent. He was a player, clearly. He had the chip tricks down, he knew all the dealers. He bet confidently and created an image of a good player. That doesn’t mean he was, but that’s the image he gave off. I’m not sure what image I give off… but I digress.
The flop comes K-Q-9, two clubs, no help for me. But since I raised out and he called from the BB, I figured I’d take a stab at the pot. He checked, I bet $20 and he cold called immediately. I thought maybe clubs. The turn paired my T. He checked again and I bet $40. He raised to $80.
Okay, now what. Did he make the call on the flop figuring to make a move on me on the turn no matter what fell? Did he have a K, a Q or a did he have a J and now has his straight. Really, what possible hands could he have that I actually beat? A-rag? Instead of rationally thinking through all that, I call. The river is a blank, he pushes all in and I fold. Could I have played the hand more poorly? I’m down to $87.
A few hands later, it’s J5s in the SB. I complete. The flop brings two diamonds, including the A. I’m on the draw. I check and it’s bet $20. I call with one other. The turn is a blank, but it does give me a gut shot draw. I check, it’s bet $25 and I’m the only caller. The river is a blank. I check, he cheks and shows A5 for two pair. I’m down under $50. RE-BUY!
JTs and Rockets both net me small pots, but not as much as I’d hope to get out of them.
Then I’m looking at AJo when the flop comes A-x-x, all spades. I check raise from $25 to $75 to see where I’m at. Yeah, I know, it sounds pretty dumb to me when I read it, too. I get two callers. The turn is a fourth spade and I have to fold. The showdown ended up being AQ (spade) vs. K (spade) Q. Let’s just say I was way behind the whole way. I’m down again to $120.
So there it is. Just an hour and a half into the session, I’m down $280 and playing really stupid poker. Maybe I should get out and cut my losses.
