St. Patrick's Day Massacre

At the Hollywood Poker Room, I got a seat at a new $1/$3NL table about 11am. I bought in for $300, and added another $100 later. There was two Action Guys at the start. They were waiting for the $2/$5 game to open. They were raising every hand, and throwing money around. Unfortunately, I didn't have any cards to catch that money. So I tried to play the occasional hand while being patient, and bled away some money. After a few hours, the Kid next to me had been raising a lot, and I had been folding a lot. So he raised to $20, and I 3-bet to $50 with KQ. He called. The Flop was J9x. He checked, and I c-bet $80, which was more than half of my remaining stack. He looked at my little stack, and went All-In. I was committed with a Gutshot & Two Overcards, so I called. I turned a Flush draw, but an Airball hit the River. I said, "K high." He turned over AA. Nice Hand, Sir.

So, I went up to the Pit. I put $100 in the Video Blackjack machine, and lost it. It wasn't completely due to bad luck. I tried something different with my betting, and it failed miserably. I won't do that again.

At this point, I'm a little on Tilt. So I do what any rational person would do. I sit down at a 3-Card Poker table. I buy-in for $350, and dusted that off. This was to do horrible cards. It was one of those sessions that I never really had a chance.

So, now it was time for the Buffet.

After some gorging, I go back to the Poker Room, and get seated at $1/$3 table about 4pm. I bought in for $300, got into a hole early, and added another $100. I then started grinding my way back towards even. But the best I did in my eight hours at this table was back up to $450. Most of the session, my stack was in the $225-$275 range. If I managed to get above that, then I would lose a very frustrating hand. If I went below that, then I would win a decent pot to get me back there.

Here are a few hands from this session:

- I'm the BB with T4o. Five players see the Flop of Ts 9h 6c. I check Top Pair. A Mid player, who is playing his first hand at this table, bets $6. Three players call. I smell weakness, so I squeeze to $26. The same Mid guy 3-bets to $76. Three players fold. Now I'm very confused. This bets seems like either a set or straight. But why would someone with a strong hand bet so little, and let everyone chase their whatever draw? But I've only got Top Pair with no kicker. So I say, "I guess my Two Pair is no good.", and fold. He said he had 87 for a Straight.

- I'm in Mid with A2h, and raise to $11. Four players see a Flop of Qh Th Td. It checks to me, and I bet $20 on my Flush draw, which has been my standard c-bet. I get two callers. Turn is [Qh Th Td] 9h. Both callers check to me. I hit my Flush, but I'm a little concerned about potential Full Houses. I bet $50. UTG+1 calls All-In for $45, and the other player folds. I show my Nut Flush. River is [Qh Th Td 9h] Jh. He shows K8h for the six-card Straight Flush. Ya gotta love the perfect Runner-Runner. Nice hand, Sir.

- I'm down under $100 at this point, but I'm leaving soon. I'm in Mid with AKo, and raise to $11. Four players see a Flop of Kc 5d 4h. It checks to me. Normally, I would just fire a c-bet of $20. But I've only got $59 left, and I want to get maximum value. This Flop is fairly dry. So I check hoping that someone after me will bet after me. They don't. Turn is [Kc 5d 4h] 6h. Not a great card for me. Someone bets $20. I go All-In for $59. The guy next to me grabs his chip stack of around $250, and moves it over the Line. At this point, I know I'm going to leave broke. The first better folds. River is [Kc 5d 4h 6h] 7s. I say, "I assume my One Pair is no good?" He show 87o for a Turned Gutshot. Nice hand, Sir.

And that hand ended my worst casino day ever. I guess this is what I get for not wearing green on St Patrick's Day.