Showdown King

My first trip to Spirit Mountain Casino in quite a while.  Got an early start on the 1 hr. 45 min drive and was seated at the 3/6 game just starting....only game going.  The plan was originally to drive to Lincoln City and the Chinook Winds Casino for the 12:30 tournament, but decided at last minute to go to SM instead.  Good choice.  Within 2 hours had made $165 and quit to hit the tournament.  Bad choice.  The poker room opened at noon, no cash game going either before or after.  Only 12 players in the $50 buy-in event with 3500 in chips, 15 minute blinds, and starting at 23/50 blinds.  A fast tournament structure.  I was one of the chip leaders when a guy raised in early position with KJ offsuit.  He had been playing absolute crap cards so I reraised to put him all in (4500) with my AK suited in clubs.  The flop contained two spades, he had the king of spades so you know what happened next.  Runner spades for the flush.  Ouch.  Had I won that hand, would have had about a quarter of the chips in play. 

We consolidated to one table, I was fairly short stacked with 4 BB's and won a small pot.  I pick up A/7 suited in spades in small blind, and complete the blind.  Flop is 10/J/7 with two spades.  I bet about half my chips and my lucky nemesis calls.  The turn is a 9, I go all in (yes, I should have pushed on the flop) and he insta calls with KQ.  The river fails to deliver my spade and I am gone in 7th place.  Sick game, never again there.

Overall today I was pleased with my play.  Including the tournament I only lost maybe 4 or 5 showdowns.  I was doing some excellent hand selection, throwing away most drawing hands, and hitting most of the ones I went for.  Really should have stayed at Spirit Mtn., as I was getting great hands, and connecting a lot.  It could easily have gone south on me, so am o.k. with it.  An observation though, I was the only winner at the table which tells you a lot about how bad 3/6 games are.  Very hard to beat the rake.  Most of the players were there to try to hit the Monte board, which was very juicy with several in the thousands, as well as the bad beat at $76,000.  One player at the table, a regular, hit a royal last week for $5,000.