Dreamcrusher?

 Of late it has been me getting my dreams crushed both in omaha cash games and hold em tournaments.  That changed dramatically on Tuesday.  I signed up online for 4/8 hi low half kill omaha at the local casino, snagging the last available seat for the 10 a.m game when they opened. Been having trouble with the app, signing up early only to find my name removed later. Got the info on how to prevent that for the future.  

So, seated early in seat 1, my second favorite, and usually occupied by "Doc", a regular among the other old guy mostly Asian regulars, I bought in for $120. That "investment" lasted over an hour until I had to reload with another hundred. When that was gone, did my last rebuy. No memorable bad beats, just a steady stream of 2nd best hands and big pots lost to the river. Suddenly my fortunes shifted with hands holding up and big pots scooped or split. With a couple of aggressive prefop raisers, most pots were over $100. Honestly, I won virtually none with miracle rivers, losing several flopped sets to runners. But, I became the champion of the big hogged pots, at one time winning back to back monsters and unable to keep up with stacking chips. Felt awesome. 

After 5 hours of play, cashed out for $817, for a $100 an hour win rate. Would have stayed longer, but no lunch and table getting short of players. Like they say, you never leave the table on a heater, but short handed omaha is not a good game with a big rake. 

Uh

Snakebit?

 Feeling rather snakebit of late as my poker journey begins again after a long hiatus.  Playing in the 4/8 high low omaha games at the Jamestown Cardroom in Arlington, WA, just could not win. Besides being too long a drive, 30+ minutes each way, it also featured a huge rake with an added player supported jackpot drop. The payout was just $50 an hour for high hand, so little chance to recover the $2/hand drop. After a few weeks of losses I switched to the Caribbean Casino 10 minutes from home.  The oh8 game had no jackpot and a half kill featured. Same results there and even worse as a regular maniac would straddle both utg and on the button.  In other positions he would raise preflop,  so it becomes a very high variance game.  Add to that the loose players who chase to the river and you have a wild game.  My back was broken one hand flopping queens full (playing Q/Q, flop was Q/9/9) and the maniac jamming on my raises with another player calling to river which was an ace. 3rd player had A/A and took the $250 pot. I ended up stuck that amount.

So, switching gears, started signing up for the $50 morning tournament instead of cash game.  It is a turbo, with 15 minute blinds, 10k starting chips, blinds at 100/200, but big blind ante kicking in round 2.  Usually runs about 3 1/2 hours, and enough players for a $1000+ first place, 5 or 6 places paid.  I have final tabled all but twice, but not making any money. Worst one was 6 handed we discussed a $250 each chop but one newby college kid would not agree, he didn't understand the randomness of ginormous antes. Sure enough, I was next out for a $75 prize.

Last tournament on Tuesday,  I had unbelievable bad luck. Raising preflop with 10/10, I am called by A/6 . Flop is 10 high with a 6, I shove, he calls, and rivers an ace. Undeterred as it was before break, I re-entered.   Just after break I have A/10 in small blind which is 400...big is 800/800 ante. I have 4300 behind and with folds to me, I shove. Big blind calls with.....ready for this?  A/6.  Flop harmless, turn no problem, river......6.  I am busted out again by same weak ace hand. If memory serves this hand also got me a couple of weeks ago vs. my Q/Q.  Sigh.

So, back in the saddle tomorrow,  trying to solve this puzzle and win some money. Will try to get back in the saddle on blogging too.