How Good Am I?

I tested my '08 game today.

Obviously it's been in a downward spiral, similar to my Sonics.

January has been treacherous.

My sessions have gone like this: L, L, L, W, L, L, W, L.

I am that bad.

That's right.

Those bathroom attendants can say goodbye to the $40 tips that drunk Kev used to hand them for no apparent reason, other than the fact that he was drunk and happy that he didn't have their job.

But today I saw some guys (who will go unnamed) playing a friendly game of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em. The stakes were $.50/$1.00. At first I stared at the game in fear and desperation as the cards mocked my inner demons and played my soul like an accordion.

However, I knew I could beat this game. If I could not beat this game, it's time to retire forever.

These guys know how to play but they gamble. A lot. And what better game to start my comeback than a $0.50/$1.00 live game against some gamblers?

I bought in for $20.00 and quickly saw that melt away to $13.00.

I counted my stack and started hearing the whispers...

You're not good anymore, you can't win. You won't win. It doesn't matter what you do or how good the odds are, or how badly you have your opponent dominated, there is always one out that will haunt your soul...

Then it happened. Hopefully what will turn out to be my breakthrough moment of 2008.

I have pocket fours with five people in the game. I raise to $2.50. The next guy goes all-in for $5.00. The third guy calls and I call. The flop comes 4-Q-8. The other player immediately moves all-in. He has me covered. I call. He shows Q-8 and I show my set. I just know that the Q or the 8 is going to hit, but miraculously they never do and I double up. Of course the pre-flop all-in player shows A-5 and hit the runner-runner straight but I can't complain.

$30 win, book it.

The kid is back.