Flattened

It really doesn't matter that I lost. It's just the way I lost. I know, I know... "That's poker."

But damn. Who does this? Let me explain.

I'm playing tight all night. I lose first buy-in with AK vs. 44 against a super duper donk that was obviously trying to push me out of a pot when an ace flopped and he made runner-runner straight (flop was A-6-2, turn 5, river 3). That's cool. He made a bad move, I caught him and he sucked out.

So I don't play many hands over the next hour and haven't made one raise. Then I pick up Kings on the button. Only one player has limped so I raise 4x the big blind. Both blinds call and the limper calls. More callers than I thought I would get but it's cool, I'm looking to dodge the ace, which at this point I feel is guaranteed to hit the flop.

Flop comes out 2-6-8, two hearts. Sweet. The small blind comes out betting $50 (at a $75 pot). The other two players fold and I go all-in for $113 more (if he hit a set, he would have check-raised I'm pretty sure. I have him on A-8, 8-9 or 9-9).

Now he tanks and starts counting chips out and all that bullshit. I know I have him beat, I just don't know if he's on a draw or he has the 8.

He calls, leaving himself with $15 dollars behind.

"Flush draw?" I ask.

"No I'm just going to get lucky here," he responds.

I have no idea what that means, but he is obviously behind and knows it.

Turn: 9. Great. 8-9 just beat me.

River: 5. Great. 7-8 just beat me.

This bastard turns over 7-7, which sucked for me but was well played by him. The fact that he knew runner-runner straight was coming was what hurt my heart.

I left. Not because I was on tilt (okay I was) and not because the players were better, but because I know I can't win. I was hot about it because the table I was at was ideal. Literally five out of the other eight players were terrible but I felt like I couldn't win so I left. Doom switch is in full effect.

Doom Switch: On

Yes, it's here.



The dreaded Doom Switch.

If you don't know what the Doom Switch is, feel blessed.

It doesn't matter what happens.

It gets me.

I flop the nuts. Four all-in's, I finish with the fourth best hand.

I flop a set against a straight draw and a flush draw, both of whom push all-in. I finish last.

I flop top pair with the nut flush draw. Might as well be drawing dead.

Where does the Doom Switch come from?

I'm really not sure.

Maybe the "poker gods" or maybe it's in my head. But it was definitely confirmed the other day when I was playing basketball.

We bust our ass the whole game and come back to tie the game at game-point. We then proceed to play our toughest defense when the other team's only HORRIBLE player finds himself open at the top of the key. And when I say HORRIBLE, I mean it. This is a guy who is 6'2" with zero (CERO) athletic ability, wearing some running shoes in basketball and has more gel in his hair then sweat on his body after a tough game. He cocks back and throws (not shoots) the ball at the hoop. Bank shot good. From the top of the key.

Doom Switch, on.

So if you have any question on how my last session went, there's your answer.

I did dodge the dinner with the parents, which actually turned out to be clubbing with the parents. Apparently her dad has a couple young girls (i.e. 21-24 years old) that work for him. He thought they were having a birthday "dinner" at a restaurant to celebrate, but they were actually having a birthday party at the club to celebrate. Glad I missed that one. I'm not ready to club with the parents just yet.