Trying to make a move

After losing about $500 in 5 weeks at the tables, I took a bit of a break from playing. I had stopped playing the free games in town as most people no longer took them seriously anymore and all of the good players were out at the casino. However, a new free game was starting up--Omaha 8/b. I had initially learned the mechanics of the game on line while playing for free money (I did the same with No Limit Hold 'Em) and had even played a couple of small omaha tournaments in the home game and did well. Basically, I was winning because I was waiting for the nuts (either high or low) and taking advantage of playing with people who stayed in until the river too often. I was a bit surprised to learn that the free game would have omaha 8/b played no limit. This is primarily a limit game and you occasionally find it played pot limit on line. While I didn't like the structure, I couldn't complain much as it was a free game. The omaha 8/b free game didn't last too long and I think I was the only person who could claim that they won a hold 'em tournament and an omaha 8/b tournament.

So after playing omaha 8/b for a little while, I figured I was ready to play it at the casino. Normally, my local casino will spread a $10/$20 game. While this was higher than I had ever played before, I really wanted to give this game a try. When I arrived at the casino, the game had not started. So, I played $1-$5 stud to pass the time. Finally, around midnight, there were enough players to get the game going. We had to make the game half hold 'em and half omaha 8/b to get a full table going. While I wanted to play omaha 8/b exclusively, I accepted the game and just wanted to start playing. The table also put on the kill which meant that some hands would be played $20/$40. My rationale was that I could get out of this little hole I had dug for myself with a good session.

I couldn't hit a flop to save my life. I think I won one low half of a pot that evening and got quartered on another in omaha 8/b. My chip stack kept getting smaller as I saw a flop and missed. I made one great move in hold 'em. In late position I raised with 6-6. A very aggressive player who had limped under the gun called the raise along with one or two other players. The flop came A-K-2. This was clearly not a good flop for me, but the action was checked to me so I bet. The aggressive player raised and I quickly reraised. This aggressive player is also a good player and can get away from hands. He flashed me A-2 and said, "Your A-K is good." I quickly took down the pot and threw my hands into the muck. I don't think this little bluff would have worked at the $4/$8 game. I ended up going broke that evening with J-J in a kill pot. I made it $40 pre-flop and I didn't have but one more bet behind me. When the flop came Q high, my opponent bet into me and I called off the rest of my money against his Q-10. While my plans for getting some money back to the bankroll were spoiled, I was pleased with my play with the 6-6.