Third Time's No Charm

It was a bad poker night this month.

There were 13 of us playing - I think I was the fourth or fifth one out. I was pretty bummed. But I learned a valuable lesson - I play quite carelessly when I'm pissed off.

My stack was dwindling down a bit and I got dealt a 6-7 offsuit. Even though I was in a good position, I decided to fold. I mean, what the hell can you do with a 6-7 offsuit?

I could have done a lot.

The flop came out 6-7-6. The turn came out with a 6. But that's not what pissed me off. Sure, it's painful to watch the contents of my hole cards spread out there on the table - what pissed me off was Dave. The river was some other inconsequential card, I don't remember, but he put in a decent sized bet after the card came out. Representing that he had that 6. The other person still in folded, and Dave won the pot. All I said was, "you sooooo did NOT have that 6". His response? "You fucking bitch!". And he was serious. I had to turn away from the table so no one could see my face. I think I had tears in my eyes. I wasn't hurt, and a lot of people don't understand that that happens when I'm pissed. I think the girl that was in on that hand knew I was pissed and said something like "What, you think I'm so dumb I didn't know you were bluffing?" Go on girl, thank you!

I played a couple more hands then finally got pocket Kings. I raised pre-flop from the big blind, and of course everyone called. The flop came out Q-3-8, and I bet $4, which was a hefty little bet for the time it was. Dave still called. I put him on a pair of Queens, which was ok for me. On the turn, an Ace came out, and I went all-in. I thought my chip stack was a little lower than it actually was, I was still pissed, and I wanted to teach Dave a lesson for buying all these freaking pots with his large bets (which he was doing all fucking night!). He looked at me apologetically and said, "I have to call you". Don't fucking apologize to me unless you're apologizing for acting like a child a half hour ago - poker is poker, don't apologize for knocking someone out, that's the game. He flipped his cards over and he had 2 pair - Q-3. The River card didn't help me, so I was out. Good for him that he flopped 2 pair, but for chrissakes, first of all to call a pre-flop raise with Q-3 - offsuit, mind you - and second, I have had pocket Queens or Aces the way the betting went. I guess being a calling station helps sometimes.

It didn't help my state of mind that two people said something to me later about his "fucking bitch" comment, saying they knew he wasn't kidding around and that it was uncalled for. I'm glad to know it wasn't just me taking things too seriously.

I think Dave thought (or thinks) I was irritated with him for knocking me out. I really don't care about that. I'm irritated with myself for playing carelessly. But his behavior was out of line. Later in the night, I was standing back in another room talking and he popped in to get a soda saying, "he's cleaning me out!" My response? "Too bad", and kept talking. I'm really not a bad sport - I mean sure, it's an ego blow to get knocked out early, but I do not appreciate being spoken to like that. I said later to someone there that he wouldn't apologize for it. And he hasn't. Hasn't even brought it up. I believe he thinks he was right to say what he did, given the circumstances.

Poker's just not as fun when you're pissed.