Nightmare Trip to Parker's (Seattle)

[wayabvpar]

I was in Edmonds all day Friday and Saturday for the Whirlyball National Championships; we had a 4 hour break between games, so I thought I would sit at Parker's to see how things are played in this neck of the woods (have only played at Tulalip, Diamond Lil's and the Muck so far).

I arrived at about 5:30. The room is pretty haphazardly slapped together (it is separated from the rest of the casino by a temporary wall). There were three games going- 3/6, 4/8, and 8/16. I grabbed a rack and sat at the last remaining 4/8 seat (which was surprisingly comfortable- by far the best chair I have seen in a card room). Not overly smokey, but was a little warm (they had fans, but no AC). Bottled water was free, which was nice- I still have trouble believing that the Muck charges for it.

No post was required, so I got a hand 'free' as soon as I sat down. I peek down to see AQo- I am liking this already! I raise in middle position after a couple of limpers, and end up with 4 callers total). Flop was K high rainbow. A bet and raise in front of me convinced me that I was drawing pretty thin, so I dumped my hand.

This was how the entire game went (I saw AQ 5 times and dragged 1 pot with it). Hand after hand I had to fold on the flop or the turn when my draws would collapse and the pot odds precluded my chasing. I blew through my first rack much too quickly, and was just dipping into my 2nd when this hand come up.

I am on the button and catch K [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. Not my favorite, but playable from late position. 4 limpers to me, and I limp as well (should I raise here in a no fold 'em game?). SB completes, but then BB raises. I have played with this woman for an hour or so, and she only shows down quality hands. This is her first preflop raise, which sets my spidey senses to tingling. She loses a couple of the limpers, and I dump my hand as well (9 small bets in the pot- is this worth a call here?).

Flop- A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] I dumped bottom 2 pair and a nut flush draw.

Turn- Q [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. The dagger in my heart.

River was a blank. BB turns over QQ for the turned set and takes down a nice pot.

After this hand, I couldn't put a foot right the rest of the night. When I made the 'correct' decision and folded, my hands would get there. When I called down the habitual bluffers with marginal holdings, they had a hand. It was just a nightmare, and my 2nd rack disappeared at an alarming rate.

I am not very happy with the way I played, nor with Lady Luck sticking her thumb in my eye at every opportunity. The room was decent, but nothing I would go out of my way to play again. There were a few calling stations, but also enough decent players to make playing there less profitable than the Muck (for instance).

Anyone else played there? Did I run into a buzzsaw, or did my early setbacks turn me into a weak-tight worm?