PStars NLHE double shootout: Outplayed, on tilt, or cold decked?

[McMelchior]

Lately I’ve had the unpleasant experience of exiting a number of PokerStars WCOOP NLHE double shootouts like real fast. After playing NLHE sats for 3 years over the last half year I’ve finally been making a decent profit in the $20 - $30 cash one-table satellites, and I’ve been doing very well in the PL double shootouts – whether being Omaha 8 or Hold’Em. A very different story when it comes to those pesky NLHE ds ...

The competition seems increasingly abysmal, but they get me each and every time. In the hope that someone can help me determine if I have a huge leak in my game (or maybe several) or if I’m just running cold I’m posting the last $14+$1 double shootout I managed to exit on level One (1). I’m posting all hands I had chips at stake in. Here we go-------:

#5: I get to see a flop of 2h 5s Th for free 3-handed and holding 52. SB (who after the first 4 hands looks very much like a LAG) bets minimum, and I raise pot with bottom two pair. Both opponents fold. Up to T1,560.

#6: Limp in SB with Q7, fold to a pot-size bet on the J93r flop. Stack T1,540.

#7: Dealt AK on the button, three (3) MP/LP limpers to me. I raise to T140, only BB (who’s folded all hands so far) calls. Pot T350, Flop 7d 4h 8s, BB checks, I make a pot size bet, BB flat calls (alarm!) Turn 2h, we both check, river Qc, BB bets half pot, I fold. Down to T1,050.

#8: Dealt KQ in CO, EP raises and gets one caller, I call for T60, flop comes AcKcTd, I fold to a bet and a raise. I’m down to T990.

# 12: I limp in EP w/8h8c, button raises to T80, BB calls, I call. Flop AsKsAd, I check, preflop raiser bets T80 into the pot of T250, BB calls, I smell weak BS and raise to T320, preflop raiser folds, BB moves all-in, so much for that - I fold. Down to T590.

# 14: I’m dealt Qs7c in the BB, EP and CO limps, button raises to T60, I call (on tilt?), EP and CO call, all check the flop KcKsJc, I fold to a pot size bet and 2 (two!) calls on the 3c turn. Down to T530, I comfort myself that it’s still Level one (1) and I will have plenty of chances to recoup.

#15: Dealt Tc8d in SB, I fold to EP’s uncalled open/raise. Down to T520.

#17: Dealt AcKs in CO, EP (action player) raises to T60, I decide to flat call and see the flop, button calls, SB (LAG type) raises minimum to 100, EP call the raise, I decide it’s time to limit the field and move all-in on the for additional T420 (a tiny bit more than a pot-size raise), the button folds, SB calls, EP folds. He has a pair of 8s and hit a set on the flop, I’m out.

Obviously I’m looking at a lot of flops - 7 out of 17 – but with the cards I’m dealt (maybe except for Q7) and the low cost of seeing the flop it doesn’t seem unreasonable to me.

Am I on a tilt, or just unlucky? Comments are highly appreciated – thank you!

Best,

McMelchior (Johan)