At wit's end

[BillsChips]

My last two Live 1/2 NL sessions were bad, very bad. I decided to start playing online and suffered bad beat after bad beat. After two months away from live poker, I decided it was time to get back on the horse, so I drove to a local club and sat down at a 1/2NL game with $300. I lost it all in about 3 minutes.

First hand, I'm in the big blind and check with J3o. Flop is J 6 4 rainbow. I bet $20 to see if anyone has a better jack and get 1 caller, UTG+1. Turn is 5. I have top pair and OESD. I bet $25 and get called. River is another 4. I bet $25 and UTG+1 raises to $50. I make a crying call with two pair and UTG+1 turns over 34o and wins hand with trip 4s.

VERY NEXT HAND:
I'm in sb with AA. MP raises to $8, I make it $20. All fold except MP raiser. Flop is Q 8 6 rainbow. I bet $30 and the guy calls. Turn is 2, no flush or straight draws. I go all-in for about $100. The guy calls and turns over pocket 4s. River is a 4 and I lose my second hand in a row to a 23-1 shot. Losing both is greater than a 500-1 shot. Losing both to trip fours is just crazy.

I started playing live after reading Gary Carson's and Ken Warren's books. I played a bit on the weak-tight side and won every time. I've now read all of the must-read books, spend my time checking out the 2+2 posts, play online, and practice with simulation software. Now I just can't win at all.

I recognized the guy who beat me out of the second pot from a previous session. I remember him as a calling station who just kept hitting the river. Why do these guys always seem to get rewarded for their ridiculous play?

I have about $600 left of my poker winnings. When that's gone, you'll be able to buy my collection of excellent poker books on Ebay.

Bill