by RollaMag » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:05 pm
This must affect all players pretty regularily so I just thought I'd pop this on here and see if anyone has any techniques or guidelines for bringing losing streaks back around.
Just to set the scene, I've come back to playing online cash games recently after a long live stretch (which with a limited bankroll was too hard to maintain)..anyways, I've been playing $25NL and $50NL 6max nearly everyday for about 3 weeks.Mostly the $25 though.
After building up my measly $50 deposit to just under $700 in around 3 weeks I was feeling like my game was definately solid enough to continue winning.. and plus I actually had the correct bankroll in my account to play the $25 game.
That was then..this is now. In just four days of losing I'm currently sitting on $205. I'd say the range of losing hands have been 70% killer beats for big pots (2-4 outers that hit on the river), 20% coolers AK v 55 on A5K flops, and 10% my own stupidity...
This is not what I'm here to talk about but I just wanted to set the scene..more importantly my state of mind. I know that when the deck starts getting cold even the best players (of which I very much doubt I am) begin to exasperate their situation by letting holes in their game widen.
After the last 5 big pairs you've played have run into sets, you start to think that everyone is holding the nuts against you..you begin to play much more cautiously than usual, unable to re-create the dangerous table image you're so used to playing under.
In short, you begin to expect to lose.. rather than playing to win.
I've previously gone through this twice before, once while playing SNGs, the other on the 1/2NL FR live games.. both streaks lasted for between 3-4 months.. this current downturn I know is only 4 days.. which is why I'm looking to "nip it in the bud".
I understand that I have been unluckier than usual over the last few days but I believe strongly that being so many 'clustered' beats and coolers has altered the way I currently think while I'm playing. I very rarely steam after one or two beats a day... but 5-10..... (lol, why do they come in groups?!?!?) Even though I'm still playing the same game that I was using to win a week ago, my "psychological" state is totally different.
I think the best thing for me is to stop playing for a little while.. take a rest.. clear my mind, and forget about the beats and unlucky situations. This is pretty much all I can think about doing.
So the point of this long post is really to see what other players do when this situation comes up.. how do they get out of a slump.. leave the game? grind it out? play lower games? whatever...
ps. I have a job and am obviously not currently playing for stakes that it's about the money.. but I've lost around 70%of my current online bankroll and to a player who takes the game seriously, that can kind of be a real head-screwer.
just looking for your thoughts.