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The psychology of losing streaks - Live Poker Forums

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The psychology of losing streaks

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The psychology of losing streaks

Postby 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.
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Postby k3nt » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:45 pm

How many buy-ins down? If you're down $500 that's 10 at the 50s but 20 at the 25s. Either way, ick. But if it's been mostly or all at the $50s then I think what you have is primarily a bankroll management problem (should have dropped down a while ago.) If it's been mostly or all at the $25s, then I would seriously look for big leaks, because going down 20 buyins based on bad luck alone is really, really rare.

As for the psychological angle ... I take time off if I lose 10% of my roll, let alone 70%+. You need to play your A game. Taking time off helps psychologically, as you know. It also helps (if you're using PokerTracker or an equivalent) to give you a chance to play through your biggest losing hands and really figure out what you're doing wrong ... and check for leaks in other ways.

If you're not using PT, well, that's probably a leak in itself.

Also, at low limits, I am a huge fan of chasing bonuses as a critical part of bankroll management. It's a terrific anti-tilt tool as well. It's amazing what picking up 2-4 buy-ins for free can do to your state of mind.

I hope your luck improves after you take some time off!

And welcome to BTP!
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Postby Kuso » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:03 pm

wwcrd?

"that basically sums up poker for me - 12" needle in the testicle." <nutkick> mvp
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Postby kennyg » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:57 pm

"I'll take KennyGs advice before Sklanskys every time. "
-Iceman

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Postby RollaMag » Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:58 am

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Postby black_knight6 » Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:00 am

Bad losing streaks are often >50% your own fault...it's just hard to see it. There are ways to not lose stacks with overpairs vs sets, and you need to start posting hands so we can tell you how much of your streak was your own fault.
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Postby gsdavid » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:41 am

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Re: The psychology of losing streaks

Postby SCFanatiker » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:26 am

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Postby Xaston » Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:16 am

Boy, you got me confused with a man who repeats himself.
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Postby kennyg » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:21 pm

"I'll take KennyGs advice before Sklanskys every time. "
-Iceman

Proud contributing member of the Poker Player's Alliance.
Poker Journal:
forum/viewtopic.php?p=14017#14017
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Postby black_knight6 » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:24 pm

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Postby emmasdad » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:29 pm

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Postby black_knight6 » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:33 pm

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Postby Schuster » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:09 pm

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Postby Xaston » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:24 pm

Boy, you got me confused with a man who repeats himself.
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