Oh mighty poker heavens, shine on me some luck, i beg of you.

Time played: 1hr 55mins
Tables played: 5-6
Hands Played: 608
Poker Winnings: (178.20)
Bonus cleared: 27.37
Total made: (150.83)

Countdown to NL200: $437.50

I tilted Someone minraised me again and i called with bottom pair + a gutshot. i called a bet on the turn and then the river gave me the straight but put 4 to a flush out there..he bet smallish i called, he turned over the 2nd nut flush and he'd also flopped top set so..minraises USUALLY DO = monster. This was at 5max too. No more poker for tonight.. i'm only slightly winning for the week so far, take away bonuses and i'm down a lot actually..BLAH.

Time played: 2mins
Tables played: 1
Hands Played: 4
Poker Winnings: (48.10)
Bonus cleared: 0
Total made: (48.10)

Countdown to NL200: $485.60

Listen, it can get a lot worse, believe me. My February and early March were so horrendously stuffed full with bad beats and associated self-inflicted stupidity that I'd have been embarrassed to have a journal here.

You can't help but lose money at poker sometimes, and such downswings can last thousands of hands. The key is in not letting it affect your game, or at least minimising the damage to your game it causes. Keep your self-belief, keep tight, and don't be tempted to think (as I did) that just because you've folded a couple of times to a min raise, that most players at this level are either observant or astute enough to take advantage.

It will swing back your way, I assure you, just as it has for me.

I know you know all this already, but I thought I'd repeat it anyway.

thanks i really needed to hear that from someone else actually.. i think i let last week get to my head and i thought i could sustain winning at that rate, and i aimed too high so when i falled short of that i tried to make up for it by playing when i'm not at my best or playing too many hands.. i'm going to keep playing through to the 50,000 hand mark and THEN if i'm still doing as i am now, i'll rethink my whole game..

I always let downswings get the better of me and it's a big flaw in my game and me as a poker player I think, but hearing and knowing that it happens to others and that it'll turn around is very reassuring... Thanks again

Take a little time off from the grind and play some SNG's/tourtament poker with separate funds for a change of pace - I find that a few days away from the usual ring trudge does me a lot of good - I've yet not to win big my first day back after taking a breather.

Sigh.

Texas Hold'em $1-$2 NL (real money), hand #378,608,186
Table Trenton, 19 Apr 2006 12:36 AM ET

Seat 1: acesand8zz ($88.50 in chips)
Seat 2: chess2 ($78.20 in chips)
Seat 3: agi32 ($122.30 in chips)
Seat 4: tom_da_cat ($92.70 in chips)
Seat 5: Nomad7 ($119.50 in chips)
Seat 6: Godlike5 [ QS,QD ] ($177.80 in chips)
Seat 8: ...HB... ($120.90 in chips)
Seat 9: D.Nel ($30.20 in chips)
Seat 10: Durk2001 ($23.50 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
acesand8zz posts blind ($0.50), chess2 posts blind ($1), ...HB... posts blind ($1).

PRE-FLOP
agi32 folds, tom_da_cat calls $1, Nomad7 calls $1, Godlike5 bets $9, ...HB... folds, D.Nel folds, Durk2001 folds, acesand8zz calls $8.50, chess2 folds, tom_da_cat calls $8, Nomad7 folds.

FLOP [board cards 9H,5C,JH ]
acesand8zz checks, tom_da_cat checks, Godlike5 bets $23, acesand8zz folds, tom_da_cat calls $23.

TURN [board cards 9H,5C,JH,6D ]
tom_da_cat bets $5, Godlike5 bets $145.80 and is all-in, tom_da_cat calls $55.70 and is all-in.

RIVER [board cards 9H,5C,JH,6D,5D ]

SHOWDOWN
Godlike5 shows [ QS,QD ]
tom_da_cat shows [ 5S,4S ]
tom_da_cat wins $195.40, Godlike5 wins $85.10.

SUMMARY
Dealer: Durk2001
Pot: $282.50 | Rake: $2
acesand8zz loses $9
chess2 loses $1
agi32 loses $0
tom_da_cat bets $92.70, collects $195.40, net $102.70
Nomad7 loses $1
Godlike5 bets $177.80, collects $85.10, net $-92.70
...HB... loses $1
D.Nel loses $0
Durk2001 loses $0

I'm now beyond the point of tilt or wanting to smash my monitors into a million pieces.. it's just another beat, i've come to EXPECT to be drawn out on now

And yes I know I shouldn't be playing and should be taking a break but I played some xbox and calmed right down, took a break and i'm playing fine.. i was even +100 before that hand there.. but seriously, what kinda bs is that.