I'd like to find out whoever invented SPYWARE, and kill em!!! Was typing an answer to this, and suddenly GONE!

Anyway, let's try again.


Well Jack, this is indeed the 64 thousand dollar question. AND one of the big reasons ATE so strongly advises against anyone attempting to become a full-time professional
(assuming no other income)
Unlucky streaks, are a fact of life in this game. And, for intelligent, educated people, they are even MORE frustrating, as you cannot explain or quantify them in scientific terms! Sorry, but there is NO set formula of what to do.

But, I can relate to you what I have done, and other's that I know who have made Big money in poker.

Remember, that the laws of math cannot be broken (although they can be REALLY badly BENT) Hopeless players MUST eventually lose. Yeah, they can take you out before the cards "break even"

This is why ATE's bankroll requirements, are MUCH higher than "the experts" Most of these fools, have never even TRIED to make a living in poker.

Anyway, ha ha tee hee hee, I realize some of this won't apply to thee!

Vending Machine Robert, takes a week or two off, when he is running bad. After even ONE loss, he drops down in limits until he gets the money back. Now, I don't recommend anything that drastic, especially after only ONE loss, but it works for him.

Nice Guy, Jewish Surname, is diversified into several other businesses, so he is able to play poker only when the conditions are favorable.

Adam the Expert, will do anything to attempt to chance things around. Again, this is not scientific, unless you consider 18 years of observation as proof.

Change things around, sign up for a different sight. (This would also help the BTP guys)

It is UTTERLY amazing, how often changing your game, and/or site can turn things around.
I was getting my butt kicked on PARTY, so I went over to Stars, and won 2K in a tournament. When things go badly on Stars, I'll go elsewhere.

Yeah yeah, all you "sciencey guys" are laughing to yourselfs, and this is why you guys CAN"T win.

Since not only does it NOT cost you anything to try another site, but you actually get a bonus for doing so, why not try it?

I realize this sounds HOCUS POCUS, but I would not suggest it, if I only saw it work less than several hundred times.

So, to recap

(1) take time off

(2) drop down in limit

(3) switch sites.

(4) have a huge bankroll to begin with

(5) try a different game



Ok, now herrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre's the REALLY big tip:


Uh, let's ask ourselves, ARE WE DOING ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUE TO THIS "unlucky run"
Most people NEVER do that, and the answer is YES in about 99% of cases.

Only the BEST IN THE WORLD, can continue to play our best, when facing a run of bad cards. We humans, are NOT MR. SPOCK!!

After a loss, I evaluate my play and see where I could have saved money.

In most cases, a 200 dollar loss, could have been a 100 or 150 one.

YOU CANNOT do anything about bad cards. But, you can control your own mistakes, which saves you money.

How I wish that I had all the money that I could have saved, during MY recent bad run, now that I just won a tournament (second, actually) I'm quite sure that about HALF of the 1,000 I had to repay my BACKER, could have been saved had I not let the HORRORS of UNLUCKY EVENTS, cause me

to exasserbate (or however that's spelled) the situation!!!

Ok, hope this helps.

Thanks to everyone out there, who appreciates Adam the Expert . . . . . . ..AND the real person behind ATE, Adam Cadle

Thanks for the reply, Adam. As usual, you're dead on the money. I'm forced to take a few days off as I'm moving today and neither the phone or cable company is going to have me hooked up right away. Never thought about changing sites, but that's a GREAT idea. Just to change things up.

Before I asked the question, I made sure it wasn't self-inflicted. Played a live tournament on Tues and got blinded out. Won both pots I played at, but still only lasted to the first break before escalating blinds put me all in. One online tournament I had 1 $10 chip left when the blind came around, so I'm not kidding about the bad cards. If anything, I've tightened up as I know my draws are much less likely to come in. When I quit playing one-gap face cards and my beloved 7-6s, I knew it was the poker gods and not me being too loose. It would try the patience of Job. Boils? Try playing a SNG, old boy, and having second-best hand three times before the blinds eat your chips all up. Lose JJ to 6-3o and see how patient you are.

Adam, thanks again. As for the Poindexters with the pocket protectors, we can always beat 'em up and take their lunch money. And we always, ALWAYS, get the girls. (They hate us because of that.)

Best wishes,

CJ