Horrible Losing Streak

[AtlBrvs4Life]

What does everyone here do when they can't seem to win a SNG? I am on the worst losing streak I have ever been on. Bad beat after bad beat, cards not falling my way, and I think I'm winning something like 20% of coin flips. During my last 20 games, I have one 1st, one 2nd place finish, and 8 4th place finishes. I have lost 13 games in a row. The frustration is beyond belief and I am at the point where I am doubting my own play. One quarter of my bankroll is gone. Has anybody else had such a bad streak?

Edit: Sorry if this seems like I am whining about a bad beat, but after losing a quarter of my bankroll, I had to post about this.

[threeonefour]

Do you play on Pstars? If so I think I have played with you before and from what I have seen you seem like a good player, I have written something to that affect in your notes.

I don't know how big your bankroll is but I have had 10+ straight losses in SNG's as well. it's pretty frustrating, eventually you get the point where you just *know* an Ace will hit everytime you hold KK.

The only advice I can give is to move to a lower limit for awhile until you get your confidence and maybe a bit of your bankroll back too.

good luck to you.

Regards

[durron597]

Stop playing for a while. Last night I couldn't seem to do anything right, made a bunch of stupid mistakes. I wrote down exactly what I think I did wrong and then slept it off. I awoke feeling confident, and took 1 first and 1 second in 3 games.

[AtlBrvs4Life]

I have an account on Poker Stars, but have only played a couple of SNGs there. I play on Party mostly.

[threeonefour]

Maybe I played you at Party.... I dunno... at anyrate streaks happen and they are killer, I suggest changing limits or perhaps even taking a break.

When hold'em goes bad for me I sometimes move to stud or even just chess... It seems to help me seperate my current play from my previous frame of mind

[Eder]

I've just lately been getting out of a prolonged losing streak...my normal ROI of 40-50% had dropped to around 10% for last month or so.

Same as you I was losing all the coin flips,getting bad beats etc. Last week or so I've tightened up like a drum to where I never enter a pot without betting min 3xBB, often seeing only a couple of blinds till level 4. Then I loosen up trying to steal blinds aggresively, pushing over the top with my good hands etc...

Seems to be working as my ROI is back to normal...I think all the bad beats that are inevitable had affected my game to the point I began to play poorly and prolonged my bad streak....getting back to basics has me back on track

[woodguy]

When I went through what you are going through, I printed out a bunch of my hand histories and went through them with a fine tooth comb.

Found my most common mistakes and put "sticky notes" on my computer screen to remind me of my common leaks and the pitfalls that I like to jump into.

Really helped.

I also tighten up to rock-like status and made a pile of 3rds in a row (hitting the $$$ with no stack), then I seemed to get back on track better than ever.

Also, with 43,000 a night on Party, some of the play is down right horrid in the levels I play ($30/$50). This can cause some of the bad beats to seem worse.

When you get sucked out by a so-so play it hurts a little, when you get sucked out by an abomination of humanity play it hurts alot.

Take breaks when you feel anger, poker is a social/science, and sometimes it helps to play more like scientist and leave the emotions in the drawer. (way easier said than done)

It will improve.

regards,
woodguy

[eastbay]

I am going through something similar right now. I've been shown more aces in the past week than I usually see in six months. Every time I come up with a hand, I run up against AA. It's uncanny.

You are not alone. Play tight. Play straightforwardly. Don't be impulsive or start switching it up to try to break out, because it will likely just make things worse.

Move down if your bankroll needs it.

eastbay

[Cosimo]

[ QUOTE ]
During my last 20 games, I have one 1st, one 2nd place finish, and 8 4th place finishes. I have lost 13 games in a row.

[/ QUOTE ]

I had 13 out-of-money in a row, and a string of seven games, 1 2nd, 1 out, and 5 3rds. +ROI, but it sucked to get 3rd so much. I also hate blowing big chip leads on 2-outers. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

Playing about 25 hours a week 3-tabling broke me of frustration over bad beats, though. I go to bed when I'm tired, and each day I can't wait to get home and try again. However, I do think that I'm a bad player. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif My holes are obvious, too: I'm playing weak-tight and too passive, as a result of getting sucked out on too much. Knowing that, I still sometimes make the same mistakes.

Do, indeed, doubt your play--just don't play scared. Spend time reviewing hands. After some discipline, I grab the HH from every hand that I play poorly, then spend the next day reviewing those hands.

As AleoMagus has pointed out in a recent thread, it takes a huge amount of SNGs before your results starts to settle down around your expectation.

[AtlBrvs4Life]

Well I just finished the day down 13 total buy-ins. I should have quit when the bullshit started happening just like it was yesterday. I think I will be taking a break for a few days to cool down from this.

[Burno]

The streaks are murder. When I have such a streak I like to go down to the play money SNG's and start as many as possible and go all in on the first hand at every table. You should win at least one. Immediately start talking trash at that table and announce that you are the King of the play money tables.

Spend the rest of the SNG berating the other players by correcting their play with made-up facts like "third pair is good over 60% of the time at this level," "kickers don't matter," or "flush draws are where the pros make most of their money."

[SumZero]

Why not try playing at a lower level? The players should be worse increasing your chances of winning, and the loses shouldn't hurt as much if they continue. If you lost a big chunk of your bankroll it might be wise to step down levels to decrease your ROR anyways.

[Matt24]

I just had one of those losing streaks. Through my first 700 SNGS, I was in the money 45% of the time. I started with $55 at the $10 level and moved up to $20 once I had 44 buy ins, I got htat up to $1935 yesterday. But today went 578 in reverse. 54 tourneys, 14 ITM, ZERO WINS??? Bad beat after bad beat. One play summed it all up for me. I have AQ in the sb and raise. BB calls. Flop is 994. I bet out, bb comes over the top, I think about it and I think I got a read on him and he is bluffing. I call. turn is blank, I check, he pushes, I call. He turns over J5, and what comes on the river? a Jack. and that was my day in a nutshell.

[Sam T.]

Hey Braves,

If it's any help to your confidence, last week I left a SnG when you sat down at the table. (Weak, perhaps, but why play at a table when you KNOW there is a good player there.)

I went through a similar streak last week. I don't know if you multi-table, but if you do, stop for a bit. It could be coincidence, but when I stopped two-tabling, things got much better very quickly.

I also read a section in Ciaffone and Reuben's NL and PL book about "steaming." This happens when players on a losing streak start making bigger bets at with worse odds in the hope of making up their losses. (Right after my rockets were beaten by T7o, I had AQs, and raised. Flop comes A82. I bet out, one opponent pushes. I KNEW I was beat, but I call because if I win, I'm golden. He's got A2s, of course.) The recommendation is to take a break, which it sounds like you are doing.

Also, remeber that when things turn around (and they will), your bankroll will improve dramatically. You're down 13 buy-ins? Win three in a row, and you're even. This was how I knew my dry-spell was over.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Go through your hand histories, find some hands where you lost chips or some where you thought you might have folded the winner and post them.

Step one is always to try and see if some flaw has crept into your game.

[adanthar]

I played a tournament yesterday where I lost because of two all ins. On the first, I called AI with KQs against a LAG's obvious steal, which turned out to be K9s; a 9 hit the flop and I lost half my stack. Two hands later, I lost the other half with AQs to ATo when an A hit the turn but a T came on the river. Both of those beats were to the same guy (who managed to finish out of the money despite my stack making him chip leader with 5 left. gg.) In another one, I was a 60/40 favorite to a short stack on 4 separate occasions, lost them all and got lucky to scrape into third after being chip leader/coming back from the first two.

Funny thing, though...that time two days ago I pushed with tens, got called by JJ and turned a 10- leading me to an easy first place in a 3 table rather than busting me out of the money- was worth $270, where the tournament I lost thanks to those bad beats cost me $33. I figure the tradeoff was worth it.

Whenever you lose a coin flip or a 60/40 shot, just remember the time you sucked out on an overpair or beat AQ with JT or something similar. If you play well enough to parlay an average chip stack with 5 left into first place, one of the latter is worth 3.5 of the former. Everyone who posts on 2+2 plays well enough for this.

I will say, though, that a 1-1-0-8 breakdown probably indicates a flaw in your bubble play. It 'feels' like you're playing a little too tight with 5 or 6 left.

[Vuron00]

The last time I went through a stretch like that, I switched to ring games for a while. It helped to slow me down and to make me concentrate a little more. With no blinds going up, I got to focus on each individual hand and to make sure my play was solid. After a few tweaks (and a little more money) I went back to playing tournaments with good success.

[unfrgvn]

FWIW I have not been having a good month at Party. I only play one or two a day so depression hasn't quite crept in. My results:
25 10+1's $275
2 1sts $100
3 2nds $90
1 3rd $20

The 2 firsts came early in the month, so my perception was actually worse than the reality of down $65. I was wanting to post a "Are the 10+1's at Party getting tougher" but was afraid I would be laughed off the board. Just one example of my recent woes, I'm all in with AA against AK, he makes a broadway. I'm all in with AK against 55 and I get no help. I just keep telling myself that eventually some of the coin flips will go my way and my dominating hands will stand up.

[stupidsucker]

I went on a streak like this in May. It was terrible, and the timing was ridiculous. I had just got done playing 2 weeks of solid SnGs (playing about 35 a day). I made rent, and some extra to throw around. I had just moved, and needed some important things... like food.. and furniture. So I spent about $700 on things for my new apartment. Levaing me with rent money and a healthy bankroll.

After I spent that money I could not get ITM to save my life. AT this time I was playing the 30's, so I stepped down to 20's still couldnt win. STepped down to 10's... still couldnt win...

Looking back.. It really wasnt that bad, but once my bankroll felt in jeopardy, and I thought about how important the money was I faced tilt, and started playing too weak. In this streak I was getting called on every steal attempt. It didnt matter if I had AA or Ax .. someone called when I pushed and they were behind 90% of the time and sucked out what seemed like an eternity in a row.

I posted about this one time. I went nuts. The last straw was when I flopped a set and I bet out big, some guy minreraises me back and I push. He pauses and states " Man I hit the wrong button, I meant to fold" Then calls for the remaning 200 chips he has , shows his inside str8 draw, and then hits it on the river to bust my set.

I threw my keyboard against the wall, and knew I had too much. I gave up SnGs for almost a month to calm down, and I had to find a job. /images/graemlins/blush.gif /images/graemlins/mad.gif

Taking a break is the best thing I can recomend. When you feel a little better take a look at your play and try to patch any hole you see. Go into a few with confidence and remind yourself that you ARE a winning player.

[coolhandtom]

hey Alt -
I will chime in with some of the rest and say FWIW, i have just gotten stomped lately at party, and I cant figure out why. I know I am better than at least 80-90% of the MTT and SNG players, yet i consistenly get sucked out on by crap hands such as the AQ vs A2 story posted previous to me.
After posting a 6th place in a 580plyr MTT for more than $700, I have just had terrible luck. I cashed out most of that win, and lost the rest. I have now taken a break, and gone back to B+M limit 3/6. I do very well in this game, I just hate the drive to our local casinos.

Give it a break for a bit, try a live game, or like others said, switch to some limit ring games on party - i cant imagine there are too many players better than you in a random 3/6 ring game on PP.

Good Luck. /images/graemlins/spade.gif

[poboys]

Here's a couple of posts that'll let you know you are not alone.
In a Row (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=singletable&Number=808028& page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14&fpart=all)

Work with me. (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=735907&page=&view=&sb=5&o =&fpart=all&vc=1) (limit, but still appropriate).

Already mentioned, but hand histories and shot putting your montior are two ways to get over the streak.

[DonT77]

My longest non-ITM streak is 9, but 5 of those were on 2-tables. I agree with the others, take a break, analyze your play, re-read a book or two - then come back and be ready to dominate.

[Jason Strasser]

Mental toughness.

It's hard to lose so many in a row. We've all been there. Put yourself at a level where you can try to clear your head and play carefree. Move down levels. Play some lower level SNGs. To make money in a SNG, you need to play without fear--which is hard to do in a losing streak.

Just keep making the correct plays, to the best of your judgement, and turn the ship around. I really suggest moving down a level or two until your confidence returns.

[pzhon]

There are some soothing words we say at my backgammon club when one of the better players loses:
<ul type="square">
"You did it wrong again, stupid!"
[/list]
Now that I think about it, that's not very soothing. However, if you can refute this in your mind, if you know that you played well, then the solution is to play more. You will win in the long run. Step down in limits if you must, but don't quit.

[Stoneii]

Does no-one on 2+2 go in second best?

I don't mean this flippantly but when I was running ice cold and losing a lot of my hard won bankroll I found that yes, while I was getting sucked out on, my game had suffered enough that I was getting involved in showdowns far too many times with second best.

I suppose in a stubborn attempt to prove my game hadn't become weak tight, it had instead moved toward calling station!!

I haven't got the hard facts to back it up but I THINK I get sucked out on nearly as much running well than I do running cold but my choice of pots to be in is better.

Like Kurn said, rather than immediately put it down to suckouts, look for your own weakness, suckouts I can't change, my hand selection and pot selection I can.

G'Luck

stoneii

[Jurollo]

I lost 414 in a row once, decimated my ROI but I hung in there and am still playing today! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[AtlBrvs4Life]

I'm ashamed to say it, but last night I think my play definately changed because of the losing streak i was on and all of the bad beats. I was playing my monster hands too aggressively just because I was afraid of being sucked out on, and I think I was playing some of my other hands too weak.

I decided to move down and try some $10 SNGs today. The cards were going my way and it seemed I won every hand that I was the favorite in. Total opposite of the past few days. I got 1st three tournaments in a row and I definately have some confidence back. Thanks for all of the help guys. I'm going to have to work on getting my bankroll back up the next few days.

[NegativeEV]

Braves,

I sympathize. I experienced a similar run a month ago and my confidence was shaken. I suggest two things:

1.) Re-read AleoMagus's materials on SnG play (I've seen you on Party and the tables you play fit the guidance). In fact, re-read all of the materials in this post: SnG Resources (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&amp;Board=singletable&amp;Number=839 822&amp;Forum=,All_Forums,&amp;Words=&amp;Searchpage=0&amp;Limit=2 5&amp;Main=839822&amp;Search=true&amp;where=&amp;Name=12081&amp;datera nge=&amp;newerval=&amp;newertype=&amp;olderval=&amp;oldertype=&amp;bod yprev=#Post839822)

2.) After re-reading these, try to determine if you've been creating some leaks lately that you didn't have before. When I hit my cold streak I realized that I was getting to tricky for the low level tables, and I moved back to a very straight forward tight early, aggressive late method of play. I found I was getting into too many showdowns due to my "tricky" play. These materials helped me to remember that the goal is to avoid show downs while picking up blinds late. Getting into showdowns and having a poor run of luck can be extremely frustrating.

Anyhow, good luck weathering the storm.
-EV

[Stoneii]

not ashamed - experienced /images/graemlins/smile.gif