How to handle bad luck, cold streak, and bad players.

I usually play homegames and online a lot and in the past after making $1000 in a week, I've lost about 400 of that to horrible sick beats. One was a runner runner inside straight someone drew to after I kept reraising with a set, anothethis guy called me with K8 when i had A10. I pushed all in on purpose so he would not call screwing me over. I knew he had a bad hand because he raised the minimum, and I my all in was 5/6 of his stack. He thought it was good because he won with it at a casino, and doesnt see the difference between going all in with pocket 8's and K8 if 8's would still win. I kept having the best hand preflop and lose, ex KQ loses to KJ, AK loses to 10 7 of all hands! I know these people suck and are just going to be giving back their money in the long run, but how do I handle this? btw, K8 hit runner runner 8's to beat my pair of aces.

[mike4bmp]

How long have you been playing?...anything that you say about beats are going to be pretty mundane here. If you've been around then you would be used to it...you would be used to it most of the time anyways...

When you are on a bad run or in a losing streak...try evaluating your game...how are you playing? Try to figure out if you have leaks in your game.
Go back and read books that you have already read...study them and encourage yourself by knowing deep down that if you continue to play correctly the beats won't matter.

I know the beats can be tough on the ego...but let it go and remember the fish, suckers and hacks smiles will one day soon fade away...when they sink all their winnings playing they way they do...and you my friend will be rewarded with correct decisions.
And remember...we've all been their...so don't ever take a victim mentality with the beats...its part of the game.
I am down 110BB as we speak...so its all good...

I've been playing for about 2 years, seriously for about 6 months. How often do the cards run bad? For me it seems every 2 months or month and a half or so. Is this normal and how long do these seem to last? For me it seems about 2 weeks to a month. I plan on re-reading my books, and reading others, and try to figure out my play.

[steamboatin]

In March and April, I took a terrible downswing playing live and I was convinced it was normal variance. It was an incrediible suprise to me to learn that it wasn't variance but terrible play.

Yes downswings happen but variance gets blamed for a lot of things that just aren't its fault.

[dibbs]

I'm gonna go ahead and assume this is a gag post.

[mike4bmp]

That sounds about right to me...every two months or so. Sometimes a bad night sometimes a bad month...break even nights and weeks...big winning nights followed by a night that breaks you even again. You just have to learn to weather all this...but once you get used to it....you get into a rhythm...
Also...you will fluctuate more if you are playing online...especially if you are playing multiple tables. I seem to run bad more often online...but then I make it up quicker to...personally I prefer live play...but since I don't 30-40 hours a week to spend in a cardroom...online play is more convenient (I play online at work...LOL)

[winky51]

Had a bad day go back and check the hands you played. See where you went wrong and where you got outdrawn. Personally I replace my bad play with correct moves and deducte the extra suckouts. That makes me feel better seeing that the math fits and it just was luck, and sometimes bad play.

Also when you see the swings going up and down over tons and tons of hands it becomes more common place and you get more used to it. I did.

Personally I would love a punching bag on a chain on my garage. Man that would really help when I want to unleash frustration and get some excersize.

If you get upset take a break. If for 3 days you take beatins take a break for 3 days. That always works for me.

[QuadsOverQuads]

Repeat after me :

"A 60% favorite loses 40% of the time."
"A 60% favorite loses 40% of the time."
"A 60% favorite loses 40% of the time."

(continue repeating until it sinks in)


q/q