Is it possible to run bad for two months? (low Content

[lstream]

Are you still multi-tabling? If so, I wonder if it could help to drop down to a single table for a bit and focus real hard on what all table opponents are doing.

[peritonlogon]

when I run bad, I change up the games I play and quantities of them a lot. Play Holdem for a time. One of the strange things about the human mind is pattern recognition. Most patterns one recognizes relating to poker are false patterns. When you switch to a different game you'll notice your mind being clearer and your decisions better. This is because a large number of your false impressions relating to the other game have faded away, whether they be of the "I can't win" sort or the "that paired door card MUST be just a pair and a 3 flush," or those mysterious, semi-concious groups of thoughts taking place in a hand that are hard to even realize. This is a great time to learn a game you haven't played, or get good at one you haven't mastered. Then come back to stud.

Also, I would suggest reading Mike Caro's section of SS2, its very good mental habbit reinforcement.

[SA125]

Tell the truth. Do you ever lose?

Everyone and their mother has "break-even" streches of 15K-30K hands. Do you ever lose over those stretches as poster is saying he is. If not, it's not the same.

I've been a loser over 35K hands at a time and shake my head at the ridiculousness of it all. Suckouts, cold decks and just plain donating.

[Prelude008]

For me, it's been even longer (more like 4 months). I play Hold Em and it seems that every session is a loser from 3-6, 2-4, 1-2 and .5/1. I did manage a few wins live, but that doesn't make up for losing practically every single time. For the most part I've avoided tilt and "played my best" but I still lose. I am rereading SSH and working on my game - but the one/few cards that can beat me "always" showing up is a major factor. It got so bad that I just switched games to Stud/8 (and the reason I'm am in this forum). I use to play Stud/8 live many years ago and play pretty well. Not wanting to jinx myself, but I've won two days in a row. I agree with peritonlogon...A new game is mentally refreshing. I hope my upward steak contines. I really do like Stud/8. Hope it turns around for you.

[Michael Emery]

You could just find a new hobby, seriously. You take poker wayyyy too stressful when you run bad. PLus you only one or two table, that means its gonna take a long time for it all to even out.

Mike Emery

[MRBAA]

If you are playing well, you are winning every time you play. Whether you make money or not in a particular session is irrelevant. If you are making +EV decisions the great majority of the time, you are getting your money in with the best of it and you will win over time. It's normal and to be expected that you will have streaks of losing and streaks of winning. I played 15 hours of 2-4 online stud while on vacation in August (an hour a day). For my first 14 hours, I was just about dead even. The last hour, on the last day, I was up 75 BB. I was relaxed and enjoying the poker every day, and played well every day. I didn't do a darn thing different on the last day, except I played a lot of hands with a semi-maniac at my table and hit my hand at least a half-dozen times in big pots.

[Jeffage]

I agree with your philosophy about making money every time you play. But you also don't (IIRC) play at limits that make any difference to you financially - win, lose or draw. I know I play for serious money and losing stings (even though I'm properly bankrolled for the limits I play). In either case, running bad can be emotionally painful if the money matters (ie. you depend on it as income, even if it's not your sole source).

Jeff

[southerndog]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are playing well, you are winning every time you play.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really, does PartyPoker take this theoretical money and put it in your account?


[ QUOTE ]

I played 15 hours of 2-4 online stud while on vacation in August (an hour a day). For my first 14 hours, I was just about dead even. The last hour, on the last day, I was up 75 BB. I was relaxed and enjoying the poker every day, and played well every day. I didn't do a darn thing different on the last day, except I played a lot of hands with a semi-maniac at my table and hit my hand at least a half-dozen times in big pots.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, you average 5 BB's/hour over 15 hours, and this is your bad run? This is probably the most ridiculous post I've ever seen on here. People on here are playing limits 5-10 times the limit you're playing, and you're talking about a 14 hour break even streak. OP's talking about 2 months of losing after 12 months of winning.

Those of us who play a lot understand the frustration and concern over a bad streak. Not a 14 hour break even streak.

[MRBAA]

Southern, I wasn't presenting this as my bad streak. Just as a recent example of randomness that really struck me. I was sitting in the living room of our vacation house every morning playing solid stud and losing money or getting up even. Then one hour of outrageous luck hits me over the head and I win huge. I've had plenty of bad runs, but the key is not to let them affect your play.

Jeff, I'm sure playing for a living (or for money that matters) is a whole different ball game. But the folks I know who do this pretty much all say it's important to insulate yourself from the ups and downs. I sat at an online 3-6 table awhile back with a friend who's multi-tabling for a living and he took a savage beating, but just kept playing solid poker. He left down most of his buy in, and when I talked to him live and mentioned the session he couldn't even recall it -- just shrugged and said he doesn't pay much attention to results during any particular session. If I were playing for a living, the first thing I'd do is set aside a year's living expenses in hopes of never touching them. That way, I'd be mentally free to play well regardless of results.

If you read Roy Cooke or Brunson or just about any of the pros who have done it for awhile, they all talk about the need to not be results oriented.

The other day I was stuck $300 in a 4-8 hold'em game. I picked up K6s in the BB, it came to me raised with five opponents and I made the call. Just like I would have if I'd been up $300.

The other day playing 1/2 n/l I was stuck $200 and put my last $80 all in preflop with QQ -- and got shown AA by one opponent. (The third player had 22 and beat us both when he flopped a set).

Like every player, I can't control when I win or lose. But I can control how I play -- and that's what I focus on.

[mscags]

Yes I have. 10K hand stretches when you are something like -.5BB suck, but breakeven stretches happen more with me