To Everyone Who Suffers Downswings (long, low strategy content)

private joker · #1 02-17-2005, 12:51 AM

There was an "I'm at the end of my rope" post a couple days ago, and many posters often write about the downswings. I'm in the midst of a hideous one myself. But what's important to note is that these downswings are *not* the result of just bad beats. Sure, we all suffer bad beats -- but those sort of hands suck to post and they have no relevance in the long run. What makes downswings more frustrating is when you play a hand very well from your point of view, but you lose because you were an underdog the whole time -- or just a slight favorite and the guy with odds to chase made his hand and beat you. Those are the kinds of beats we put on our opponents, so we need to understand that they happen to us as well. And they should.

Here are 11 hands I've played in the last 48 hours that constitute why I am suffering a downswing. None of the 11 are bad beats. (I've taken those too, but I smile about them because I know that money is coming back to me, and bad beat posts suck). These are just part of the variance that happens when you accept the standard deviation of Texas Hold'em Poker. When they all happen at the same time, that's a downswing. It really blows to have to fight through it, but that's what I'm doing.

Hand 1:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
3 folds, Hero raises, MP3 3-bets, 2 folds, SB calls, 1 fold, Hero caps, MP3 calls, SB calls.

Flop: (13 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, MP3 folds, SB calls.

Turn: (8.50 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (10.50 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Final Pot: 12.50 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Ac Kh (one pair, aces).
SB has 6c 8s (two pair, eights and sixes).
Outcome: SB wins 12.50 BB. 

Hand 2:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
2 folds, MP1 calls, 1 fold, CO calls, Button calls, Hero raises, 1 fold, MP1 calls, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (9 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls, CO calls, Button folds.

Turn: (6 BB) K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls, CO calls.

River: (9 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls, CO calls.

Final Pot: 12 BB

Results in white below: 
MP1 has Ac Ah (one pair, aces).
CO has Js 7s (one pair, jacks).
Hero has As Kd (one pair, kings).
Outcome: MP1 wins 12 BB. 

Hand 3:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
Hero raises, 3 folds, MP2 calls, 4 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, MP2 calls, BB calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, MP2 calls, BB folds.

River: (8.25 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, MP2 calls.

Final Pot: 10.25 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Qd Qs (two pair, queens and threes).
MP2 has Ad 3d (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: MP2 wins 10.25 BB. 

Hand 4:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
4 folds, MP2 calls, 2 folds, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, MP2 folds, Button calls.

Flop: (8 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (7 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Final Pot: 9 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has As Qs (one pair, aces).
Button has Kh Ad (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Button wins 9 BB. 

Hand 5:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
3 folds, Hero raises, 2 folds, Button 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, BB calls.

River: (9.25 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, BB folds.

Final Pot: 11.25 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Qs As (one pair, aces).
Button has Ad Kd (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Button wins 11.25 BB. 

Hand 6:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
4 folds, MP3 raises, CO calls, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, MP3 folds, CO calls.

Turn: (6.75 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (8.75 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 12.75 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Qd As (full house, nines full of queens).
CO has Ad Ac (full house, nines full of aces).
Outcome: CO wins 12.75 BB. 

Hand 7:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, MP3 calls, 1 fold, Button calls, 2 folds.

Flop: (7.50 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, MP3 raises, Button folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.75 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks.

River: (5.75 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, MP3 raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.75 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Ah Ks (one pair, aces).
MP3 has Jd Jh (three of a kind, jacks).
Outcome: MP3 wins 9.75 BB. 

Hand 8:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
Hero raises, 1 fold, MP1 3-bets, 6 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, MP1 raises, Hero 3-bets, MP1 calls.

Turn: (6.75 BB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets, MP1 calls.

River: (8.75 BB) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.75 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Jh Ah (two pair, jacks and sixes).
MP1 has Kc Js (two pair, kings and jacks).
Outcome: MP1 wins 10.75 BB. 

Hand 9:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
5 folds, Button calls, Hero raises, BB calls, Button calls.

Flop: (6 SB) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, Button calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, Button calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Button folds, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 11.50 BB

Results in white below: 
Hero has Ad Jd (two pair, jacks and eights).
BB has Kh 4h (flush, king high).
Outcome: BB wins 11.50 BB. 

Hand 10:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG calls, 2 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, Hero raises, 4 folds, UTG calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (4 players)
UTG checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, MP1 folds, MP2 calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
UTG folds, MP2 checks, Hero bets, MP2 calls.

River: (8.25 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP2 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.25 BB

Results in white below: 
MP2 has Th Jh (flush, ace high).
Hero has Js As (two pair, aces and sevens).
Outcome: MP2 wins 10.25 BB. 

Hand 11:

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is CO with K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
3 folds, MP2 calls, Hero raises, 3 folds, MP2 calls.

Flop: (5.50 SB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets, MP2 raises, Hero 3-bets, MP2 caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.75 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP2 bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.75 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP2 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.75 BB

Results in white below: 
MP2 has 9h 4h (two pair, nines and fours).
Hero has Kc Ac (one pair, aces).
Outcome: MP2 wins 10.75 BB.

private joker · #2 02-17-2005, 06:05 AM

That said, does anyone disagree with how these hands were played? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Shillx · #3 02-17-2005, 06:12 AM

All these hands look fine to me

Brad

Chairman Wood · #4 02-17-2005, 06:15 AM

Well, I only feel like doing Hand 1, maybe a few more I 'll get to later but Hand 1 looks good. I might not cap preflop without a read saying PF 3-bettor will get a little too aggresive. You are OOP.

jason_t · #5 02-17-2005, 06:20 AM

I play all these the same. Where did you find all these passive opponents in the first few hands?

I really like the river check in Hand #8; good read of villian's possible holdings.

kurosh · #6 02-17-2005, 07:12 AM

I 3-bet hand 6. Can you really put villain on KK/AA or a 9?

Rocco · #7 02-17-2005, 07:17 AM

Great post... I've yet to suffer a downswing bigger than 100BB but I know it'll happen anytime. This morning I dropped about 50 and the hands I lost with are similar to yours. Most of those 50 BB:s i dropped was due to bad beats though. If all is in order I'm back to winning tomorrow, but the bad strek is probably coming around.

private joker · #8 02-17-2005, 07:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I 3-bet hand 6. Can you really put villain on KK/AA or a 9?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not a 9. But yes, KK at least, or AA, or a chopping KQ. I wanted to catch a spade to win, but when we both filled up, I didn't think he would all of a sudden raise with a worse hand. Given my flop aggression, he knows I have at least a pair of queens. If he's still raising, 3-betting is carelessly spewing because it opens me up to a cap that I would have to cry and call, but wouldn't want to.

And if I remember correctly, my read was that he was fairly tight.

jason_t · #9 02-17-2005, 07:53 AM

I'm not 3-betting because I don't want to call a cap, but would have to. At best, the pot is a split. After the flop action, there is no way CO is raising with worse than a pair of Q there. Reads would help in making this decision too.

Danenania · #10 02-17-2005, 07:59 AM

Hand 8 you missed a river bet. Hand 7 I could fold the river against many 2/4 players. Also I 3-bet Hand 6 PF.