Dealing with Downswings (Long/Ramble)

I've been playing online poker for a little over 3 months and have managed to turn a $75 gift certificate into a little over $1400 playing mostly ABC poker at 25NL at Party and 50NL at the Crypto's, clearing easy bonuses. Tonight, I had my biggest downswing so far, around $50. I know these downswings are an inherent part of poker, but it always bothers me emotionally.

Tonight I was playing on a PL25 table at party, with three maniacs whose VP$IP's were well over 85% over 120 hands or so. All their stacks were very deep too, 2 of them were over $100 for at least an hour, playing every single hand. I knew the tables were +EV, so I stuck around, but I found that my big pairs that I'd been waiting on were constantly being outflopped, ruining my stack. I'm still playing, and just took a new maniac's stack, but am still in the hole for the night $28.

I find it hard to take breaks when I've just lost a big pot to a fool, and while I don't tilt, it just doesn't feel right. I know most of you who are reading this are thinking, "what a n00b", but I'm looking for some advice as to what to do during these short downswings. I'm not even sure what I'm asking, maybe just some advice from those who've been here before. Because I've been playing for so short a time, maybe I should quit focusing so much on the money and just worry about getting my hands in and fixing my leaks.

I'm currently finishing up TOP and have learned a good deal from it, is there any other reading for the level I'm at right now?

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
turn a $75 gift certificate into a little over $1400

I had my biggest downswing so far, around $50.

[/ QUOTE ]

Take a break when you are this frustrated, you will only make it worse. One hour minimum I have found helpful.

These hurt a bunch (I am in the same boat), but you need to step back and look at the big picture. You made well over $1,000 and only gave back $50, it happened.

Go back and review your play and see if you tilted away any $. If it was bad luck then good for you, nothing you can do.

Just work at making the right decisions.

[edge]

The best way to deal with it is to have a lot of bad nights. When you often lose 2+ buy-ins in a session, it doesn't really hurt too much. That's something to look forward to; if you keep playing, you will definitely have many downswings.

[damn_river]

i can really sympathise with you. i like you turned a little buy-in in a online poker casino into a big profit. I have been playing for a little over a year now and have faced my share of ups and downs. This last week i have had my worst week ever. All you can do is analyse your play and make sure you are making good decisions. Don't slow play much unless you are sure you are way ahead. Play tight.

dR

ps - if you get a chance answer my post

[fimbulwinter]

[ QUOTE ]
The best way to deal with it is to have a lot of bad nights. When you often lose 2+ buy-ins in a session, it doesn't really hurt too much. That's something to look forward to; if you keep playing, you will definitely have many downswings.

[/ QUOTE ]

hahaah, good answer.

really though, just realize that it gets easier with practice. protect that BR and stay at 50NL awhile and you'll keep earning money.

one thing that helped me early on is taking a hard look at the actual losing hands. in many cases analyzing the play i was at fault.

nowadays when i lose a big pot at 5/10 (which is a mind-numbing amount of real-life money for a guy like me) I sit out, take a look at the hand and honestly analyze it. if i wa at fault, that means that i'm playing bad, might tilt and i'll probably take a break for awhile. if i played it well and made money long term, i just remember all those times i got it in with AA preflop and got paid MORE than i shoul have hen i got the other guy's stack etc.

buck up, most people lose money playing this game.

fim

[swolfe]

dude, that's not a downswing

[-Skeme-]

Hahaha @ 2 buyins. Anyway, I just dealt with a big downswing. I lost 5 buyins in a day and ran bad for about a month. Just don't tilt, worry about making the right decisions and eliminating mistakes, and you'll be fine. Move down if you have to. I think I'm not running too bad, although I just bluffed off 1.4 buyins tonight in 2 big pots against morons, so who knows.

[JustToast]

This is your first time dropping a couple of buy-ins in a session? You can't and won't win every session... so dont get bothered it's just how the game works. I regularly drop a buy-in at a table, and regularly win more than a buy-in or two at a table. I win more than I lose, so i'm ahead.

Be prepared to lose money some days at this game and get past it. Nice work turning $75 into $1400 ... now turn your $1350 into $3k.

Keep in mind that this is all one big session and if you lose $50 before winning $100, you're winning.

[Go_Blue88]

ohhhhh wow you're complaining about losing 50 dollars???? that is absolutely not a downswing. jeebus, try dropping 5-6 buy-ins and then let's talk.

[-Skeme-]

Update: I am indeed still running bad. That is all.