When a table runs bad, what do you do?

[bernie]

If it affects you mentally, as it seems it's doing, leave and start fresh. But understand, you cannot outrun or avoid a swing. It's still one big session. It's just a matter of where you want to mostly spend that session.

It does take a bit to learn how to play through a badwing/run.

The sooner you are able to realize that even though you are getting shelled that you are still making money sitting in a good game, regardless of the initial result, provided that you are playing winning poker, the better.

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I hear some say they play though it but I can't see how when the varicance piles on that bad, players will soon try to be tricky and bluff, you CAN'T bluff because they are thinking your unlucky or bad, and you are frustrated.

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Not necesarily. You may be giving them too much credit for thinking about you. Most likely they'll just play the same except they are hitting. Many players will think they're getting moves made on them when they really aren't.

I'd suggest rereading SSHE: Gambling concepts-Where the money comes from.

b

[winky51]

Naw, naw, I know all this. I know thee are swings. I have had them. Usually if I run a little or moderately bad I stay and make it up. I am talking about those nights where literally you are losing every hand and the ones you win no one calls.

I'm talking about nights where NOTHING goes right. You check your PT hand results and 2 pair and trips show -$. Where your win at showdown is 35-40%. Those are UGLY nights. They don't happen often, maybe once every 4-6 weeks. But I have learned to look for signs to quit.

And I do believe players alter to your losing streak. Its not about if they play right or wrong its about them taking shots over and over having you make difficult decisions.

No one can argue that a scared predictable opponent is harder to beat then one who is tricky and feeling lucky. Even if they are of equal skill.

Well at least I know Im on the right track with how I handle it.

[bernie]

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Naw, naw, I know all this. I know thee are swings. I have had them. Usually if I run a little or moderately bad I stay and make it up. I am talking about those nights where literally you are losing every hand and the ones you win no one calls. I'm talking about nights where NOTHING goes right.

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That's what I'm talking about also. Many 'know' the rhetoric about playing through bad swings and all, they can recite it word for word. But when it comes down to actually playing through a really bad one, they revert back and leave a gravy table because, usually, they are psyched out by how much they are losing. They tend to see 'moves' that aren't actually being made on them. I've been there. Putting it into practice is much harder than it looks. You also have to realize that you are only 1 player on a table.
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And I do believe players alter to your losing streak.

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Some. Definitely not the majority, imo. Not 'everyone' is adjusting to you, especially when the pots are multiway. They have other opponents to worry about. You can use that to your advantage.

I've folded and not dragged a hand for hours on end still came through it. Experience is the key. Another factor is to not let them know that it affects you that you're getting an asshanders award. I've found, in live play, that when they notice that beats really have no effect on you, they tend to still be careful as they were regardless of the streak.

I've seen many players who 'think' they know about this leave very profitable tables. Tables with idiots who wouldn't know how to adjust if their fly was undone. But because they lose for an hour or so str8, they leave.

You're on the right track, in a way, since you do leave when you don't feel right on the table. Eventually you will want to move beyond that. I'd look more at your own psychology in these situations and if it's been altered before I look at the players on a gravy table. Just as I would look at my own play first before I chalk it up to run of the cards when I'm on a bad run. Get up, take a walk, think about the factors involved, then make a clear headed decision.

b

[Guthrie]

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I'm talking about nights where NOTHING goes right. You check your PT hand results and 2 pair and trips show -$. Where your win at showdown is 35-40%. Those are UGLY nights. They don't happen often, maybe once every 4-6 weeks. But I have learned to look for signs to quit.

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There are nights I'd kill for 35-40%. I've had several sessions in the past two months where mine was 16%. I've also had nights when it was 70% and I still lost 50BB in a single session.

My solution was simple: I've pretty much given up limit poker and started playing NL SnGs.

[Onaflag]

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My solution was simple: I've pretty much given up limit poker and started playing NL SnGs.

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w00t!

Onaflag..........

ps. I suppose a little content is in order. Live I play a typical SSH game at 3/6, 4/8, 6/12 and have the BR to motor through the swings. Online, I have found the variance of NL SNGs to be tolerable. It's very wierd, but a $200 swing live has absolutely no affect on me. The same swing online sends me into a depression. I could go on, but I've gone OT already. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Daniture]

for the most part i find a new table if on any table i have lost more then 10BBs. I've found in my history that rarely do i turn it around on these tables for whatever reason: Tilt, misalignment of stars, I forgot to call Miss Cleo this morning etc.....

but i play 2/4 where the good tables are still in abundance and one stubs his toe on a fish just trying to get to his seat at the table.

[12AX7]

Where is this, pray tell? Online or live?

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but i play 2/4 where the good tables are still in abundance and one stubs his toe on a fish just trying to get to his seat at the table.

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[roueful]

I think he means at that limit, 2/4 is naturally full of fish.

Or possibly some hidden poker oasis, where fish line the sidewalks, I don't know.