what to do when you're running bad

[Wallacer 0]

Everybody who's played poker for a while knows what it feels like to have a bad run (unlucky streak). I'm on my worst ever right now and have gotten to the point where I think I'm promoting my own unlucky streak through bad play. For example, my coworkers usually hold a poker game every 2 weeks. We usually play 3 or 4 small tournaments with 6 - 10 players. Nobody but me has any 'real' poker experience in casinos, online etc, so naturally I usually crush the games winning on average 3/4 of the games for the night. My bad streak started two weeks ago on one of those nights. First hand of the first tournament I looked down at KK under the gun. Not everyone had showed up so we were playing a quick 5 person tournament to get started. I came in for a 3.5x BB raise. Everyone's pretty loose in these games so I expected at least 2 callers. Only BB called. River came low unconnected rainbow. he checkraised me, and knowing his style, I immediatly put him on a pair of nines (top pair). I reraised all in only to be called with AA. First hand of the first tournament I was eliminated with KK vs. AA 5 handed. That was the start of a funk that has cost me over a grand (a lot for me), and has been ripe with painful hours of losses. I played 5-10 in the casino for 2.5 hours, didn't win a single pot, despite hitting many big hands including top set off the flop which was beat by a runner runner straight. I played in a few of the daily 50$ tournaments, and have hardly made it past rebuys. The story of my poker lately has been extended periods of time without taking a pot, despite picking up nice hands. EVERY GAME.'Back to the point of this post, I'm wondering if anyone has any good methods to get themselves out of a funk. Is there anything good to read on the net or anything? What do you guys do? I'm not used to running bad for more than a few hours at a time. Any advice would be appreciated before I go bankrupt!Wallacer

[dolfan 0]

Take a break and don't play poker for a while. Whenever I run bad I'll just give it up for a week and then come back fresh. When you come back, don't try to measure your success in how much money you make back. Just try to make the right decision as many times as possible and you'll be back on track soon.And don't worry about having KK beaten by AA. It happens! But it probably won't happen the next time you get KK. Remember that. But if you have to keep playing, move down in limits a bit. That way if your bad play continues then it won't cost you as much! :wink:

[arerad 0]

first: a couple of shots...second: a long hot showerthird: a long cold showerfourth: 72 hour sex marathonback to the action of poker

[HurricaneKyle 0]

Slow down chief. The key to stopping a bad run of cards is simple:STOP PLAYING until you are fully confident that you will crush some fools. Usually when you are running 'bad'; you are generally unlucky but also you are likely panincking and putting yourself in unfavorable spots. My advice:Take a day or two off, smoke a world class cigar, drink a margarita and watch Dumb and Dumber.

[JesseW316 0]

When I'm running bad, I usually think about quitting poker altogether. I wonder if I'm really as good as I think I am, if my success until now has been a fluke, and if I should just go get a real job. I don't play for a few days and then somehow have a winning session, and I go back to believing I am the best.Right now, I am the best, because I just won a pot that put me from the red to the black this month. Earlier this month, I almost applied for a job.Why would I do that? I am the best.Really, just take a few days off and then go back to playing. I have found that sometimes switching games helps. If my O8 game is dropping, then I will go back to Stud and Razz. If my Sit n Gos suck, I go back to cash games, etc.

[Socko669 0]

Remember that you will typically learn a lot more from the hands you lose than you would from winning hands...downswings are inevitable, and provide a great time to step back and examine your play for weaknesses. If you are sweating the losses then move down in stakes and try and have some fun. Its just a game, try and relax and have fun with it. You are far more likely to play your best when you are calm and collected. GL. :-)

[Wallacer 0]

Thanks for the good advice guys. I especially enjoyed the 72 hour sex marathon suggestion. I don't have a girlfriend but it is friday, maybe I'll go down to the club and go "Tang trolling". Actually, I'm gonna try the take a couple shots method, along with some good tunes, and then go play with my coworkders again tonight. Maybe the curse I set upon myself last company game will go away if I play there again. I have a lot of work to do to get into the green for august, but I still have a job for two more days, so that should keep me afloat. Just had a thought. Maybe I should have a DN style "party day" tonight. I'm leaving my job on Tuesday, maybe I'll put a few back, play like an animal preflop, and try to remember why I like the game to begin with. Good weekend everyoneWallacerp.s. I was just brining up the KK vs. AA hand because it was uncanny how that seemed to perfectly mark the start of my bad run. Maybe I'll get a hand to mark the start of my really good run tonight.

[iveyfan30 0]

mexican tequila and asian hookers..or was that asian tequila and mexican hookers?? i get those 2 confused....

[Smasharoo 0]

Remember that you will typically learn a lot more from the hands you lose than you would from winning handsYeah, that's a great way to go on a prolonged downswing. The only time you learn anything from hands you lose, aside from the fact that Holdem has a lot of luck involved, is when you're a losing player.Where do you people come up with the stuff?Oh, I had AA rivered by a set. Gee, I learned a lot there.

[Jordan 1]

lol

[Sudden14 0]

River came low unconnected rainbow. he checkraised me, and knowing his style, I immediatly put him on a pair of nines (top pair). I reraised all in only to be called with AA.

You sound like a really experienced player. The first 3 cards are called the flop!(sw) lol! and good read, quit poker for a week.

[rsmbox 1]

Take a day or two off, smoke a world class cigar, drink a margarita and watch Dumb and Dumber.

best advice ever...works for me every time

[scoots 0]

nutbar

[Stylin_Fish 0]

Play bad cards hoping for miracle flops.

[Ron_Mexico 4,219]

Buy new shoes?

[jonnyz 0]

When you are running bad.....Come find jonnyz on pokerstars and challenge me to $100 HU match, that way atleast one of us will be on an upswing.

[elaear 0]

first: a couple of shots...second: a long hot showerthird: a long cold showerfourth: 72 hour sex marathonback to the action of poker

why would you have sex AFTER the showers? i'd think before or during would be best.

[KotoD 0]

Back to the point of this post, I'm wondering if anyone has any good methods to get themselves out of a funk.  Is there anything good to read on the net or anything?  What do you guys do?  I'm not used to running bad for more than a few hours at a time.  Any advice would be appreciated before I go bankrupt!Wallacer

http://tinyurl.com/a8eg2http://tinyurl.com/exenvhttp://tinyurl.com/8mxaa

[Spademan 94]

I take the cover off a light socket and cram my limp dick in it.

[dmb1spe 0]

I take the cover off a light socket and cram my limp dick in it.

Allllllllrighty then

[KotoD 0]

I take the cover off a light socket and cram my limp dick in it.

You know you're lying. You haven't been able to get a light socket to give you a second look in YEARS. :diamondsk: :hearts2:

[allinbluff35 0]

[Socko669 0]

Remember that you will typically learn a lot more from the hands you lose than you would from winning handsYeah, that's a great way to go on a prolonged downswing. The only time you learn anything from hands you lose, aside from the fact that Holdem has a lot of luck involved, is when you're a losing player.Where do you people come up with the stuff?Oh, I had AA rivered by a set. Gee, I learned a lot there.

Well Smash, it was obvious that the OP was somewhat of a newbie. Most newbies dont start out as knowledgeable and winning players, so if they plan on improving it is up to them to figure out why they lost the hands they played...were they playing -ev hands, out of position, did they bet poorly, etc etc.So, a losing player who is trying to improve is probably going to learn alot more from the hands they lose than the hands they win...if they take the time to study, read, and learn. Get it? I dont see how anyone could disagrewith that.

[John T 0]

When running bad at one game I generally play something else. Whether in be switching form cash games to tourneys to SnGs in NLHE or switching to LHE, Omaha, Omaha/8, or some other varation. I believe this is another advantage of being well versed in multiple forms of poker. I rarely ever quit playing completely. I just switch it up a bit and it always seems to get me through tough times.

[ReleaseTheWolves 0]

Slow down chief. The key to stopping a bad run of cards is simple:STOP PLAYING until you are fully confident that you will crush some fools. Usually when you are running 'bad'; you are generally unlucky but also you are likely panincking and putting yourself in unfavorable spots. My advice:Take a day or two off, smoke a world class cigar, drink a margarita and watch Dumb and Dumber.

ha i like the dumb and dumber comment...my all time fave movie andi havent even thought about using it as a way to get out of a poker funk....yeah this is oen area i need to work on myself. when im getting beat by lucky fish time after time, when my hands dont hold up, when my aces get cracked by a set of dueces, OVER AND FOCKING OVER, i cant take it.i went on a three month run earlier this year, right when visiting atlantic city for the first time. for three days of poker, the best hand i seen was a straight. never got anything going and i went bad for a whole quarter of a year. after that, i gave away everything i had poker related and just quit. obviously i calmed down and came back, but i had the right idea just wrong actions....just calm down, go do something else (i play halo alot online), and just get your mind off of it. dont watch rounders, dont watch the WPT, dont log on, dont hit the B&M....walk away for a little while. Run, exercise, box (thats a real load off esp on a punching bag) and go back when you are confident.now having said that, i think i need to take my own advice cause im in a bad funk now and im trying to play it out, and that dont work. kills the bankroll.hope my 2 cents was useful.