On the losing End

I've been on the losing end as of late i haven't cash in a game in a long time, thing are really bad.I just don't know what to do, this really SUCKS.When i think i might win with set or straight i always end up losing to a flush. Just don't know what to do. Give me a shout out guys.

I don't think anyone can help you here. You're not giving us enough information.

First what kind of a player are you? Are you playing cash games? Multi-table tournaments? Sit & Gos? Satellites?

How long have you been playing poker and how much do you play? Where do you play?

What sort of bankroll do you have? What are your limits? What is your avearge buy in if you play tourneys? Have you been increasing them lately?

Have you ever been a winning player and now you start losing badly? Or did you just lose small and now you lose big. Or maybe you used to make good money and now you can only break even? Again I have no idea, you're not telling us.

What sort of style of play do you have? Tight? Loose? And what kind of environment suits you best? Tournies with a lot of entrants? 45 players sit and gos? Or short handed ring games?

Any problems in your private life? Has that affected the way you play? Are you tired at the moment? Is work stressing you out more than it usually does?

Do you keep records of how much goes in and out. By that I mean EVERYTHING!!

Finally why do you think you are losing?

Before you can tell us a bit more there's no way anyone can help you here.

I can however give you general pieces of advice for when you're losing at poker:

- Don't blame luck, blame yourself. Blaming luck (eventhough I do it sometimes, we all do) prevents you from improving as a player.
- Take a short break from poker. If you're losing, you get angry about it. It clouds your judgement and you lose some more. Stop the downward spiral by taking a break from the game and recharge your mental batteries.
- Keep a record of EVERYTHING. Every cash game, every tournament with buy-in, limit, number of players, finishing position and so on and so on. Then periodically analyse your results. Identify your areas of strength and just like a greedy corporation, ruthlessly eliminate the bits that are losing money and focus on where you have success.
- Maybe you're just not a good player, full stop. But you can remedy that by doing more research.
- And the worst kept secret in poker: Don't call too much, start raising or betting and playing aggressively. That's always the first bit of advice I give any player.

Hope you get through this but if you're confident about your abilities you should return to winning ways.

I believe if you cant place in any Sng's with basic strategy you arent playing it right. Ive been placing at least 1 out of every 2 tables using basic strategy, usually playing tight aggressive works and ive noticed to lean off the slow play single tables as people love to call draws.

Well either you are playing bad or it's just the variance (luck factor) catching up to you.

Assuming oyu aren't playing bad.. its justa bad run. Happens to everyone. Even great players could go 20-30 MTT at times without cashing on occasion.

Keep getting it in good (and don't be afraid to gamble occasionally and get it in bad) and things will turn back around.

If you were winning before you will again.