What to do?

Lately my game has been hampered by a ill that I have never really faced before. I am busting out of many tournaments and SnGs without what I feel is a insufficient amount of cash for the quality of my cards and play. And the reason is obvious to me but the cause is still cloudy.

I am busting out because I am getting quality hole cards and then catch nothing on the board and lose to a suckout or lesser hand. And I'd say 85% of the hands that I busted out on were played by the book. Or at least the ones I've read. I feel as if I am being painted into a corner and then get led down by the inevitable road too nowhere and on then launched to the rail with a 3rd place finish instead of a 1st place finish despite a sizeable chip lead only hands earlier.

The last straw occurred only moments earlier and that was what has led me to write this post in the hopes of regaining some clarity in regards to what the hell I am trying to do at the poker table. It was a $18 + 2 (Turbo) SnG on bodog. I one were to peruse my hand history for this SnG they will immediately l notice a glaring number of extremely attractive starting hands like A J (suited), Q K (suited), KK, AA, A 9 (suited), JJ but no luck at the end when convention called me into the corner with no luck or suckouts.

I called a Pre-Flop an all-in holding QQ and lost to a Q 9 when the board read:
8 K J Q 10.

Then on the very next hand I was delt pocket Kings went All-In preflop was called by a A 3 and lost when a Ace hit on the river and I was sent packing in 4th place. So in a matter of two hand I went from being the chip leader to 4th place and no cash in the matter of two hands after dominating the previous 15 with moves that obviously are not correct but seem so logical at the time.

Help me! Someone please find rationality behind this skid. In the past when I got hole cards of that magnitude I would capitalize and win. Did I win despite myself or has something fundamental changed in my mind on how poker should be played?

Bad beats are a part of playing well. If you're playing correctly, you're getting your money in ahead. And getting sucked out on is a part of being ahead. Get used to it. KK vs. A3os is only a 71% favorite. 2 out of 5 times, you're going to lose, and there's nothing you can do about it.

However, I have a feeling that your play is less than stellar. Don't focus on the bad beats. Focus on the thing you can control. Post some hands that you think you may have played questionably in the hand analysis forum. I'm sure they'll find something you can improve upon.

Variance is a reality in poker for everyone. But dwelling on bad beats and being results oriented will not do you any good.

If this is becoming a them of your poker game, I would strongly recomend changing the game out and work some slow plays in to your mix..... my experience at that level is that the lowest chip stack will play almost any high card, to try and make you fold or get lucky. play them things a little tighter at the end..

Thanks so far

After 12 hours since my post I sort of embarrassed by my post because I probably sounded like some newbie who is a poor loser. The reality is I have played tens of thousands of poker hands online and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. So I understand variance and bad beats.

I just think that my play had improved to the point where my expectation level is such that anything less than a cash at any buy-in 1-table SnG is a let down.

Nobody plays perfect poker and to that I am no exception. I apologize for my earlier diatribe and thank you for your advice that has brought me back to earth.

New Day, New Cards and a New Attitude!

It sounds like you were just in one of those streaks where like most your losing coin flips and running bad. You said you've played 1000s of hands so you know it's just part of the game. Stay positive and hopefully it will turn around soon gl

Variance hits everyone sooner or later. As long as you make the correct decisions and aren't donking away your chips you should come out of it eventually.

~H

I always go on a real bad run when I am chip leader on the final table. For me good luck is always followed by very bad luck.

ya man been there many times i think near the end you get some players that have never been that far so they play donk hands like A3 with 20 player left cause they have no clue wtf there doing or what good hand is so they have made it that far for the first time and keep plaen junk and it amost impossible too get them too fold cause they think hands like that are good have had that happen more then one time , major thing i think is inexperience on there part just keep playen your game

Sometimes when you run into a streak of bad cards, it's not a bad idea to just sit back, stop, and try enjoying something else besides poker (crazy talk, I know!)

It helps clear things up, and also helps you to not tilt. GL on future hands.

I have a new (possibly dangerous) goal when I face situations like this recently.

Whether I lose because of bad luck, or bad decisions is one thing. And understanding why my decision was bad is extremely important IMHO...

But unless I am leaving the table after a bad beat or bad play or two then I have a more immediate problem than even analysis of the hands in question (which, again, is important).

I have to deal with the problem of my play deteriorating slightly, or even enormously after getting smacked around at the table.

I am talking about SELF CONTROL. And maybe you have this down... but i don't. I get tilted and I lose even more trying to win back my chips.

But its getting better. I take a deeop breath. Write a note to myself to spend some time thingking about the Boat over Boat hand that crushed me later, and get back to my good game as soon as possible.

My numbers are better since I started working on this.

Anyway.. hang in, and good luck!

cAPS

you seem likem u got your game down packed id say if your winning keep it up if your loosing then study your game more and make changes