When the going gets tough

How do you guys stay confident during downswings? Is there anything in particular you say to yourself or do you just get on with it and play on through?
Do you read up and work on your game more than normal?

Im fairly new to the cash grind so im struggling with the downswings. Ive had a fairly good month moving from 5nl to 25nl but after a bad run I feel like I should move back down after I lost 10 BI (even though Im still up 6 BI) at 25nl.

Ill throw in my graph to show how im going if anyone cares

So what do you guys do when the going gets tough??

The tough get going.

-Re-examine your biggest losses and see if you made mistakes.
-compare your HEM stats from before your dw to your current stats and see if youre doing something differently. Maybe youre cold calling more or calling 3b more and bleeding money etc

- Have someone with fresh eyes look at your stats and big hands

- take some time off

- move down in stakes and hopefully win and build up more confidence

Stop believing in downswings.

WVHillbilly said:

Stop believing in downswings.

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This is confusing

downswings are a real part of the game in my opinion

youregoodmate said:

This is confusing

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You're never in a downswing. The cards have no memory. The last 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000 hands you've played mean nothing to the next hand.

The problem for a lot of people who have recently run bad is that they start to change their game (ie play bad) because they think they're "in a downswing". This, of course, prolongs the downswing.

So if you know there is no such thing as "running bad" or being "in a downswing" you can only focus on the next hand and your play is more likely to be unaffected.

+1 to WVH. To expand on it you can have had a downswing or you can have ran bad. The past tense is a real thing, the present tense isn't.

That's how I find best way to deal with it, as lnog as you have an edge you still make money every time you play (it just happen to be real money).

WVHillbilly said:

You're never in a downswing. The cards have no memory. The last 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000 hands you've played mean nothing to the next hand.

The problem for a lot of people who have recently run bad is that they start to change their game (ie play bad) because they think they're "in a downswing". This, of course, prolongs the downswing.

So if you know there is no such thing as "running bad" or being "in a downswing" you can only focus on the next hand and your play is more likely to be unaffected.

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this is brilliant. never thought about it like this at all. genius

Absolutely. To succeed in poker I believe you have to have WV's mind set.

The next hand you're playing is not affected by mystical powers.

Put it in your own power

WVHillbilly said:

You're never in a downswing. The cards have no memory. The last 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000 hands you've played mean nothing to the next hand.

The problem for a lot of people who have recently run bad is that they start to change their game (ie play bad) because they think they're "in a downswing". This, of course, prolongs the downswing.

So if you know there is no such thing as "running bad" or being "in a downswing" you can only focus on the next hand and your play is more likely to be unaffected.

Click to expand...

You're being too pernickety with what I said. If a 100m runner says he's running badly, it doesnt mean at that exact moment he is on the track running or that his next run will be bad aswell.

Therefore, when I say I am in a downswing or 'running badly', it doesnt mean that my luck will continue like that. Just that recently thats how the cards have gone. So in effect you are arguing against my English as opposed to my poker mentality.

My question is just what do you do when you (are in) HAVE HAD a downswing?

dooydoo said:

-Re-examine your biggest losses and see if you made mistakes.
-compare your HEM stats from before your dw to your current stats and see if youre doing something differently. Maybe youre cold calling more or calling 3b more and bleeding money etc

- Have someone with fresh eyes look at your stats and big hands

- take some time off

- move down in stakes and hopefully win and build up more confidence

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply this is what I was looking for.

You are never "in" a downswing. Changing your mindset will help you more than looking for leaks that may or may not exist.

You have just ignored my last post completely

Welcome to the club.

+1 to wvh's great post

But personally when the going gets tough, I adjust my game (ie TILT). Go up in stakes (usually no less than 25% of br on the table). Boost PFR, cbet more and barrel more (or c/r with air). Shove rivers. When in doubt of what to do, shove. Usually works for me

^^ What :O