Handling a Slump

NCDaddy

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What is your procedure for dealing with a slump? Take a break? Different game? Play through it?

For the last three weeks, no matter which site I play, what game I play I am 2nd best all around. Bubbling in SNG's left and right. Some of it I know is bad play due to frustration. Some of it is pure suck out luck for my opponent. I took a day off here and there ready to come back and play the next day only to find myself in the same situation. Is it time for a prolonged break?

I do have a vaca coming up - that may be a good time to put the lap top down for a week. I dunno. This is the part of poker I hate - the losing. LOL
 
Staneff

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Maybe your problem is in your signature? :D just kidding

The answer which will solve your problem is "patience". Every time you think you are ready for a break you choose the easy way to solve your problem. Play more concentrate and you will get your wins back! GL
 
MTCashman

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I usually take a break from the site and try a different one, if I am having shit luck all around the best thing for me is take a break and refresh
 
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get used to losing, it happens often. If it makes you feel better, look at a really good players graph, and check out the downswings they faced. helps me keep things in perspective.

My worst run is around 39 sng's in a row where i didn't cash, however still managed a 13% ROI over 3k games
 
psy0nyd3

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When I hit a bad downswing I tend to tilt from frustration and blow up my whole bankroll. I think I've learned my lesson by now but we say that every time dont we.

Patience!
 
PsychoVas

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Downswings and even prolonged ones are common. The danger is that frustration might make you play higher stakes in order to make up for the losses or get trapped in the endless circle of bad luck - loss - bad play - greater loss etc. Both ways to get out of the spell are good. I prefer to start playing a different variation of the game. Draw, stud, badugi, mixed games etc. Preferably with play money as a newbie.
Just keep your calm.
 
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A break will do you do good or too vent off some frustration due too a bad beat go for a power walk the key in poker is patience GL
 
John A

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I kick the nearest pregnant cat to kick, and find a baby to punch. That always helps.

Kidding... definitely take a break. Do several things to get your mind off of poker. Review a lot of your hands, answer some forum discussions, then get back to it when your mind is right.

I'm in one of those deceptive slumps right now. I'm not winning any big pots. Whether I get my money in good (which is most of the time) or bad, I'm not winning. I can't even remember the last big pot I won. It's been a few months now. I'm winning small pots, not running well, and just playing phenomenal poker to even be close to small profits.

That's the other part about poker that's hard to see. You can be running bad by just not having people have strong second best hands to pay you off. It doesn't always have to do with suckouts.
 
akaRobbo

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Drop down stakes for a bit. I've been forced too, I was running terribly and was constantly losing BIs. Maybe it www my play sometimes, but even I know I've had rotten luck too.

Now I'm running at 14BB/100 after a few thousand hands. The players are noticeably poorer and confidence is restored.
 
RegHC23

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When you are on a slump just drop down in stakes and get some confidence back going. Also really take a look at what you are doing in your hands and see maybe what you could have done to keep the slump at a managed level. In all I can say everyone goes through it and you must keep you head up and keep pushing along. Read a book do something else besides poker also will help you out. I find it the best to just sit down and reflect on my play and then make adjustments according to it.
 
BigJamo

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I go freerolling.

I also drop down a level till it passes.
 
LizRang

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I think you've got good advice here. I don't know if others run into this but for me poker has two facets. One is poker, which I love or I wouldn't play. The other is social. It makes it hard for me to set down sometimes so I either drop stakes or play less. If I only played when I had the mindset where I was willing to have the patience and the focus to really be playing to win and not for any other reason - I know I would do a lot better overall.
 
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Youre not alone my friend. :)

1. Control tilt by knowing it.
2. Drop down to the lowest stake or freerolling.
3. Take a break. Dont try to continue.
4. Patience is a virtue.

Good luck !!!
 
bkniefel

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It sounds like you are in a funk and might need a break but definately need to evaluate your play in the sngs that you mentioned where you bubble. Im assuming that you play a pattern and its not welcoming for a win. Not saying that you are playing piorly but for ex: if you double up and sit back until a good hand comes around but the blinfs are too high so you getshoved on by a weak stack and call with the best hand yet he hits..

I would try a different strategy for 10 sngs and see where it takes you. Ive been in slumps and took a break until i wanted to play again. It usually resets the batteries and gets me back in the game. I hope it turns around for you.

Have fun on your vacation! = )
 
PLAYINBIG

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I have also been in a slump going on 4 weeks on a poker site that I play @.I'll be honest I tilted in a game last week because I got frustrated.But that doesn't help it only takes away from your bank roll.It makes you wonder"whats wrong with my game & why am I not winning"? I know I can & have won MTT's .I just have to deal with whats being dealt to me for now keep my patience stay away from tilting or just walk away.It's hard sometimes but if you don't that,the bankroll that you have worked so hard to get will vanish fast.I think this is one of the longest slumps that I've been in for awhile.Just hang in there keep your patience,your cool &keep grinding it out till the game starts going your way.That's what I am trying to do right now.Good Luck to you on the tables.
 
rickypr18

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I keep slumping, without sleep, until my bankroll is gone.
 
Jackdaclown

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Dropping down the stakes is a great idea. I am going to have to try thet my next downswing..


On the other note, maybe a day or two isn't a long enough break. I went on a 4 week break and things seem to be better. Did a lot of looking at my game play and really making some adjustments has helped me a ton.
 
O

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You should check out the book "The Mental Game of Poker". It will help you get on track
 
wanderingthehall

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My results don't have anything to do with deciding whether or not to play, even if I'm on tilt. It can affect the stakes I choose to play. If I'm in a bad slump and it's shaken my confidence I will choose lower buy-ins.

I keep it simple and play when I feel like playing. I stick with BRM so that it the conditions, no matter what they are, will be protected from major swings.
 
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itrade

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Im always in a slump because of the damn casino :(
 
suby_rafael

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putting in the effort

Just taking a long break might not be enough. If you take a long break and come back and have another slump of similar kind then that can really put you down mentally for some period. In order to avoid that you need to analyze what went wrong in the past few weeks play. You need to identify the mistakes and whether your emotions are getting the better off you in some situations and try to find a solution. If you make an effort in dealing with these mistakes positively you will have a better mental preparation when you resume playing after the break. And a couple of good sessions will then give you extra confidence and VOILA - you will be back to your winning ways.:dancing:

Note:- I did not see you immediate future into a crystal ball although my answer might give such an impression, you need to do all that by yourself.:icon_rend
 
Micro Maven

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The way I see it you've got two options:
1) Fire up the $50 a hand blackjack Table until you're broke
2) Drop down in stakes to mitigate the losses / rebuild your swag
 
akaRobbo

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The way I see it you've got two options:
1) Fire up the $50 a hand Blackjack Table until you're broke
2) Drop down in stakes to mitigate the losses / rebuild your swag

This is brilliant. Haha!
 
Henry Minute

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I go freerolling.

I also drop down a level till it passes.
That's fine, in theory, but I only play freerolls so where do I drop down to? :D

I've just reminded myself of the quote
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." which I think is one Yogi Bera's.
 
gattusoleon

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patience patience patience and no more that patience for be a great player the patience is first
 
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