Need some advice with downswing

For about the last 4.5k hands I have down swinged 800bb looking at my graph on HEM. I have been running particulary bad lately especially in non showdown.

And basically I'm starting to doubt my self, having thoughts like "Was I only ever winning because I was on a heater, and I'm actually a losing player?" Dont mistake this post for me venting but I really want to know is 4500 hands just a small sample size and its just variance, or should I be looking into changing my game.
I have reviewed and pokerstoved most hands from all my sessions and apart from a couple of spots I cant find many mistakes.
If you have taken the time to read this I really appretiate it and would like some advice or insight on how long most downswings last in the experience of other CC'ers and if theres anything I can do about it. Thankyou!

Take some time away and try again later. I find that i need to take a break sometimes for a few hours or sometimes a few days depending on how im feeling. It usually helps me out, hopefully your downswing has passed now.

Try posting some hands. There are lots of members here who are good at giving feedback. If you need work on your game then reviewing the hands yourself may not be enough as you may not spot some of the smaller mistakes that can lead to big losses.

Good luck - hope things turn around for you soon!

runnerx289 said:

And basically I'm starting to doubt my self, having thoughts like "Was I only ever winning because I was on a heater, and I'm actually a losing player?"

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Whatever the reason is for the losses, try not to let it affect your confidence and certainly don't start doubting yourself as a player. Chances are 4.5k hands isn't a big enough sample and could be just variance.

Try and post some hands on here as people here are very good at identifying leaks and helping out if you are playing badly in some spots.

Good luck

I'll give you the same advice my golf coach gave me, "Lay off two weeks ... and then quit."
lol
Just kidding. It may be a good time for you take a break, though. Give it a few days, read these boards to satisfy your poker thirst, and then come back with a fresh perspective. Start a new graph from scratch and watch as you rebuild your bankroll. Take it slow and set realistic goals for yourself.

Runner, I'm hardly experienced enough to give advice, but I just went through a similar.

I had a 6000 hand downswing where I was down about the same, 800 bbs and then it changed and in 2000 hands, I was up a couple of hundred. In that stretch, nearly everything I played hit.

Many here have given me the advice "Everyone goes through it eventually, and eventually everyone comes out of it".

Hence the reason why BRM is so important.

While your downswing could be due to variance, don't automatically assume it is. The more severe a downswing is, the higher the probability that variance isn't the sole cause.

thanks for advice everyone, going to take a couple days of and really work on my game. thanks for advice

I had same problem from last week ..playing daily 10-12 hours and was loosing with AA against many trash hands....So I have decided to take a week of and i will start fresh tomorrow....hopefully in positive heat

T0mmmi said:

I had same problem from last week ..playing daily 10-12 hours and was loosing with AA against many trash hands....So I have decided to take a week of and i will start fresh tomorrow....hopefully in positive heat

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kind of on the same boat lately but with kings, short stackers 3bet shoving pre with ace rag always manage to find an ace ;p happened about 3 times. back playing today and am up a couple of buy ins after about 2.5 hours swo feeling better

I think it was a 10k hand sample to have a rough idea and 100k hands to have a solid idea of how well you are playing. I think you will get more help if you search this stuff on google. Just look up variance and how much is a good sample size. Ive done that a few times and it makes me feel so much better and gives me a little boost of confidence. So knowing what to expect in a downswing can really help you push through them with more confidence about your game.

And a little advice if your tilting or have tilt problems play tournments. Tilt control is extremely important in cash games.

continue play, 4.5K hands really is not an enough sample
but as what you sad, if you feel uncomfortable about the loss
just stop loss by playing lower grade...
GL

PS: it is very hard to measure how long downswing last for one certain player. it really depends on lot of variables.

Just want to say a huge thankyou to everyone who posted on here. I took a day off posted some hands and stats on 2p2, watched some duces cracked vids. cleared my head and came back already up another buy in and playing a lot better, a few leaks have been identified but other than that I think around 80% was due to variance (more or less) anyway I probably lost more than I should of but as I said still learning and feel like im getting better. Thankyou.

Good to here you have cleared your head, there is nothing worse for your game.

Last time I had a huge downslide It taught me a lot. It made me realise that Poker was controlling me & That I should be controlling it. Im a lot better at my game & now have the patience to back it up.
I also found change can be a good thing. I went MTT hunting the last time I was sliding in cash games. I almost got hooked on them too. But I always go back to the Ring Games.

Make a break couple of day,clear your maind do something else than poker.