Advice on the mental side of the game.

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Swanny19735

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Hi, I am finding that when I am playing well I am just enjoying trying to play my best and not so much on winning. Conversely, when I have lost I become focused on trying to get back to winning ways and end up loosing more. The more I loose, the harder I try to win and the more I loose. Before long, all the bankroll I have gained is gone. Does anyone have any advice or tips to help me falling into this trap?
 
terryk

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I think with anything you do,you will become better with experience.Keep playing,learning,take your lumps like a man,and play on.;) If your a smart,then you'll get better,if you don't well,,,nobody can make you smarter.:rolleyes:
 
Peppinotom

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Forget about the money, concentrate on the chips, that helped me a lot to play with less pressure. It's always only this one table with 8 other guys or girls that you have to beat. Then there comes the next table and sometimes there comes this last and only Final table, and guess what??? You have to win this and it's done!!:cool:
 
Lheticus

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If you're trying to win and losing MORE because of it, you're not exactly trying to win, are you? Take a hard look at the way you've been playing. If you can honestly say it's not because of you getting tilted or coolered, rethink the way you play. Look for some poker books to learn new strategies. Ask questions on here about specific plays where you lost even though you believe you made the right move.

Basically, no man is an island and your game can benefit from the perspective of others, don't be afraid to ask more specific advice from this or to examine how the experts do it--while keeping in mind WHY they do it of course.
 
infonazar

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I think, that when you start to lose, you should stop playing and take a break. Rest, will allow you to better concentrate on the game. Good luck.
 
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Swanny19735

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I think with anything you do,you will become better with experience.Keep playing,learning,take your lumps like a man,and play on.;) If your a smart,then you'll get better,if you don't well,,,nobody can make you smarter.:rolleyes:



Hahaha thanks, I’m enjoying playing and trying to improve my game. I am working on all aspects of my game. When I look back at my game when I am loosing I make to many calls with weaker hands out of position.
 
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Swanny19735

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If you're trying to win and losing MORE because of it, you're not exactly trying to win, are you? Take a hard look at the way you've been playing. If you can honestly say it's not because of you getting tilted or coolered, rethink the way you play. Look for some poker books to learn new strategies. Ask questions on here about specific plays where you lost even though you believe you made the right move.

Basically, no man is an island and your game can benefit from the perspective of others, don't be afraid to ask more specific advice from this or to examine how the experts do it--while keeping in mind WHY they do it of course.



Thanks, I have looked at my game when I’m loosing and I tend to play with weaker starting hands out of position and try to bluff too often. I know the basics but find when I’m not in the right frame of mind I don’t play as well as I can. How do you get your mojo back when you loose it?
 
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Swanny19735

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Forget about the money, concentrate on the chips, that helped me a lot to play with less pressure. It's always only this one table with 8 other guys or girls that you have to beat. Then there comes the next table and sometimes there comes this last and only Final table, and guess what??? You have to win this and it's done!!:cool:



Thanks, will try that. One table at a time.
 
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Swanny19735

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I think, that when you start to lose, you should stop playing and take a break. Rest, will allow you to better concentrate on the game. Good luck.



Thanks, I will try that the next time I loose.
 
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As others have have written, taking a break when you "heat up" is probably a key solution. Another thing I would like to add is BR management. Losing a buy in or two shouldnt really hurt that mutch, as its only a small percent of what you have available "to loose". If you use a stickt br. management it is very hard to lose your br in a couple of hours as you should move down if your br decrease.

My 2 cents
 
terryk

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Hahaha thanks, I’m enjoying playing and trying to improve my game. I am working on all aspects of my game. When I look back at my game when I am loosing I make to many calls with weaker hands out of position.
By no means am i calling anyone dumb,lol,,,i can seem harsh,,,sry. Looking back at hands is good and being able to recognize weak spots is key,,,sounds like you're on your way mate! Keep it up!! :cheers:
 
kratos

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I think that your mind needs to be focused only at the game,and you have to have a specific goal.Do you want to earn money or just recreation?Do this question to yourself.A good song is good too ,to calm your mind down.
 
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mariale_1990

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I understand you, it's the same! I think it happens that we put more pressure on ourselves when we lose and try to recover and that clouds us a little bit when deciding what to play and how to play, sometimes you just have to stop playing and clear your mind
 
MeSayBeauxm

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I agree with those who say take a break when you find yourself chasing. I find the best advice to be just focusing on making the correct decisions, and living with the outcomes with equanimity, regardless of whether they are beneficial or not.

For me, this is reason 1a. why I play tourneys over cash games. I can't just never separate the money aspect in cash games because those chips in front of me are worth what they say they are. In tourneys it is much less a problem. Reason 1b. of course is that winning tourneys is a great frickin rush.
 
Shrops

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Not good

A good poker player has to play good tight poker no matter how bad it gets. The looser you play the more you are bound to lose. Don't do it. You would be better off trying a break than to play bad poker.
 
radartodd69

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I told a friend of mine I'm gonna keep playing til I win a big one and by big I mean as close to a million as possible. That was 10 years ago. I'm negative 25k or so as I write. I'm pretty stubborn enough to keep trying anyway.
 
BnaD

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Don't force it. You can always fold and wait for a better spot. Patience and bankroll management are key.
 
Nathan Smith

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I rule I learned once is if you lose three buy-ins go home. There is always another day to play. Also if you are losing because you are making incorrect calls or stupid bluffs go home - if you get unlucky but play correctly - continue.
 
Lheticus

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Thanks, I have looked at my game when I’m loosing and I tend to play with weaker starting hands out of position and try to bluff too often. I know the basics but find when I’m not in the right frame of mind I don’t play as well as I can. How do you get your mojo back when you loose it?



Ooooh, not sure I can help you there. To be honest I probably blow up worse than you do, to the point where I outright play bad on purpose because I become THAT done with playing when I get frustrated enough. :(
 
Halcyon1979

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The best thing I have discovered during my time playing poker is to focus more on playing my game to the best of my ability rather than bankroll ups and downs .That way I can more easily avoid becoming frustrated if I happen to catch a bad beat or two. I also completely agree with the person who recommended taking a break or rest.
 
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Swanny19735

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Ooooh, not sure I can help you there. To be honest I probably blow up worse than you do, to the point where I outright play bad on purpose because I become THAT done with playing when I get frustrated enough. :(



Hahaha done that too! [emoji23]
 
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Swanny19735

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The best thing I have discovered during my time playing poker is to focus more on playing my game to the best of my ability rather than bankroll ups and downs .That way I can more easily avoid becoming frustrated if I happen to catch a bad beat or two. I also completely agree with the person who recommended taking a break or rest.



Thanks, it sounds easy but I just need to learn to catch myself when I start playing rubbish and take a break. Gonna practice it and see how it goes.
 
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Swanny19735

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I rule I learned once is if you lose three buy-ins go home. There is always another day to play. Also if you are losing because you are making incorrect calls or stupid bluffs go home - if you get unlucky but play correctly - continue.



Thanks, getting loads of good advice which makes total sense. Going to try having a break when I start loosing.
 
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Swanny19735

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Don't force it. You can always fold and wait for a better spot. Patience and bankroll management are key.



Couldn’t agree more! When I have those two nailed I might be a half decent player [emoji23]
 
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Swanny19735

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I told a friend of mine I'm gonna keep playing til I win a big one and by big I mean as close to a million as possible. That was 10 years ago. I'm negative 25k or so as I write. I'm pretty stubborn enough to keep trying anyway.



I hope you get there in the end! If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. [emoji23] I’m not giving up either. Going to keep working on my game and trying to improve.
 
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