Hey all,
I'm just in one of those bad variance spots at the moment where i'm running -ev and getting outdrawn like crazy in those really +ev spots blah blah blah. (RIGGED!!! Joking!) Anyway, in my last little chunk of tournies and cash games i've played I noticed that i'm starting to play worse to go along with the bad luck. Anyway this is usually where I take a small break and try to get some inspiration again so I don't keep playing and start to tilt and play too aggro. Mike and Worm just aren't helping things anymore lol.
Anyway, what do you guys usually do to stay hyped for poker?
When I'm feeling worn out or frustrated I like to freshen up my mindset. I find the best way to do this is by reading
poker books or watching Training Videos to rebuild my confidence.
Lately I read Modern Poker Theory by Michael Acevedo while going thru the ICM courses from bbzpoker and raise your edge. In doing this I was able to see where I was making mistakes and where I could improve (really helped me get my ranges right).
This gave me confidence (or "hype" as you say) to come back to the tables and try what I had learned. It definitely helped my results and kept me more excited for the next session.
I think the real key is maintaining confidence. Because of the volatile nature of this game it's easy to ride the highs of winning and feel stuck when it the pits of losing. But, if you are able to do something to keep your confidence high even when you lose (for me it's knowing that I'm making my
poker game better) you will be immune to the negative variance (from a mental perspective at least).
And this immunity is very important, because without it the swings can take you out of the game, but with it you'll be able to play through them and catch the good variance on the other side!