Losing streak: how did you handle it?

[ramorleans]

We all know how it feels to have a losing streak. I keep hearing this from other people that bouncing back after a poker loss is all about mindset.

For me whether it’s in the casino or at home, taking a hit in poker can be a tough pill to swallow especially it affects your relationship around you. Have you ever bounced back from a tough poker loss or a losing streak? How do you guys handle it?

 

[vitas_top]

Of course, the losing streak in poker is unsettling and very frustrating. I take a few days off and don't play poker at all. That usually works for me.

 

[GARCIA PABLO DANIEL]

When you have a bad streak and luck doesn't accompany you or play well, the best thing is to stop playing, rest and play again when that bad drink has happened!!!

 

[YoungRon]

Then I play something else. The most unpleasant thing is when in a losing streak I move to lower limits, and then I start winning. Why didn't I win at higher limits?

 

[amonlima]

The losing streak is part of the process, however, we must know if we are executing the correct moves to always be profitable in the long run.

 

[Gallarado777]

I don't know about others but it's easy for me to move away from losing, I just forget and I start a new day tomorrow what happened yesterday or the next day is quickly forgotten and I start living a new day

 

[waitandblead123]

You need to take a break from the game and then go win with renewed vigor.

 

[Risto234]

Probably with mixing Mr Excuses and Rage Monster together

 

[Matt_Burns88]

If you're on a losing streak that affects personal relationships, you are playing for too higher stakes, or "scared money". For most of us here, poker is a hobby; it's supposed to be fun and enjoyable, whether we win or lose, just like playing for a local football side, or similar. You pay your money you have a good time, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Variance is one of the most overlooked aspects of poker at the lower stakes. People that would otherwise be winning players end up re-loading over and over again because they don't understand swings, play with too smaller bankroll and move up stakes far too quickly.

Check out primedope.com for a tournament variance calculator. Have a play around with tournament sizes and ROI% and I'm certain you'll be amazed how a solid player with a 30% ROI can be 200 buy-ins down over 1000 tournaments. This is why BRM is so massively important.

Why do I say all of this? Well, as I said, variance is often overlooked, so understanding that you can be a winning player in the long run, but still have (often protracted) downswings is all part of the game, it doesn't bite so hard. Again, playing within your means and good BRM will prevent losses that are so be that they start affecting your personal life.

 

[Gritz18]

Have you ever bounced back from a tough poker loss or a losing streak? How do you guys handle it?

It's easy for me to deal with losses in poker, sometimes I go up to a week without winning a penny, but I don't care, as I only play freerolls and my game volume is very low, I know that the variance will affect me a lot, But like I said, I don't care because I'm not investing anything.

 

[muzenza2012]

for a while I hated losing, I got irritated and wanted to play more and more and more until I got the win. But nowadays, I can better understand that losing is part of it, that losing with AA is part of it, because in the game there is a variance that changes all the time, so, even if you are a great player, you will hardly win all of them. That's the game, that's life.

 

[Dimidrol2]

The fact that this will happen to everyone is a fact and no one knows how long it will last. I think I'm in a tilt now too, or I'm tired of poker, maybe because I've reached my goal. I think it's not the best thing to stop playing, but you really need to rest.

 

[Cooking]

The good news is that all losing streak eventually will end one day. I just keep playing at my best. Sometimes I only play freerolls for a couple of days or don't play poker at all in these days.

 

[gupiel0k69]

Just as Matt_Burns88 said, if losing gets to you it means that you are playing underrolled. Primedope.com variance calculator isreally an eye-opening tool.

 

[Syltan]

We all know how it feels to have a losing streak. I keep hearing this from other people that bouncing back after a poker loss is all about mindset.

For me whether it’s in the casino or at home, taking a hit in poker can be a tough pill to swallow especially it affects your relationship around you. Have you ever bounced back from a tough poker loss or a losing streak? How do you guys handle it?

There is no magic pill, just be patient and seek support.

 

[millya5]

I try to analyze my game after failures
draw appropriate conclusions

 

[ROYALROAD]

If you lose so many times in a row, I think you need to reconsider your fundamental strategy.

 

[Luvepoker]

What's helps me is just realizing that one moment in time is nothing in the grand scheme of the game. Twice I have gone 40 tournaments without a cash and those are really thought times. I just remember the time I cashes 4 or 5 times in a row or the time I won 3 smaller tournaments out of 4 I played. Yes small ones but when we are winning we also need to put it into perspective.

We just need to remember Variance goes both ways over time

 

[SopianaeExtra]

At the beginning of my 'poker career' I was frustrated to no end, but then I realized: It's not my fault, but rather the cards failed me! Poker is peculiar in that it allows even perfect play to get punished. I treat every game (I only play SnGs and MTTs) as if it's the very first one for me, so the thought of a losing 'streak' is diminished.

 

[mattiebumpo]

If I feel like I am having a losing streak, I take a break. It is not good to play if you don't feel confident and strong with your skills and mindset. I also look back at my play and try to honestly assess if I was in the right frame of mind to be playing, did I have the right mindset, did I make the right decisions, was I well rested, was I eating healthy, was I exercising, was there conflict or stress in my personal or work life? Did I try to push the action instead of going with the flow and picking good spots? Take an honest look at the situation and determine if it was just bad luck or there were other contributing factors.

 

[eberetta1]

If you hate losing, I would not play poker. Poker shows you hundreds of ways to lose, especially online poker.

 

[gravii2011]

when things go wrong, I try not to play temporarily. It's better to spend time without playing.

 

[June4Spades]

Pause for dome days. Break the streak by not playing. Wait for fresh fish to enter the rables.

 

[Maximum]

I usually take a free day just to free my mind and keep going next day.