I would like to depart a bit from the nuts and bolts game situation and game theory material that I have concentrated on in my previous articles. Unlike how to cope with those vicious losing streaks that make us all cringe with horror, I think that an area of cash game play that has gone a little under-discussed is how to approach periods of great fortune; heaters. While they may be a bit less dramatic than MTT heaters, they are nonetheless exciting and dramatic times. <READMORE>

In truth, I really like to employ the following analogy in order to demonstrate how I feel about rushes or heaters; I spend a significant portion of my time bailing the boat out, so that I set myself up for periods where the wind fills the sails and I really start to cruise. Say what you will, I think it’s a nice metaphor.

Unfortunately, most good things in life have a dark counterpoint that often goes unnoticed. For example, it is common knowledge that the majority of multi-million dollar lotto winners eventually end up bankrupt. Why is this, and how does it relate to our own game? Common logic would suggest that since most lotto players are blowing a couple dollars a week on an inherently –EV investment, they probably don’t have the money management skills to hold onto the giant windfall when that lucky anomaly actually does cash in on the big one.

I think that luck, as it relates to our ability to play our best, is somewhat of a Catch-22. When we are losing, we often need a combination of better play and better luck to reverse the trend. However, the confidence required to play near-optimal poker is greatly aided by a run of good cards. On the opposite end of the spectrum (and this is where the lotto example becomes relevant), a fantastic period of great cards can allow our game to suffer immensely, even in a short period of time, because we are just not used to hitting the deck so hard.

The fact is that cash game heaters are, if not rare, at least not common. As a result, it is very easy to lose sight of playing quality poker when you feel invincible. Additionally, like the free-spending lotto winner, it is tempting to ride your good streak up a few limits to take a shot while the cards are coming. This is also of tremendous peril to an otherwise rational player. I am a believer in establishing a solid, long-term winning record before deciding to move up. A heater should have no bearing on your decision about what limit you should play. Since that should be a non-issue, let’s focus on two primary changes that often occur in most players’ game that can really result in the loss of a lot of money.

The beginning of the problem occurs when the excitement and exuberance of picking up buy-in after buy-in causes us to start to allow ourselves to make plays, especially speculative ones, which we normally wouldn’t. Sometimes this might be as overt as drawing to a straight or flush draw without the proper odds. More commonly, I believe the diminution of our discipline translates to re-raising more loosely, and in my case, calling raises in all sorts of positions with every hand that looks pretty (Q10s, KQ, 67s, etc.). Normally profitable hands, played without discipline and caution, can become big money leaks. For the most part, these plays result in the loss of small amounts of money in a lot of spots that great luck can temporarily hide; but the law of averages will always catch up...

Another, more damaging stage in the fall from grace is losing the inhibitions that keep us from making extremely aggressive plays whenever we would like. The fact is that there are a million spots in which I would love to turn up the heat on my competition when I play. The satisfaction of successfully turning the screws into an opponent might be my favorite aspect of the game, but these types of plays are only effective when they fit into the greater context of a more ABC or standard game.

It is easy to be blinded by the fact that our opponents have the nuts sometimes, and when we are on a hot streak, we often start losing credit when we raise. We always have to be vigilant of getting out of control with big raising plays as they can become very, very costly; these types of plays often cost 40-50 BB at a time! It is not a good feeling to realize that you have scuttled x-number of buy-ins (often 2 or 3 for me) just trying to steal pots unnecessarily.

The end of the hot streak coincides with the normalization of the cards we are being dealt. When we stop getting dealt AA, KK, and AK every few hands, the money often stops pouring in. While the fact that it can’t last is a fundamental truth of heaters, letting your game get out of control and making the aforementioned mistakes can result in cancelling out a lot of your profits. In the worst case scenario, if the changes in your game establish themselves as longer-term leaks, it is easy to become entrenched in a down-swing that curiously doesn’t seem to end.

It is important to be aware of the evolution of your game over time, especially during remarkable periods, whether they are good or bad. Once you achieve a more objective awareness of the quality of your game, you are on the road to becoming a more consistent and more optimal player, whether the deck is on fire or is cold as ice. In any case, here’s to a nice, long, and healthy heater, and as always, good luck on and off the tables. </READMORE>