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surviving the downswings

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  1. barcs69 barcs69 is offline

    Adelaide
    Australia

    Posts: 14
    Joined: Aug 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:19am)

    Just thought id throw a question out im looking for some advice/help. currently enduring the worst downswing of my poker career!!!!! I,m an MTT grinder and have beenquite successful over the last 12-18 months, but it just feels like i cant do a thing right atm! doesnt matter how good i get it in i come out bad. Im really starting to become dejected with poker! Any suggestions? And yes ive tried prayin to the poker gods!!!!!! lol
    294 
  2. barcs69 barcs69 is offline

    Adelaide
    Australia

    Posts: 14
    Joined: Aug 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:22am) in reply to barcs69

    oh and worst of all its really depleted my confidence and is making me question my game
    294 
    Thread Starter
  3. Raysfeve Raysfeve is offline

    Posts: 364
    Joined: Nov 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:27am) in reply to barcs69

     
    Originally Posted by barcs69 View Post


    oh and worst of all its really depleted my confidence and is making me question my game

    I know the feeling. I'm going through the same shit. Trying to stay positive. Keeping confidence is important.
  4. Livvey Livvey is offline

    United Kingdom

    Posts: 18
    Joined: Jul 09

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:56am) in reply to Raysfeve

    I know how u feel, it is happening to me too.
    Most recently i had aces in pre against qq. q on river! lol
    keep faith, confiendence i know it's hard but that's poker.
  5. JMcKW JMcKW is offline

    United Kingdom

    Posts: 965
    Joined: Mar 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:58am) in reply to Livvey

     
    Originally Posted by Livvey View Post

    I know how u feel, it is happening to me too.
    Most recently i had aces in pre against qq. q on river! lol
    keep faith, confiendence i know it's hard but that's poker.

    sick beat brah
  6. permatilt420 permatilt420 is offline

    Brookfield, MO
    United States

    Posts: 158
    Joined: Apr 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:58am) in reply to Livvey

    weed + more tables + run a lil better = profit
     
  7. jcpeace jcpeace is offline

    Kansas City, MO
    United States

    Posts: 5,071
    Joined: Jun 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 6:59am) in reply to permatilt420

    volume helps
  8. 7CardRyon 7CardRyon is offline

    Portland, OR
    United States

    Posts: 135
    Joined: Jul 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 7:45am) in reply to barcs69

    it's no cake walk man, at all. been doing this 6 years now for a living. in a rutt right now and the swings are getting old. i deal with beats harder than most people and alot of people know this. but man, for anyone i think, its def. a hard way to make an easy living. nothing could be a better quote for the game. you should decide right now how important this game is to you. because when you get committed to it, it takes ahold of your life. makes it hard to be social, have a gf, or later on a family. the game changes you man, one heater and beat at a time. ne ways, these are the things i've noticed bout running bad.

    it happens
    you have to deal with it
    it goes away
    but it can be perpetuated through negativity

    find a therapy of some sort for yourself that works. i puff and play guitar or rockband/guit. hero. i like to play chess too cause the other guy can't play bad and get lucky.
     
  9. dipper502 dipper502 is offline

    Syracuse, NY
    United States

    Posts: 233
    Joined: Jan 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 7:48am) in reply to jcpeace

     
    Originally Posted by jcpeace View Post

    volume helps

    This
  10. cbrianm cbrianm is offline

    Fayetteville, NC
    United States

    Posts: 262
    Joined: Mar 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 8:02am) in reply to barcs69

    I'm confused cause I've seen you play in the recent past and you ran like a fucking god. However, you can only survive so many poor calls... so I guess maybe take some time off and reevaluate what getting it in good means.
  11. gillabong gillabong is offline

    United States

    Posts: 9,372
    Joined: Sep 05

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 8:26am) in reply to cbrianm

    Absolutely no shame moving down to get ur confidence back
  12. lordxixor101 lordxixor101 is offline

    Westland, MI
    United States

    Posts: 6,364
    Joined: Mar 06

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 9:23am) in reply to gillabong

     
    Originally Posted by gillabong View Post

    Absolutely no shame moving down to get ur confidence back

    Great quote here. Poker players move up and down all the time. You also need confidence in this game.

    I would think, one thing you have to take solace in is making the right moves. You can't let the game emotionally get to you when you made the right moves and variance got you (that's why you practice bankroll management). If you get it in good, tip your hat, and go on.

    Easier said than done (I struggle with it) but it's something you have to do.
  13. savvy savvy is offline

    Deer Park, NY
    United States

    Posts: 3,815
    Joined: May 05

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 9:26am) in reply to lordxixor101

    try something different. play a few single tables throughout the day to win some tourney buyins. ive noticed the 24$ turbo 6 and 9 mans on tilt are super soft lately
  14. bluffslv bluffslv is offline

    Las Vegas, NV
    United States

    Posts: 967
    Joined: Dec 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 10:04am) in reply to lordxixor101

    Find yourself a girl that will tell you it's all gunna be ok :)
  15. GRIZZKID33 GRIZZKID33 is offline

    Washington, DC
    United States

    Posts: 176
    Joined: Feb 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 10:14am) in reply to bluffslv

    maybe get a part-time job to give u a bit of extra $ if ur roll is hurting and to help you keep busy/keep ur mind off bad beats
  16. Reech Reech is offline around

    Portland, OR
    United States

    Posts: 12,271
    Joined: Jun 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 10:15am) in reply to barcs69

     
    Originally Posted by barcs69 View Post


    oh and worst of all its really depleted my confidence and is making me question my game

    this is a bigger issue than running bad. you cant win if you play scared or if you dont have the faith in yourself to make the right moves. dont let this become a feedback loop, maybe take a break, move down a level, others itt have good suggestions too. play solid and the math will come around. ftr anyone who plays this game seriously at all runs into a downswing, its inevitable. good luck.
  17. dgillis dgillis is offline Moderator

    CA
    United States

    Posts: 1,903
    Joined: Mar 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 10:17am) in reply to barcs69

    I basically just repeat "odds not outcome" thousands of times until I break another lap desk\throw\kick something. repeat. no but really it can be super frustrating, just be sure your not adding to the problem by playing poorly on top of it (because your pissed\not confidant, w\e)
     
  18. mkb1mkb1 mkb1mkb1 is offline

    Wrexham
    United Kingdom

    Posts: 119
    Joined: Jul 06

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 10:26am) in reply to dgillis

    Don't be results orientated, think long term and what you want to get out of the game.
  19. frostymember frostymember is offline

    Evansville, IN
    United States

    Posts: 157
    Joined: Jul 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 1:15pm) in reply to mkb1mkb1

    Anytime I feel down about anything I just go to wal-mart and walk around - makes ya feel like the smartest person in the world- and feel like you can beat anyone and anything at anything you attempt- great confidence booster
  20. Imustcall Imustcall is offline

    Jacksonville, FL
    United States

    Posts: 1,224
    Joined: Aug 06

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 1:22pm) in reply to barcs69

     
    Originally Posted by barcs69 View Post

    Just thought id throw a question out im looking for some advice/help. currently enduring the worst downswing of my poker career!!!!! I,m an MTT grinder and have beenquite successful over the last 12-18 months, but it just feels like i cant do a thing right atm! doesnt matter how good i get it in i come out bad. Im really starting to become dejected with poker! Any suggestions? And yes ive tried prayin to the poker gods!!!!!! lol

    Just take a look at my scores history. It should be truly uplifting for any player who is upset that they have been struggling for the last few weeks.
  21. m_hawk_1 m_hawk_1 is offline

    Australia

    Posts: 752
    Joined: Mar 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 1:27pm) in reply to Imustcall

    Play on Cake Poker. There's no downswings there. You run into the occasional really gross slightly-less-profit-swing...
    471 
  22. degen666 degen666 is offline

    Posts: 422
    Joined: Mar 09

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 1:59pm) in reply to GRIZZKID33

    switch to live cash 1-2
  23. abragg3304 abragg3304 is offline

    FL
    United States

    Posts: 37
    Joined: Apr 09

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 2:09pm) in reply to frostymember

     
    Originally Posted by frostymember View Post

    Anytime I feel down about anything I just go to wal-mart and walk around - makes ya feel like the smartest person in the world- and feel like you can beat anyone and anything at anything you attempt- great confidence booster

    or this
  24. T1ger_WooodZ T1ger_WooodZ is offline

    Posts: 7
    Joined: Aug 09

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 2:11pm) in reply to GRIZZKID33

    We all go through it. Smile, be thankful you dont have cancer, and register in another tournament
  25. adamsapple19 adamsapple19 is offline

    Pueblo, CO
    United States

    Posts: 1,770
    Joined: Nov 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 2:32pm) in reply to 7CardRyon

     
    Originally Posted by 7CardRyon View Post

    it's no cake walk man, at all. been doing this 6 years now for a living. in a rutt right now and the swings are getting old. i deal with beats harder than most people and alot of people know this. but man, for anyone i think, its def. a hard way to make an easy living. nothing could be a better quote for the game. you should decide right now how important this game is to you. because when you get committed to it, it takes ahold of your life. makes it hard to be social, have a gf, or later on a family. the game changes you man, one heater and beat at a time. ne ways, these are the things i've noticed bout running bad.

    it happens
    you have to deal with it
    it goes away
    but it can be perpetuated through negativity

    find a therapy of some sort for yourself that works. i puff and play guitar or rockband/guit. hero. i like to play chess too cause the other guy can't play bad and get lucky.

    This is a really really good response, by far the best so far (tho they've mostly all been good)

    Also I've written a couple blog posts about this topic in great detail. I think they might be really helpful and inspirational to you (or anyone feeling as the OP does).

    The Nature of Variance

    The Nature of Variance II
     
  26. kenn121 kenn121 is offline

    Australia

    Posts: 474
    Joined: May 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 3:06pm) in reply to adamsapple19

    grind some sngs, move down in levels
    820 1
  27. mastaofkings mastaofkings is offline

    Bloomington, IN
    United States

    Posts: 520
    Joined: May 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 3:35pm) in reply to Livvey

     
    Originally Posted by Livvey View Post

    I know how u feel, it is happening to me too.
    Most recently i had aces in pre against qq. q on river! lol
    keep faith, confiendence i know it's hard but that's poker.

    Now imagine this...at the final table of the 8.80. 6 people left and you get busted for 600 when u would have won it because it was for the chip lead...$2700 for first. Woulda boosted my 250 dollar br.... lol
  28. JMcKW JMcKW is offline

    United Kingdom

    Posts: 965
    Joined: Mar 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 4:43pm) in reply to mastaofkings

     
    Originally Posted by mastaofkings View Post

    Now imagine this...at the final table of the 8.80. 6 people left and you get busted for 600 when u would have won it because it was for the chip lead...$2700 for first. Woulda boosted my 250 dollar br.... lol

    lol at playing 8.80s w/ a 250 BR
  29. I Spew Chips I Spew Chips is offline

    United States

    Posts: 2,763
    Joined: May 07

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 4:48pm) in reply to JMcKW

    Confidence in your game. Always being able to critique your own play and learn from mistakes.
     
  30. beaviszach beaviszach is offline

    Redondo Beach, CA
    United States

    Posts: 279
    Joined: Sep 08

    Aug 12th, 2009 (8/12/2009 4:50pm) in reply to Livvey

     
    Originally Posted by Livvey View Post

    I know how u feel, it is happening to me too.
    Most recently i had aces in pre against qq. q on river! lol
    keep faith, confiendence i know it's hard but that's poker.

    no wayyyzzz Q on river!!! aggggrooo
     
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