Online Poker Forum - can someone really run this bad?

[mathman1115]

Right around 38K hands, i hit rock bottom at $1/2 limit, netting about -275 BB. High pairs getting outflopped, high aces missing the flop, getting two and three outered everywhere. Ok, variance is rough, i can accept that.

So i spend the next 11K hands or so grinding just about most of it back, for a net of +225 BB.

Now i've hit the wall again, harder than you can imagine. Over the last 1400 hands (no, not 14K, 1400) i've netted -135 BB. I've had 5 consecutive sessions where i lost 20 BB or more. In all 5 sessions, my showdowns won % was below 50%. No matter what i do, how i play my hand, the cards just are not cooperating. Every donks Ace rag is outflopping my high ace or medium-high pair. My overpairs lose to sets on the flop, turn, or even river. I actually hit a set today, and lost to a higher flopped set. Can't hit any draws, and most of all it seems like my station opponents just never miss a flop.

For the last 3 sessions, i've began 4-tabling to get myself through the variance a little faster, and its just making it worse. My stats are consistent, and i don't think my play is affected by playing more tables. In fact, i think its better because i am more focused. I've already dropped down in limits once about a year ago, i don't think that is a solution. I am already playing way under my roll as it is.

Are these swings, even at this extreme, normal? What do i do??????
I am going to read up a little, go through some sample hands just to make sure i am playing +EV poker, as i am sure i am. No, i'm not playing perfectly, but at this level i shouldn't have to to turn a profit.


EDIT: I just recalled this thread started by bigslick when he started playing .25/.50 limit. It has him at about -150 BB over a 1K hand span (a few posts down from the OP), so i guess they are possible. But even still, they make you question your abilities.
http://pokerforums.fulltiltpoker.com/viewtopic.php?t=34812&highlight=swings

[mathman1115]

UPDATE:

Make that 6 consecutive sessions losing 20BB or more. Net -160BB over 1700 hands. Part of me keeps thinking that maybe i'm just not playing well. It isn't bad enough i was rivered out of 10+ BB pots 5 times today by 2 and 3 outers, now they gotta go runner runner. I keep questioning my play, then I realize that my opponents are just card catching **** idiots and i just can't catch a break right now:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6559535229: Table Lakeridge (speed) - $1/$2 - Limit Hold'em - 14:45:39 ET - 2008/05/25
Seat 1: Durtschi ($53.50)
Seat 2: asmileytooa ($24.25)
Seat 3: Smettie ($57), is sitting out
Seat 4: thedookiestain ($65.50)
Seat 5: hanapa ($6)
Seat 6: Mathman1115 ($31.50)
Seat 7: IrinaS ($32.50), is sitting out
Seat 8: egasMoniz ($29.25)
Seat 9: Carlos_Leon69 ($25.50)
egasMoniz posts the small blind of $0.50
Carlos_Leon69 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Mathman1115 [Ad As]
Durtschi has 8 seconds left to act
Durtschi folds
asmileytooa folds
thedookiestain folds
hanapa folds
hanapa stands up
Mathman1115 raises to $2
egasMoniz folds
Carlos_Leon69 calls $1
*** FLOP *** [9s 4h 2s]
Ralphie77 adds $20
Carlos_Leon69 checks
Mathman1115 bets $1
Ralphie77 adds $20
Carlos_Leon69 raises to $2
Mathman1115 calls $1
*** TURN *** [9s 4h 2s] [Qd]
Carlos_Leon69 bets $2
Mathman1115 raises to $4
Carlos_Leon69 calls $2
*** RIVER *** [9s 4h 2s Qd] [Td]
Carlos_Leon69 has 8 seconds left to act
Carlos_Leon69 bets $2
Mathman1115 calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Carlos_Leon69 shows [Ts Qc] two pair, Queens and Tens
Mathman1115 mucks
Carlos_Leon69 wins the pot ($19.50) with two pair, Queens and Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $20.50 | Rake $1
Board: [9s 4h 2s Qd Td]
Seat 1: Durtschi didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: asmileytooa didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Smettie is sitting out
Seat 4: thedookiestain didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: hanapa didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Mathman1115 (button) mucked [Ad As] - a pair of Aces
Seat 7: IrinaS is sitting out
Seat 8: egasMoniz (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Carlos_Leon69 (big blind) showed [Ts Qc] and won ($19.50) with two pair, Queens and Tens

(I apologize, this thread is starting to lean toward Poker Stories instead)

[Zophar]

It's frusterating as hell, but it happens. During the almost entire month of March I experienced a similar downswing. It can be demoralizing. The only thing I recommend now is stepping down a level and trying to play through it.

[Pete D]

Hang in there, mathman... Zophar is right, it happens... to everyone.

I was reading about whitelime today and came across this blog entry.
http://limablanca.com/?p=6

It's nothing profound, but it was interesting to read about his thought process... sometimes it helps to know others are going through similar downswings... and although they know it's "part of the game", they still struggle with it mentally.

[mathman1115]

Um, so i guess my rant is officially over.

Just had the session of a lifetime. 380 hands, net +87 BB.

I started 4-tabling to eliminate these types of swings, so much for that.

[g_420man]

thats good to hear. keep up the good work

[Pete D]

[fire_eyes_2k]

[BBCOACH44]

[MadVillain08]

lol fullring

[mathman1115]

[MadVillain08]

fr is wasted time and money.
switch to shorter games. -> More fishes, more action, more money, more fun.

[Pete D]

[AllInDrawinDead]

I had a few brutal sessions over the weekend like this. ^^^

LHE is good because you get paid on good hands, but bad because you can't protect your hand against potential draws and three outers.

[Pete D]

Indeed... you have to whiff so bad on the flop to not continue to the turn, which is why you see so many runner/runners in LHE. Nature of the beast.