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AllInDrawinDead · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: Losing Streaks

Right now I am going through a tough losing streak. A couple days ago my bankroll was around $1,100 and I was contemplating stepping up from $1/2 limit to $2/4 when I reached $1,200. I never got to that number because of a horrible losing streak and my bankroll has shrunk to only $850. Everyone seems to hit every draw under the sun but I regularly miss my straight and flush draws. I keep getting outkicked with my top pairs. My sets are losing to running straight and flush cards. My overpairs to the flop are losing to overcards on the turn and river. Other plays cap the flop with bottom pair only to hit trips on the river against me.

All I want to know is how long a reasonable losing streak should last and how much I can lose before I start to question my play. Also, how do you guys deal with these streaks? Play through them? Take a long break? Right now I'm not really enjoying the game because I can't seem to win anything so that is a good reason to take a break.

ambitious207 · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Losing Streaks

deadmoney314 · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject:

I got some stats on you I think the other day, i'll take a look and see if I have any advice for you. On another note, I wouldn't always try taking shots when you reach $1200 at 2/4 if you are experiencing swings that big at 1/2. You can make plenty of cash at 1/2 and if you are getting tired of the limit, try multitabling before going to 2/4. Once you win yourself beyond $1600 try playing one table of 2/4 or a mix like 1 table of 2/4 and 1 table of 1/2. I'm just trying to say there is no rush, 2/4 is going nowhere so make sure you have every bit of confidence you can before making that jump.

griffinlord · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject:

How long can it last? A long time. The reason for a 300 BB in your bankroll is to weather the normal swings that a winning player with a typical variance can expect while reducing the risk of ruin to a fraction of 1%.

Assuming you consistently bring your "A" game to the table and are in fact a winning player down 125BB is going to happen occassionally. Down 200BB is also going to happen, but not so often. Down 300BB might happen.

If you get rattled and play less well when you start losing, then downswings of 100 - 200BB are going to happen more frequently.

I think any time you drop more than about 50 - 70 BB over multiple sessions you should be looking at your play. That may not be the problem, but before you blame bad cards or whatever you want to make sure your play is up to snuff.

Besides, we are playing at levels that indicate we have a lot to learn. A downswing is just what we need to motivate us to learn one or two new things (assuming we can avoid tilting). Start reviewing your play sooner rather than later.

If your play really is better than your opponents, and you can still bring your "A" game to the table, keep playing at 1/2 no matter how many BB you are down.

Me, I drop down a level and play through it there while working on whatever flaws I've found in my game. I find it easier to work on new things and I will tilt if I have several losing sessions in a row where I feel that I'm getting sucked out on too much.

ridic x · Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject:

deadmoney314 · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:33 am Post subject:

I would suggest tightening up any cold calls preflop, if you are cold calling ask yourself how tight the raiser is and considering 3-betting if the raiser is on the maniac side of things. You also seem extremely passive on the turn at first glance but I didn't have many stats. Its important if you are ahead to bet the turn (even if it doesn't always seem like you are ahead). You charge the maximum for opponents drawing against you and sometimes you even get a better hand to fold. Hope this helps Smile

ALFAKEW · High Card Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

I won a couple MTT's last week totaling $6500.... so the greedy, wise ass I am, I take my winnings to 30/60 and have a great run, made it $11,500 in no time.

The next day I was even more greedy and played some more 30/60... only these players seemed to have no regard for money... maxing the pots with J 8 suited... i should have left right there but thinking I can outplay these whales, I stay. Needless to say these guys caught the sickest runs f cards I've ever seen in my live. K 7 with a flop of 9 5 3 and they still manage to chase running 7's to win pots. I hit trips with A9 & A 10 respectively, and was outkicked by A-10 and AJ. I saw it all man. QQ and KK with an A on the riv. Lost about $6,000 playing on tilt and I vowed never to play with limits I cant handle the swings in. Though I made some cash in tournaments, $10,000 is a lot of money to me where those guys dont hesitate to toss it in. Bingo players.

AllInDrawinDead · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:24 am Post subject:

Everyone says that the best time to play against bad players is on the weekends. In my case however, the weekend was bad to me because I let the bad players get the best of me. I found that the way to adjust is to limp in more and try to hit a hand since they are going to pay you off anyways. In a game where players are going to call all my raises I just decided to not even consider that I may win the blinds by raising. Raise only with medium pairs and big aces and maybe KQ. Limp in otherwise. I really hate getting three bet when I have something like 44, A8 or KJ so I think it's ok to limp, get raised and hopefully play a multiway pot where I can hit something good and get paid. In the past two days I was able to win back over $100 of what I lost this weekend so what I'm doing must be working.

deadmoney314 · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject:

Jason Yates · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

Hey Dead, im from MN too. Whereabouts you from?

deadmoney314 · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:37 pm Post subject:

twin cities, there's a couple more from the area too (if your next question is have I been at canterbury the answer is yes)

Jason Yates · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject:

Are you in the bar poker league? I probably have played against ya at one time if so.

deadmoney314 · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject:

nope, for some time I have played exclusively online. If you frequented canterbury card club before the bar tourney boom across the whole twin cities (which started in most part due to black hat productions) you would recognize me. But this is beginning to be years instead of months ago. However, I did get pulled into a bar tourney somewhere in the Chaska area by my damn roommate but it was just for fun and I don't plan on going back, there's simply no recognizable profit to be made when compared to online poker. It was neat to make the leaderboard after 5 tournies but again (time invested + highest possible return) != average online ROI

Jason Yates · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:04 pm Post subject:

Yeah, BPL isnt a place to be if your trying to make a living playing poker. I don't gamble much and I like the satilite seat you can win 2 times a season. Hope to see you at the club, im only 5 minutes way from it. Doubt you'll have a deadmoney314 shirt on tho to recognize ya, hehe.

PS - If you ever have any home games going, let me know.

deadmoney314 · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject:

It sounds like there is a $100 buy in at Turtle Lake this weekend, look up Wusthof here on the forums he also lives in the Twin Cities. I'll be sure to make it to the club when I get my FTP leather jacket, shouldn't be that many of those floating around.

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