As I advised the last time you mentioned an extended losing streak and despite my not being qualified to advisor a player at your level: If you enjoy the play and can afford the losses, keep at it. Your luck will change. If you don't enjoy the play when losing, even though you can afford the losses, give it a break. Come back later refreshed to try again. If you can't afford the losses, stop playing at those stakes and, if you do enjoy the play, try smaller tournaments. I advise against trying bigger games in the hope that you'll encounter fewer weak, unpredictable players. The better players are also unpredictable. In fact, the better they are, the LESS predictable they are. The differences may be that they know when they're being unpredictable, their ranges of action may be narrower, and you will still suffer bad beats but perhaps different ones.
Thanks, Rick. I appreciate your advice and encouragement. I think I'm playing well, but I don't want to be one of those Dunning-Kruger people. I can afford the losses and enjoy playing, but I feel like I can't justify the expense if I don't cash more often. A few years ago, I would cash once every 3 or 4 tournaments. Now it's 1 in 10 or fewer. I don't think I'm doing anything different, so either 1) I've picked up some bad habit (e.g., playing too many hands) or 2) it's just variance or 3) the mathematics of probability has changed in our universe or 3) I should stop playing on Shabbat.
Thanks, Sev O Nin. I try to keep that in mind, but I get impatient while it's still swinging away from me for so long. I'll take a deep breath and a break, though on the 26th I'm playing in a celebrity charity tournament.
Poker success requires both skill and discipline—you need to play fewer hands but play them aggressively, while maintaining strict bankroll parameters to weather the inevitable variance.
Your AJ shove on an A79 flop was too aggressive when a smaller bet could have achieved the same goal against a loose player.
For your AK hand against the A9, this as a classic example where you need to “fast-play your strong hands” pre-flop but exercise more caution post-flop. On a Q98 board, AK has no made hand and limited equity, making a c-bet reasonable but a shove excessive.
“Fold when you’re unsure.” When you’re on the fence about a call or fold versus a bet, the professional move is usually to fold and preserve your chips for better spots.
Take a break to reset mentally. There’s a psychological impact of losing. Use this time to study hands objectively and return with a disciplined approach.
Thanks for the feedback Sev O Nin! I appreciate your perspective.
With the AJ hand, I had about 10 big blinds after the flop and he had about 30. I figured I had two choices: fold, in which case I would need to wait for another hand very soon to shove, or shove now and hope my pair of aces were ahead.
With the AK hand, I thought my 6 big blind bet pre-flop would get him to fold, and knowing that he only had A9, I think he should have folded. When he called, it left me with about 10 big blinds in a turbo tournament where blinds were about to go up. Again, I figured I could fold with a very short stack or shove. I chose to be the aggressor.
Don't quit. I love the posts. But... take a short break. You are a short drive from some of the most beautiful National Parks in the world. Visit the North side of the Grand Canyon; to to Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, and Arches (my fave after the Grand Canyon). Clear your head. Then get back into the game!
Thanks, Bill. No time to visit the world, but Philly... maybe. I'd rather have a cheesesteak. They're still best in Philly, though I haven't yet tried the ones at the new restaurant in the Rio Casino.
As I advised the last time you mentioned an extended losing streak and despite my not being qualified to advisor a player at your level: If you enjoy the play and can afford the losses, keep at it. Your luck will change. If you don't enjoy the play when losing, even though you can afford the losses, give it a break. Come back later refreshed to try again. If you can't afford the losses, stop playing at those stakes and, if you do enjoy the play, try smaller tournaments. I advise against trying bigger games in the hope that you'll encounter fewer weak, unpredictable players. The better players are also unpredictable. In fact, the better they are, the LESS predictable they are. The differences may be that they know when they're being unpredictable, their ranges of action may be narrower, and you will still suffer bad beats but perhaps different ones.
Thanks, Rick. I appreciate your advice and encouragement. I think I'm playing well, but I don't want to be one of those Dunning-Kruger people. I can afford the losses and enjoy playing, but I feel like I can't justify the expense if I don't cash more often. A few years ago, I would cash once every 3 or 4 tournaments. Now it's 1 in 10 or fewer. I don't think I'm doing anything different, so either 1) I've picked up some bad habit (e.g., playing too many hands) or 2) it's just variance or 3) the mathematics of probability has changed in our universe or 3) I should stop playing on Shabbat.
Poker is a marathon, not a sprint. Even top pros face brutal downswings. Focus on process over results, and remember:
• Bad beats are inevitable—they’re the price of earning money from weaker players.
• Adjustment beats frustration. Use these hands as learning opportunities.
Stay patient, and the equity will swing back your way. 🃏
Thanks, Sev O Nin. I try to keep that in mind, but I get impatient while it's still swinging away from me for so long. I'll take a deep breath and a break, though on the 26th I'm playing in a celebrity charity tournament.
Poker success requires both skill and discipline—you need to play fewer hands but play them aggressively, while maintaining strict bankroll parameters to weather the inevitable variance.
Your AJ shove on an A79 flop was too aggressive when a smaller bet could have achieved the same goal against a loose player.
For your AK hand against the A9, this as a classic example where you need to “fast-play your strong hands” pre-flop but exercise more caution post-flop. On a Q98 board, AK has no made hand and limited equity, making a c-bet reasonable but a shove excessive.
“Fold when you’re unsure.” When you’re on the fence about a call or fold versus a bet, the professional move is usually to fold and preserve your chips for better spots.
Take a break to reset mentally. There’s a psychological impact of losing. Use this time to study hands objectively and return with a disciplined approach.
Thanks for the feedback Sev O Nin! I appreciate your perspective.
With the AJ hand, I had about 10 big blinds after the flop and he had about 30. I figured I had two choices: fold, in which case I would need to wait for another hand very soon to shove, or shove now and hope my pair of aces were ahead.
With the AK hand, I thought my 6 big blind bet pre-flop would get him to fold, and knowing that he only had A9, I think he should have folded. When he called, it left me with about 10 big blinds in a turbo tournament where blinds were about to go up. Again, I figured I could fold with a very short stack or shove. I chose to be the aggressor.
Bob,
Don't quit. I love the posts. But... take a short break. You are a short drive from some of the most beautiful National Parks in the world. Visit the North side of the Grand Canyon; to to Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, and Arches (my fave after the Grand Canyon). Clear your head. Then get back into the game!
Chag Pesach,
Dave
Thanks, Dave. I feel I have it in me, but... Your ideas to clear my head are the most practical. I'm going to try that.
Thanks, Bill. No time to visit the world, but Philly... maybe. I'd rather have a cheesesteak. They're still best in Philly, though I haven't yet tried the ones at the new restaurant in the Rio Casino.