Quote Originally Posted by Miffed22001
... or how if possible to recognise a downswing as it starts
Unless you believe in karma and think it "was meant to be" you can never predict a downsing "as it starts".

A downswing is a series of unlucky events (assuming you played right) like losing 4 times in row a 60/40 in you favour after going all in on the flop ---> 4 buy-ins lost. This has a 1 in 256 chance that will happen (and trust me it will). But if you have lost 3 "60/40" in a row, that doesnt mean you should fold the fourth one(again assuming you are right that you are a 60/40 favorite to win the hand) because you "are on a downswing", this has nothing to do with it. Results are indepentant, if you are 60/40 to win a hand, regardless of past results, you are well... 60/40 to win that hand...