Down on my luck.

Over the past few months I built a bankroll playing 25NL and then 50NL after the blind change at party.

I have over 40K hands in pokertracker, averaging I think 8BB/100 or so. Auto-rate lists me as TPA.

Anyway, since Thursday I've dropped around $400, and I've only played probably five hours, if that.

Most of my high pocket pairs have lost (talking queens or better), or taken down the blinds. My sets lose, my draws don't make it.

Actually, I pretty much can't win a pot except some small pots I take down with a bet here and there. I can sure lose a big one, though.

Anyway, it hasn't really bothered me except that I haven't had the desire to play as much. That's why I've only played five hours, because I'm not pressing it and only playing when I feel up to it.


Anyway, I've posted some hands in the history forum. I'm just doubting my play, I guess?


On your typical downswing, is it common to drop eight buy-ins? More really, considering I was playing 25NL for a while.

I just don't know what to do, I guess. I typically turned a profit most every day. My biggest losing day since I started keeping records was like $125 over an 8 hour night. Lost more than that in the past hour. My play is the same (I haven't gone tilty or adjusted preflop standards), and I thought after that many hands showing a profit, I could be considered solid enough that I didn't have to worry about crap like this.

Anyway, please listen to me whine and tell me it'll get better, and I'm great, just the cards are running bad.

I lost 6 buy ins in a row once - every single one was a bad beat and all in either on the flop or the turn. Then oddly enough the 7th time I was the one to double up giving someone else a bad beat. I had AK he had AQ flop was AA7 turn Q (where we got all in) river K.

So yes it does happen.

My worst NL swing was 12 buy-ins. But that was when I used to play a lot more loose/passive.

i used to think huge swings like that were a sign of play problems, but not anymore. after losing one buy-in to a flush suckout and then another about 5 hands later to a one-outer... yea, i believe.

I've been up and down through 2 $1000 swings since the start of the year. It's only March! See my "leaks" thread in Tales of Poker. These swings are on the $100 buy-in tables.

Hell, last night it was a classic KK v. AA match up that cost me my stack.

So, I think it is normal to hit some pretty horrible streaks. Most times when I lose my stack, I have the best hand when the money goes in or I make a bad call where my instincts tell me I'm beat but I can't bring myself to make the fold.

I literally lost 7 in a row where I flopped a set. And I lost 4 in a row on Party where I had the nut flush on and unpaired board. Add to that the times your AA and KK get creamed by QQ and JJ and you have yourself a train wreck of a loosing streak.

thats why its called gambling folks... cards do come in waves- if u get neverending shyte cards, u will soon be basking in paint.

Ive had swings that will make your head swing! + - 5k in a day. Its all part of poker just make sure your sufficently bankrolled and you'll be fine.

I'm on a streak of AWFUL beats, I'm sick of this bullshit..I almost smashed my computer, and my hand. I feel like I lose on the river EVERY god damn time I go all in.

Originally Posted by ChipSticklah

I'm on a streak of AWFUL beats, I'm sick of this bullshit..I almost smashed my computer, and my hand. I feel like I lose on the river EVERY god damn time I go all in.

Welcome to the boards.

Originally Posted by ChipSticklah

I'm on a streak of AWFUL beats, I'm sick of this bullshit..I almost smashed my computer, and my hand. I feel like I lose on the river EVERY god damn time I go all in.

Would you count your broken computer and medical bills as part of your downswing?

Originally Posted by ChipSticklah

I'm on a streak of AWFUL beats, I'm sick of this bullshit..I almost smashed my computer, and my hand. I feel like I lose on the river EVERY god damn time I go all in.

you physically assualt your computer monitor?? and here i was embarrased because i verbally berrate my monitor when i get bad beats.

I just kick my dog or whip it with a chain when I get a bad beat. Its so much cheaper than punching the wall or computer. Remember, take your anger out in a positive manner.

Well, then there are those times where you're NOT losing to bad beats and you go "What? I used to be good at poker" That type of stuff.

Or when you consistently get good cards which lead to a very, very VERY good second best hand

That's when it'll eat at your soul. It's been doing that to me over the last few days.

I'm starting to wonder how in God's name I ever made 2500 this year.

Like tonight I played all night and I'm down 100. Granted, it was all bad beats, just about every dollar I lost. But I get bad-beat EVERY night, so how can I justify not making money by saying "oh, I got bad beats all night."

I think the only nights I make money are the ones I don't have my aces beat by kings all-in preflop, or have some sucker make two pair with some ridiculous ass cards against my KK (see bad beat forum), or have KK lose to JJ when I flop a king and he hits a turn jack AND a river jack.

I know it's all about the long term, but I'll get bad-beat every night in the long term, and lots of nights I can't overcome it.

Why not just move down to lower-limit tables while you feel you are in a slump? The combination of lesser competition and a smaller dent out of your bankroll might be a nice tonic for the "bad beat-itis". Think of it like a pitcher who goes down to the triple-A team for a short stint to re-build his confidence and work on his mechanics.

speaking of bad luck.. i was rivered 8 times last night by the same person.. each time im ahead on the flop, and overbetting by 3 to 4 times the size of the pot on the flop and turn, and yet this person sits on my heels drawing to a flush or get this .. a set on the river.

who in the hell goes to the river with pocket 8's with kings and aces on the flop following massive 3x and 4x pot sized bets.

doh first few posts and im already venting.

Originally Posted by Element187

speaking of bad luck.. i was rivered 8 times last night by the same person.. each time im ahead on the flop, and overbetting by 3 to 4 times the size of the pot on the flop and turn, and yet this person sits on my heels drawing to a flush or get this .. a set on the river.

Eight times sounds like a lot. are you *sure* you're playing right? Are you raising enough pre flop? Why not just go all in, when you know he has a 2 outs to beat you? Are you pushing to hard with top pair top kicker?

In any case, either post some hand histories, or vent in the bad beats thread.