Feeling like ****

By far my largest sum lost in one day, $550 after 2k hands
It seems like every hand I had was the 2nd nuts, AQ vs QQ on AQ2 flop, 66 vs qq on 26Q unraised pot, AA vs 77 he moves all in and catches 7 on river.

The finalle came when the table suspected I may have been on tilt and I was dealt AA so I move all in preflop into an unraised pot from UTG cause of my image and a man pauses for 20 sec, I told him "i dont care anymore, call" so he calls with QQ: flop comes rags, turn, rag pairs, river: queen.

Seems like so much BS, iv'e been playing so well this week I havnt had a losing session and then this bs comes along. Beofre today iv'e never lost more than $300 in a day i thought that was really bad when it did occur, but never like this. Anyone ever get this really shittty feeling where you feel like quitting poker for good? I've been playing for 6 months and I've never felt like this. I feel like just cashing out my entire roll and finishing with this crap.

Anyone ever been in a similar situation, if so, how did you deal with it? Any thoughts would be sincerly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Originally Posted by TalentedTom

Anyone ever been in a similar situation, if so, how did you deal with it? Any thoughts would be sincerly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Take a break from poker. Don't play, read, or post about it. Walk away from the game for a while. And what does "for a while" mean? For every person it's different. I'm sure everyone has been there at some time or another, only you will know when the time is right. If a few days/weeks go by and you're still pissed, you still don't want to play...Cash out and be done with it. That's a decision only you can come to.

After you've gotten away from it for a while use some time to reflect on your play. Were you playing terribly (putting your money in while you were behind), or was it really just a bunch of bad luck and/or bad beats? I'm thinking it was a combination of the two, but...If they were bad beats, well man, get back up on the horse, they happen to everyone. Over time you'll make money in those situations.

If they were bad plays you need to learn from them. Plug the leaks in your game.

Look man, downswings suck. I've never had one like yours before (dollar wise), but I've had a few times where I definitely didn't want to play. After a few days of "not feeling it" I ended up coming back around, finally getting to the point where I couldn't wait to play again. To the point where I was ready to kick some ass playing this game. I'd get back on the horse again, I'd start making money again....then I'd think to myself, "WTF was I thinking? By not playing for 2-3 days I missed out on making money in those 2-3 days."

It sucks to feel the way you do right now, but your head will clear soon enough, and you'll start making money again. Good luck.

I get there all the time. Used to, at least.

I don't know if it really impacted your bankroll, but I doubt it. Usually I quit until I feel like "yeah, I could play." Just don't play while you're disgusted, I guess.

It's just variance. You're still playing well. All of those were hands you couldn't get away from, period.

Some people like to step down a limit for a couple of days, if it's easier to win there.

Or just play through it, if you don't tilt. But I think you do.

Take a break, and maybe even move down when you come back, when this happened to me sitting at a poker table made me feel sick, took a while to regain my confidence

I know exactly how you feel, only my 6-month downswing has been as much due to my own play as it has to bad beats.

My question is this: I know the age-old advice, "step away for a while". While I understand that it's healthy simply to avoid poker for a while, what steps should I take to improve my game?

Unfortunately, I don't play online as much as I do live, so I have no HH's to post. Any general advice?

PS: sorry for hijacking the thread :S

play online

I don't step away from poker, just from playing.

I still chat on here, read mags and books. Maybe play some small buy-in tourneys where there's not really any risk.

That's if the money is the issue.

If hating poker is the issue, well...you've got...issues.

personally, I've had thoes -$500 days, and the first few killed me, but now i dont even lose sleep over them.

If your playing in bankroll, thoes days happen...
If your out of bankroll, then stop playing out of bankroll ... BECAUSE thoes days happen.

So I move down and decide to play there after i regain my composure
First couple of hands hands I play:
I play most of my hands in a similar fashion, does anyone notice something wrong? I feel there may be a problem with my style but I am unable to see it.

PokerStars Game #3039522951: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2005/11/12 - 13:14:17 (ET)
Table 'Cuitlahuac' Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: dtrivett ($93.90 in chips)
Seat 2: sylvyu ($34.25 in chips)
Seat 3: Boulaya ($45.35 in chips)
Seat 4: Hendorator ($2.50 in chips)
Seat 5: Mexal ($25.80 in chips)
Seat 6: TalentedTom ($52 in chips)
Seat 7: mmarcshark ($55.35 in chips)
Seat 8: nanook57 ($67.50 in chips)
Seat 9: Nefertite ($49.90 in chips)
TalentedTom: posts small blind $0.25
mmarcshark: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TalentedTom [Ac Ah]
nanook57: raises $0.50 to $1
Nefertite: folds
dtrivett: calls $1
sylvyu: calls $1
Boulaya: folds
Hendorator: calls $1
Mexal: folds
TalentedTom: raises $4.50 to $5.50
mmarcshark: folds
nanook57: folds
dtrivett: folds
sylvyu: calls $4.50
Hendorator: calls $1.50 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [9s 8h 3d]
TalentedTom: bets $8.50
sylvyu: raises $8.50 to $17
TalentedTom: raises $29.50 to $46.50 and is all-in
sylvyu: calls $11.75 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [9s 8h 3d] [2s]
*** RIVER *** [9s 8h 3d 2s] [Kc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TalentedTom: shows [Ac Ah] (a pair of Aces)
sylvyu: shows [2c 9c] (two pair, Nines and Deuces)
TalentedTom said, "OMFG"
sylvyu collected $61 from side pot
TalentedTom said, "WTF"
Hendorator: mucks hand
sylvyu collected $9.50 from main pot
TalentedTom said, "WTF IS THIS"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $73.50 Main pot $9.50. Side pot $61. | Rake $3
Board [9s 8h 3d 2s Kc]
Seat 1: dtrivett folded before Flop
Seat 2: sylvyu showed [2c 9c] and won ($70.50) with two pair, Nines and Deuces
Seat 3: Boulaya folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Hendorator mucked [7h 5h]
Seat 5: Mexal (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: TalentedTom (small blind) showed [Ac Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: mmarcshark (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: nanook57 folded before Flop
Seat 9: Nefertite folded before Flop (didn't bet)







PokerStars Game #3039388796: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2005/11/12 - 12:52:35 (ET)
Table 'Bauschinger' Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: TalentedTom ($47.50 in chips)
Seat 2: daffy fool ($43.25 in chips)
Seat 3: MagicJ ($51.40 in chips)
Seat 4: wams64 ($20 in chips)
Seat 5: FleShEaTeR23 ($50.95 in chips)
Seat 6: MattB27` ($8.65 in chips)
Seat 7: forgetting ($32.25 in chips)
Seat 8: cali1969 ($6.05 in chips)
Seat 9: BrandonEarls ($21.35 in chips)
MagicJ: posts small blind $0.25
wams64: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TalentedTom [Jh Qh]
FleShEaTeR23: calls $0.50
MattB27`: folds
forgetting: calls $0.50
cali1969: calls $0.50
BrandonEarls: calls $0.50
TalentedTom: calls $0.50
daffy fool: calls $0.50
MagicJ: calls $0.25
wams64: raises $0.50 to $1
FleShEaTeR23: calls $0.50
forgetting: calls $0.50
cali1969: calls $0.50
BrandonEarls: calls $0.50
TalentedTom: calls $0.50
daffy fool: calls $0.50
MagicJ: calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [4h 2s Kh]
MagicJ: checks
wams64: checks
FleShEaTeR23: checks
forgetting: checks
cali1969: checks
BrandonEarls: checks
TalentedTom: checks
daffy fool: checks
*** TURN *** [4h 2s Kh] [9h]
MagicJ: checks
wams64: checks
FleShEaTeR23: checks
forgetting: bets $0.50
cali1969: folds
BrandonEarls: calls $0.50
TalentedTom: raises $3 to $3.50
daffy fool: folds
MagicJ: folds
wams64: calls $3.50
FleShEaTeR23: raises $4 to $7.50
forgetting: folds
BrandonEarls: folds
TalentedTom: raises $16.50 to $24
wams64: folds
FleShEaTeR23: raises $21 to $45
TalentedTom: raises $1.50 to $46.50 and is all-in
FleShEaTeR23: calls $1.50
*** RIVER *** [4h 2s Kh 9h] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
FleShEaTeR23: shows [Ah 5h] (a flush, Ace high)
TalentedTom: mucks hand
FleShEaTeR23 collected $102.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $105.50 | Rake $3
Board [4h 2s Kh 9h 5s]
Seat 1: TalentedTom mucked [Jh Qh]
Seat 2: daffy fool (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: MagicJ (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: wams64 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: FleShEaTeR23 showed [Ah 5h] and won ($102.50) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 6: MattB27` folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: forgetting folded on the Turn
Seat 8: cali1969 folded on the Turn
Seat 9: BrandonEarls folded on the Turn





PokerStars Game #3039579896: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2005/11/12 - 13:23:02 (ET)
Table 'Cuitlahuac' Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: dtrivett ($91.90 in chips)
Seat 2: sylvyu ($35 in chips)
Seat 3: dartfrog ($19.25 in chips)
Seat 5: Mexal ($28.20 in chips)
Seat 6: TalentedTom ($50 in chips)
Seat 7: mmarcshark ($56.70 in chips)
Seat 8: nanook57 ($32.20 in chips)
Seat 9: Nefertite ($165.95 in chips)
Mexal: posts small blind $0.25
TalentedTom: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TalentedTom [Jd Jc]
Hendorator leaves the table
mmarcshark: folds
nanook57: raises $1 to $1.50
Nefertite: folds
predator CA joins the table at seat #4
dtrivett: folds
sylvyu: calls $1.50
dartfrog: folds
Mexal: folds
TalentedTom: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [6s 7h Td]
TalentedTom: bets $4.50
nanook57: calls $4.50
sylvyu: raises $4.50 to $9
TalentedTom: raises $4.50 to $13.50
nanook57: folds
sylvyu: calls $4.50
*** TURN *** [6s 7h Td] [7s]
TalentedTom: bets $20
dtrivett said, "this should be interesting"
sylvyu: calls $20 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [6s 7h Td 7s] [9h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TalentedTom: shows [Jd Jc] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
sylvyu: mucks hand
TalentedTom collected $73.25 from pot
TalentedTom said, "what retard"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $76.25 | Rake $3
Board [6s 7h Td 7s 9h]
Seat 1: dtrivett folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: sylvyu mucked [Qs Ts]
Seat 3: dartfrog (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Mexal (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: TalentedTom (big blind) showed [Jd Jc] and won ($73.25) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Seat 7: mmarcshark folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: nanook57 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: Nefertite folded before Flop (didn't bet)



PokerStars Game #3039446344: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2005/11/12 - 13:02:04 (ET)
Table 'Bauschinger' Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: TalentedTom ($46.25 in chips)
Seat 2: daffy fool ($48 in chips)
Seat 3: MagicJ ($54.50 in chips)
Seat 4: wams64 ($11.05 in chips)
Seat 5: FleShEaTeR23 ($105.20 in chips)
Seat 6: westwoo7 ($94.65 in chips)
Seat 7: forgetting ($25.10 in chips)
Seat 8: cali1969 ($12 in chips)
Seat 9: BrandonEarls ($10.95 in chips)
wams64: posts small blind $0.25
FleShEaTeR23: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TalentedTom [Ts Ah]
westwoo7: folds
forgetting: calls $0.50
cali1969: calls $0.50
BrandonEarls: folds
TalentedTom: calls $0.50
daffy fool: calls $0.50
MagicJ: folds
wams64: calls $0.25
FleShEaTeR23: checks
*** FLOP *** [Tc Ac 8s]
wams64: checks
FleShEaTeR23: checks
forgetting: bets $0.50
cali1969: calls $0.50
TalentedTom: raises $2.50 to $3
daffy fool: raises $2.50 to $5.50
wams64: folds
FleShEaTeR23: folds
forgetting: folds
cali1969: folds
TalentedTom: calls $2.50
*** TURN *** [Tc Ac 8s] [7c]
TalentedTom: checks
daffy fool: checks
*** RIVER *** [Tc Ac 8s 7c] [5s]
TalentedTom: bets $4
daffy fool: raises $13.50 to $17.50
TalentedTom: calls $13.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
daffy fool: shows [8c Th] (two pair, Tens and Eights)
TalentedTom: shows [Ts Ah] (two pair, Aces and Tens)
TalentedTom collected $47.55 from pot
daffy fool said, "nh"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $50 | Rake $2.45
Board [Tc Ac 8s 7c 5s]
Seat 1: TalentedTom showed [Ts Ah] and won ($47.55) with two pair, Aces and Tens
Seat 2: daffy fool showed [8c Th] and lost with two pair, Tens and Eights
Seat 3: MagicJ (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: wams64 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: FleShEaTeR23 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: westwoo7 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: forgetting folded on the Flop
Seat 8: cali1969 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: BrandonEarls folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I walked away from playing for a week after a rather long downswing that was starting to get to me.

During that time I was thinking of ways to improve my game and when I started playing again I felt that I had improved alot. It sounds strange, that "not" playing can improve your game.

But I dont think I would be playing poker today without that week. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, walking away from the game dont hafto be a bad thing if you spend the time well.

Tom, it looks pretty standard. Bad beats and that type of stuff happen.

I feel you, man, I'm entering a downswing now too, after a rather successful month. So far coming down in stakes did not help, so looks like I'll be taking th e advice echoed throughout this thread, and taking a break for some time.

Tom, you played those aces like shit.

Come on, give me a break. I gave you my sympathy, now it's just a bad beat thread. There's a whole section devoted to that.

Don't get all the money in vs a five-outer and start asking if you played it right, like you're not sure.

The more hours you log playing correctly, the more money you make. It's really that simple.

The thing about the aces, I generally play overpairs very fast (JJ+), and as long as no scare card comes the end pot will be 140+ BB's. My style, by nature, is very aggresive and direct.

What about going broke flush vs flush considering we both had only 2BB's invested after the turn card and the other 98bb's came afterwards. After the reraise I felt he had a higher flush , I often feel that sometimes my opponent has a particular hand that is superior to mine when I am holding the 2nd nuts, but then my logic kicks in and convince myself of all the hands I beat versus the only one that has me dominated and I call.

I'm certain my game has a ton of leeaks in it but I don't know what they are and I am unable to pick-up when they occur. I think it would ne a neusance to post all my hand histories here since i play many tables at once, one particular hand does not really stand out very often, I would have to post 10+ each time. Which brings me to the conclusion I have come to...

Can somone "mentor" me and improve my NL-cashgame tactic. Eg - Reviewing HH's after a session or just general strategy things. I don't know what I can offer in return, but i'm sure we can negotiate something.

I realized my problem is that I an unaware of the mistakes i'm making, and since i play so many hands every leak will repeat itself over and over and have a big impact and the end of each session.

Thank you for your time.

I wasn't serious about the aces.

I lose lots of money when I have a smaller flush than opponent unless there's four flush cards out.

These are not leaks. I'm sure you have leaks, but most of those hands didn't have errors. You're in a downswing. Variance. Bad beats.

We've played together.

You play g00t.

Originally Posted by Fnord

We've played together.

You play g00t.

Really? What SN you use?

Originally Posted by TalentedTom

Really? What SN you use?

I was taunting you the whole time. Never got into a hand together.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Originally Posted by TalentedTom

Really? What SN you use?

I was taunting you the whole time. Never got into a hand together.

Angryfraggle? That's the only person I remember taunging me but I never got a hand with him

Well, after running great for like a month, especially the past two weeks, tonight blew. I can feel this post.

I don't feel like I'm playing poorly I guess is the only difference. Set over set, rivered 2-outer, couldn't lay aces to a flopped set, and a little tilt, and there's 3.5 buy-ins gone.

Luckily I'm a "bankroll baby" as laelin calls it.

But my first losing night all month, I guess I can't complain too awful much. It just really put a damper on my goal of averaging 100/day. I'm going to have to have a $300 day (playing 25 and 50NL) to get back to where I was, which was like 101.50/day. I've had $300 days, but not in recent times. My playing sessions are shorter nowadays.

Ah well, guess my Saturday's booked.

Originally Posted by TalentedTom

Angryfraggle? That's the only person I remember taunging me but I never got a hand with him

No, I'm not at all hard to find.

$550 doesnt mean much, that could mean 55BB's.... but I assume you mean 550BB's.. now thats a meaty downswing, and over just 2k hands - ouch. My worst over 68k was 500BBs over 7k hands

My worst NLHE swing was 12 buy-ins at the old Party $25 game (50c big blind)

At first, I didn't think $550 was that bad until I realized that you play 50NL. You lost 11 buy ins on one day? Holy crap, dude. You can't do that. Not because you can't get that unlucky (we all can) and not because you can't afford it (you probably can) but because of how shitty you feel right now. I can't allow myself to lose that much in one day. Nowhere close. I'll have a breakdown. After losing 4 buyins I'll reach that point of tilt where I don't even care if I go bust. You just gotta walk away and play tomorrow. Trying to win your money back when you're feeling crappy is already bad, but to allow the cards to make you feel like you do now is totally avoidable.

Perhaps you're one of those Rakeback players that need to log in the hands everyday, but it's still not worth it in my opinon. Just walk away before it even comes close to that. Really, only you know yourself. But for me, if I keep playing when hitting that many bad beats, I'll get diminishing returns and feel like a peice of crap.

I'm not even discussing the $550 and I'm sure it's not that big of a deal to you if you're well bankrolled. This is just about the emotional part of the game. I think feeling as bad as you do right now is not in anyway necessary. Anyway, I'm sure the money will be flowing freely back into your account before no time.

Well, "well bankrolled" that would be like what, 1/3 of your roll?

I'd be sweating it a little bit, depending.

But yeah, he's a good player, hopefully he's like me, a "bankroll baby." I play games well over-bankrolled. Actually, all of my personal wealth is my bankroll, because I don't have issues like you guys. My living expenses are about 700/month at most, so I get a nice amount every month into my "roll" even if I lose.

I don't lose, though. Except tonight. Tonight I lose hardcore.

Looks like varience to me.
Id reccomend two options
take a week off,go do something completly different
try a low buyin non holdem game, like omaha or stud
either way it looks like a nasty run and sometimes you need a bit of 'mental time' to regain that lost confidence

My best suggestion is to make the game fun again by going to a B&M Casino and playing 1/2NL. Lots of loose fish there.
If you really are fed up, take time off until you want to play again. Trust me, you will want to play again.
I have played with you too, and you are a stand-up player. From what I can tell, this is bad luck with a little tilt sprinkled in for good measure.

THX for all the input. The 50NL was when I moved down to let off some steam ( i almost have the br for 200NL i just moved down cause i was on a terrible streak)

Lots of very good posts here, it was a wonderfull experience feeling this bad, because I will know how to deal with it the next time it presents itself.

Thx a lot for the constructive critisism.