I am in a backslide.

I realize that I am still a newb, and have really taken my game seriously only the past few months. I know it doesnt seem like much (hence posting in the beginner forum) but I have blown almost $200 of my $800 bankroll just today. I admit that I should have taken a break halfway through this but I didnt. The reason I didnt was mainly due to playing decent, just getting the short end of the stick. AA and KK getting cracked 3 times today, not hitting 9/10 of the hands that I was raising (getting called down alot of those times), and probably the last $75 was from tilt (calling a push with a lower flush, etc).
Thanks for letting me vent, I just want to openly admit this so I can improve from the tilt that followed.
Im gonna take a few days break and come back fresh. If that doesn't work, then i'm gonna punch the dealer in the ear with a closed fist out of anger.

assuming you´re playing within your roll, dropping 4 buy could be nothing but variance. downswings do happen, that´s why we stick to solid br management.

Sounds like a bankroll management issue. Even if you are a serious, decent, or even winning player, variance will kill your bankroll. Sounds like your playing live by your comment about the dealer which means the lowest stake you could play is 1/2. If you aren't already, deposit some money online where you can build your bankroll at the lower stakes. Good luck!

Sorry for the misinfo, I play 25nl and my bankroll is just above $600. It used to be $800. Online.

It happens to everyone (I think)...take some time off if you need it...the upswings are worth the wait.

Ya, I have to go out of town for the weekend, so it will be a good break. I think the tilt set it in when I was at a perfect table in the best position I could get. The hands just werent going my way, and the only bluffs/monsters I was getting were for chump change. The monsters I got, were getting rivered/etc. I want to be clear that I am not complaining, I want to be in these situations, I know they make me money. I am just admiting that I a fell victim to tilt by a circumstance that I knew would happen. This is how i will improve...

relax dude, sounds like variance simply kicked your ass. i´m down 11bi´s, ugly things happen to all of us.

read here http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ing+downswings

Thanks for a good read, its been a while since i read that. I posted this because I feel like a alot of you guys are my peers in poker and good to be accountable in situations like this instead of ignoring it.

It might be helpfull to have a designated time to stop playing in terms of time or $ won/lost (usually lost). Mine is something like 3 or 4 buyins. I might take a break for a little while, or just stop playing for the rest of the day depending on how I feel. If you feel yourself steaming definately close all your tables and walk away.

Originally Posted by JJDAMAN

It might be helpfull to have a designated time to stop playing in terms of time or $ won/lost (usually lost). Mine is something like 3 or 4 buyins.

I think this is a great idea. Another good one that I follow is to consider switching tables if I get down by half a buy in. If you are taking bad beats, no problem (and then a rebuy might be in order), but if someone has your number, it might be best to leave. Also, if your stack gets too low and you hit your big hand, you can't get paid off very well.

you should really be rebuying your stack up after every hand, or atleast after 10% or so has been lost.

Originally Posted by JJDAMAN

It might be helpfull to have a designated time to stop playing in terms of time or $ won/lost (usually lost). Mine is something like 3 or 4 buyins. I might take a break for a little while, or just stop playing for the rest of the day depending on how I feel. If you feel yourself steaming definately close all your tables and walk away.

no good idea. if you drop 4 buyins, playing your a game and making quality decisions keep playing. as long as you´re not getting emotional keep on playing, there´s no reason to stop, just because you´re down several buyins. if, on the other hand, you´re steaming after a beat or getting timid after being outplayed, click "leave table". when you´re not on top, one buyin lost should be enough to quit.

8 buy-ins in a short time is wicked variance!

i used to play golf...a lot. and when i played and played and played, i got into some pretty nasty habits without realising it.

i would force myself to take 2 weeks off. and when i came back, i couldn't "feel a thing." and that was the best thing in the world because i also forgot those bad habits.

i had to start from the fundamentals and build my "feel" back. and it ALWAYS WORKED! has had the same affect in poker.

whether you see them or not, the bad habits are there. variance is variance, but it doesnt continue (if you are willing to be honest with yourself) without some of your own help ( i call it self-inflicted variance).

take a break, come back full of fear, stick to the fundamentals first, and KICK SOME ASS!! trust me. it will happen.

I feel your pain I go into a slide of about 7 buyins almost every month and it drives me crazy. The only suggestion I can give is to tighten up a little don't come in on anything but premium hands unless you are near the button so you have position. I change tables anytime I have a bad beat or lose about 20% of my buy in. Lots of loose tables out there try to find one, I would consider changing sites for a short period. I do play other sites when I am going bad just to try to change my luck. Good luck at the tables.

Even the pros have lossing streeks, sometimes lasting for months. Just make sure the cards aren't running for you and the problems isn't that you started to play differently.

if you can honestly say you made the right decisions, its just a variance and you can play through it

i find the 10% rule is good, i play 50NL and if i lose 2 buyins, of my $1000 BR, im done for the day.

i took four beats in two hours yesterday, but was still ok to walk home happy because i know i played good poker - i got my money in ahead twice to guys four-flushed and drawing after the flop, and twice to guys drawing at gutshots - all of them betting against their odds, but making the hands.

if you can honestly say that you shouldnt have done anything differently, then you have nothing to worry about, but be as honest and as self-critical as possible and try to learn anything you possibly can from it, at least that way your money buys you a lesson that you can keep

tighten up, get back to basics and stick to playing smart poker.

Well not all of that $200 was variance. About a 1/3 of that was tilt that came after losing the 2/3.
I took the weekend off and came back yesterday and got about $120 of it back through solid playing. The point of this thread is simple, accountability. For the most part, I couldnt do much about that 2/3. I sure as hell could have dont something about the 1/3 and thats why I am posting this. As others have posted, when you feel yourself steaming, Get the Hell Away from your computer. For me, it didnt matter that I played it perfect and went in with the best hand. If I would have stepped away I could have saved more money until i got my head together.

it took me a few killed buyins to learn, but i think the first time you lose a big hand that you kind of 'knew' you were beat in is a good sign that you need to walk away

keeping count of how much money youve donked/tilted yourself out of is a good reminder too, anything i can attach a dollar amount to tends to stick out in my head more

after every significant pot you lose, continually ask yourself if you played it as well as you could - if you dont think you did and cant offer any good reason why, youre tilting. and its going to be expensive

on the other hand, if youre getting your money in ahead and losing, theres not much you can do about those, theyre statistical necessities that will happen if youre on tilt or not. maybe just ask yourself if you made villain pay enough to draw out on you - giving cheap turns with flopped draws have probably cost me more than tilt in my last few sessions