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Minimizing your loses (and/or hopefully just breaking even) when the cards are being incredibly cruel to you, are just as important (maybe even more so) as pumping the pots and maximizing your wins when the cards are treating you well.
Lately, I've been trying to view this as an equal part of my poker skills arsenal. Psychology is a HUGE part of this game. Don't under-estimate it.
I was on a 4 month B&M tear until just this weekend ... leaving the casino up all but one time (sometimes with as much as even 80 to 120BB). And, I've been playing 2 to 3 times per week there. Keep in mind that I'd put in really long sessions sometimes, so I was able to ride out the downswings and get back in the black. In summary, quite the run!
I literally forgot what it feels like to lose. During this time, I heard people talking about bad runs/cruel cards etc. and just figured them for a bunch of whiners. Online, I've been multi-tabling, so the bad & good card runs tend to not be as persistent because you are seeing so many more hands and the fluctuations tend to cancel each out.
I used to think that patience and discipline were the largest strengths of my game. Again ... until this weekend. The cards were sooooo cruel in so many different ways. Second best after second best. Getting sucked out on with crap, monsters losing to runner/runners time and time again ... it happens to everyone; it's how you handle it that counts. Well, I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't handle it very well as I could. Until this weekend I thought I was invincible to tilt. Well, I'm not. 3 or 4 times I titled BIG TIME. Got angry, impatient, annoyed, digusted at other people's bad play + incredible luck. At least I'm good at not externalizing it towards others, that would be even more shameful! I hate when I see people do that to others.
Anyhow, moral of the story is bad runs happen to everyone and at the B&M, it can be even worse. Don't let it get under your skin and use it as an opportunity to work on the psychological strengths of your game.
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