Bad run...
 

How do you get out of your bad runs? I've just not been playing well or just been a bit unlucky. I had my full house rivered by a better full house for example earlier today. It's put a shot on my confidence for sure. Just not playing well at all or just not getting any breaks. I think it's a lot the latter as I've played a few SNG's lately and just not gotten much to play the entire tourney. I don't know, but my confidence isn't there. Perhaps I need to go hit the books again. I don't know, but I know I'm not as bad as the results the last week or two. I suppose it's all part of the game, but it's done a number on my head. Thoughts? Step away from the game for a bit? Go drink a fifth of jack? STFU??? Thanks fellas.

Walk away. I know you're overcome w/ the feeling that you need to get the money back, but there will always be a game. Right now, you're not in a good "poker" place, and there's a good chance you're tilting.

Consider stepping down a level. If you are taking beat after beat (and it's hurting too much) it's likely that you're playing a bit over your head. Remember the rules of thumb:

Limit HE: you should have around 300BB's for a particular limit...
NLHE: you should have about 20 buy-ins...

Right now, I'm not following the rules, but I'm not complaining either. Cold streaks suck. Good luck. :(

Thanks Lou...think it's gone from a run of bad cards to putting me on tilt and making some bad plays. Not at a limit I need to move down from, but I think I've hit my first real bad streak. Time for a break for at least a few days...I think. Worst thing I did was going after the Party bonus today. Really put me in a tail spin. The last straw was my K's getting beat by a f'n set of js. UGH! Oh well...time for a break.

Taking a few days off is a good idea. If you have a good poker book, re-consult the pre-flop strategy chart. I'm not suggesting you don't know how to play, but when you sit down and read about poker, it's puts you in a better frame of mind. Maybe there's something you've been missing?

Plus it makes you want to play. (At least it does for me.)

GL.

I'm hosting a home tourney next weekend. Think I'll buy Harrington on Hold 'em (the first one again thanks to my wife) - both editions. Would like to put that to work for that. I may even stay off online games until after the tourney.

I hear what you're saying Lou and I know you're not saying I'm bad (although I know I'm avg to decent at best). Just need to reevaluate my play. Perhaps I need to buy poker tracker too...

For me, bad runs tend to put me in a results-oriented mindset. I try to take a step back, usually coming back down in limits after a brief time away from the tables, and refocus on proper decision making.

Whenever this happens to me i find good articles about poker ot read like Lou was saying, it totally gets me re-focusing, even if i knew all the stuff before, and it also makes me want to play Good Poker again, and it gives me the confidence that i can beat most these chumps out there. Reading the books for me isnt so much about learning new things that i didnt know, its more about getting in the right mindset and knowing i can win.

Thanks for the tips fellas...much needed shot in the noggin to get things straight.