One of the most frustrating aspects of playing online poker is the swings. Regardless of how good a player you are, swings are inevitable. They can be mind boggling, they can be harsh, and they can wreak havoc on your sanity. After playing online for nearly seven years, I've seen it all, but to this day I have trouble handling the swings, both emotionally and financially. The secret to success in the long run is to understand the reasons behind these swings and minimize their contributing factors.

There is luck in poker; if there were no luck involved, very few players would continue playing the game. Bad players (i.e., poker's bottom line) would lose every pot and quit. The reality is that it's the luck factor that keeps many players liquid in this game and allows them to play on. But that luck factor, or variance, can kill your bankroll when you take a bad swing in results. You could conceivably play 100 tournaments online, play them all very well and not cash much overall because you keep taking devastating all-in beats at critical moments. It seems like the sites have it in for you, the poker gods hate you, and your karma is all messed up. My laptop has been in jeopardy many times after being launched across the room following a string of really bad beats in major online tournaments. Some days, no matter what you do, everything goes wrong. On other days, even the wrong plays turn out right. The difference between the good player and the amateur is how he capitalizes on the good runs and minimizes the losses on the bad runs. The truly great player recognizes the mistakes he's making that compound his bad run and he takes steps to correct them.

Compounding factors can be anything from tilting to external factors that can affect a player's judgment. It is very hard not to get angry and emotional over a bad run or a bad string of beats. But as hard as it is, you cannot let that bad run bother you. It should be water off a duck's back. Keeping a positive attitude throughout a bad run is critical to helping you overcome and correct it. I keep hearing players cursing their luck, complaining about how many bad beats they are taking even though they're playing great, and how they just can't get out of their rut. I've watched them play and I see them chasing bad draws, making bad calls, going all in when they don't need to —basically pushing the envelope and not getting lucky, making mistakes because they're trying so desperately to get out of their tailspin.

So stay upbeat, and try not to get mad. Your positive attitude will help you keep a clear head and help you make better decisions during play.



Stepping down rather than up

Many players make the mistake of climbing up in limits, rather than stepping down, when they are in a bad run. They try to get their money back faster at higher limits, when most of the time that backfires and they dig themselves into a deeper hole. If you want to learn how to stop your tailspin, you have to force yourself not to make this mistake. Stepping down in limits will have a couple of positive effects. First of all, it will build your confidence. Secondly, you can build up your bankroll, albeit slower at lower levels, but with much less risk. By moving up, you may blow your entire bankroll if you aren't playing sharp and on top of your game, nullifying your ability to recover. Get rid of your ego while in a bad run.

You can take an extreme step by lowering the limits dramatically and practicing the aspects of your game that may not be as sharp. You can do this in low limits with virtually no risk to your bankroll, but the upside to your game could be dramatic.

When you're in the midst of a bad run or swing, relax, breathe, and do everything in your power to stop the bad run. But take the right steps and don't panic. Baby steps will help you much more than chasing that one big lucky score. Your bankroll and your sanity will thank you!

Knock 'em dead Jim "KrazyKanuck" Worth

from article in bluff magazine