Losing in Poker.

[KaciBlakely]

This post is most importantly about state of mind after losing a big hand or session in poker and how you deal with it afterwords. And I will be adding to it with the help of others on the forum, so please help me with this. And tell me what you think afterwards.

But in order to deal with losing well, you have to understand that losing is a part of the game.

When researching and putting together my thoughts together I found this great article that I think would be brilliant for everyone to read.

Poker Losing Streaks and How to Cope

I learned some of what I didn't know and what I thought I knew improved because I have pride issues, and I'm sure I'm not the only poker player who has that problem to deal with.

Now on to the psychological things and how to deal with them without going crazy.

If you lose a big pot of poker and you aren't going against the rules of bankroll management you should be fine.

In retrospect if you are using bankroll management effectively, you wouldn't have gone broke and you will just have to hurt a bruised ego for a day or two or towards your next session.

Another thing to remember is it is only a game.

Yes it is a game that involves betting with your own money, but the point is to have fun, or to have fun while earning money.

You should never play poker as a career unless, you have the money, or have the skill, and if you aren't making 100k$ a year from poker money, you aren't skilled enough.

I definitely know I am not skilled enough to play poker. Believe me, and eejit, he'll be the first one to criticize my brain for poker.

But I think I can handle disappointment well and that's what you experience when you lose a big hand and/or session online or live for that matter.

The best thing that works for me is for me to just log off and take a cooler.

Hop on the treadmill or the shower and just turn up your music and relax and veg out and chill.

[badaace1973]

This is the problem Im having right now. I guess I'll read your link and see if it helps me cause im in a heck of a funk right now so thanks for the post

[PANAMHIEST]

If i lose really bad and see a nice pot get scooped away by someone that i

honestly believe I had beat, I have broken keyboards, crushed the mouse, or

used the mouse to smash the keyboard, all in that order. After having to run

to the store on three different occasiones to purchase a new kyboard and/or

mouse, I quit getting so angry about it. I decided you know what, it

happens, its poker you cant win em all right?

[KaciBlakely]

This is the problem Im having right now. I guess I'll read your link and see if it helps me cause im in a heck of a funk right now so thanks for the post

No problem.

This is why I posted in the first place.

I was having problems with my game and it was getting crazy.

So I just would have to talk myself and cool myself down.

Just remember in poker someone always has a worse bad beat/cooler than you have so count yourself lucky.

[slicky111]

I usually take a break when I'm on a losing streak. Some time off seems to help.

And on those days when I feel like playing? I play very loose on freerolls and push all-ins with something crazy to try and get the hicks off. After doing this a couple of times. I see that sometimes u do win but most times u lose. That helps me understand that I can't win every time no matter with what hand u have.

Losing sometimes is a part of poker.

[KaciBlakely]

Yep losing is the one thing in poker you can definitely count on.

That and your bankroll going lower at some point during your play.

I'm glad you like this post though.

[donvic]

hi all,

thanks for the post.
to adjust to loosing streaks i try to
remind myself of my poker goal....
to play the best poker i can(the best
poker i'm capable of). if i can do that
winning will take care of itself....eventually.
if i make the best decisions i can when playing;
then i'm happy.

best,
donvic

[bouks999]

when i loose a poker hand i get really mad and try to play another tourney to win my money back. Ive seen myself get donked out on low stakes sitng. Maybe i should try to play the bigger ones

[a9xxu1]

it always pays to use the three bad beats and your out rule.if you have three winning hands and you lose with them in a session,things more often than not dont get any better,esspecially if you play online.tilting,chasing cash,going psycho,when you learn to give the game a rest before explodeing your bankroll,is when you learn to become a better gambler and poker player.

[navuta]

This post is most importantly about state of mind after losing a big hand or session in poker and how you deal with it afterwords. And I will be adding to it with the help of others on the forum, so please help me with this. And tell me what you think afterwards.

But in order to deal with losing well, you have to understand that losing is a part of the game.

When researching and putting together my thoughts together I found this great article that I think would be brilliant for everyone to read.

Poker Losing Streaks and How to Cope

I learned some of what I didn't know and what I thought I knew improved because I have pride issues, and I'm sure I'm not the only poker player who has that problem to deal with.

Now on to the psychological things and how to deal with them without going crazy.

If you lose a big pot of poker and you aren't going against the rules of bankroll management you should be fine.

In retrospect if you are using bankroll management effectively, you wouldn't have gone broke and you will just have to hurt a bruised ego for a day or two or towards your next session.

Another thing to remember is it is only a game.

Yes it is a game that involves betting with your own money, but the point is to have fun, or to have fun while earning money.

You should never play poker as a career unless, you have the money, or have the skill, and if you aren't making 100k$ a year from poker money, you aren't skilled enough.

I definitely know I am not skilled enough to play poker. Believe me, and eejit, he'll be the first one to criticize my brain for poker.

But I think I can handle disappointment well and that's what you experience when you lose a big hand and/or session online or live for that matter.

The best thing that works for me is for me to just log off and take a cooler.

Hop on the treadmill or the shower and just turn up your music and relax and veg out and chill.

I guess that I need a pyscho doctor..
Im going crazy...
I just lost 55$ bucks on the bead beat cash game.
I think my subconcius is going mad today...
Why did I do this?
I cant have the answer..
I really suck at poker now I think...



PLEASE GOD HELPE overcome this crazy mind i have...

And Im completly sober... If at least I had some pot to come me down now....

[PANAMHIEST]

I guess that I need a pyscho doctor..
Im going crazy...
I just lost 55$ bucks on the bead beat cash game.
I think my subconcius is going mad today...
Why did I do this?
I cant have the answer..
I really suck at poker now I think...



PLEASE GOD HELPE overcome this crazy mind i have...

And Im completly sober... If at least I had some pot to come me down now....

It happens. these bad beat cash table are a hard place to play cash, especially at .50/1.00 at the merge netwrok. you would need a pretty hefty bankroll to play at these limits. Stay way from those cash tables for a while play some small tournaments or sngs and youll be back to doing fine in no time at all.

[navuta]

It happens. these bad beat cash table are a hard place to play cash, especially at .50/1.00 at the merge netwrok. you would need a pretty hefty bankroll to play at these limits. Stay way from those cash tables for a while play some small tournaments or sngs and youll be back to doing fine in no time at all.

The sad thing was that I did not play for winning.
I guess that I played for loossing..
I dont know why.. but I just whent bluffing with nothing...
Im really mad at myself right now...

[Sassy12U]

Are there any things that you, the determined player, can do to prevent it? Or if you notice that you seem to be tilting, what should you do about it?

I have a few suggestions that have helped me.

I start by telling myself that I, and no one else, is responsible for what hands I play and what hands I don't play. I am the master of my own money. That's my affirmation.

It's an important one. It's all too easy to blame other people for our losses -- for our loss of control. But don't. Start by taking responsibility for your own actions and you'll be ahead of the game. So you're responsible.

Once I have taken responsibility, the next step is to notice the early warning signs of going on tilt. Before I actually GO on tilt, some event tends to get me upset. So I need to recognize that event and respond to it by resisting the urge to start playing differently from the optimal way that I have learned.

Once I can learn to recognize those early warning signs, I need to learn to inhibit my habitual response. Initially, this may mean leaving the table for a while. That's right -- actually walking away from the game. Maybe you get something to eat. Maybe you just stroll over to some other game and distract yourself watching it for a while. But leave your game for a while until you can calm down.

[eejit101]

I just go on tilt. But a good tilt!