Damn This Game!!!!!!!!

[PShabi]

What am I getting myself into?

Been serious since mid-summer. Having a great run of it at 1/2, then 2/4. Few weeks ago, decided to move up to 3/6 after having a great run in November.

Boom! 14 hours and $400 later, realized the swings were too big for me to handle right before the holidays so I moved back to 2/4.

Since then, it's been open season on Pshabi. 3 out of 4 session has been a losing one for almost 3 weeks. When I used to be able to count on 5+BB/hour minimum, now it seems I lose that much. I'm experiencing one of those huge downward swings that all the "experts" told me would inevitably happen. You know what, I thought they were full of shit. Wrong.

My game/style hasn't changed, but the luck factor has. When all was going great, I was thinking I had a hobby that would boost my yearly income by 50%! Now, I'm wondering why I torture myelf.

Probably poker in its truest form right?

Just thought I'd share.

[Penguinfan]

I am starting a club for guys like us. Man I was on a decent run the last 6 weeks or so and it came crashing down hard recently. Our first meeting can be at the bar behind a shot of Jack Daniels.

[Windbreaker]

Sounds like you should just take a break from poker for a while. Everyone runs into bad times, just take a break and come back to it when you can enjoy it again.

I think deciding when to move up into limits is one of the hardest decisions to make. Whenever you're moving limits, things will change...the players are different, the play is different. Only move when your bankroll can handle the down times.

[2Tone]

It hurts, but swings happen. I had a nasty session myself the other night when some fish caught runner runnner to crack my trip Kings. You can be confident that as long as you playing well, it will turn around, possibly as soon as your next session. But only if you are playing well, so keep your head up!

[SirFWALGMan]

I am also having the same experience. It is the game. It is the toughest part of the game. Poker sucks sometimes! During this downswing I am going to start working more on taking all of the data I have and making it work for me. For instance I should have a fish/calling station list of people who have paid me out in spades! I mean the guys who just handed me there entire bankrolls. I should be playing these guys every night not some random table. Right?

[drewjax]

I am about to move up to 1/2 after several months off from serious playing. I had some money on some sites, cashed out, consolidated etc. So hopefully I have had a good break, and now I'm ready for the BIG time (1/2 lol).
In the meantime, I've been playing microlimits, at acouple sites that gave free $10. I have been reading/studying etc. so if its ever going to happen it will be now. But, I have had my most success in limit ring games. Lately, I have had success in SnGs (small buyins of course). I'm wondering if I should focus on that, try ot kill both, or stick to limit specifically. Suggestions??

[Ruchie]

when this happens, I think it's important to stop & really analyze your game.
are you playing differently, are you facing tougher competition or are the cards just falling differently?

if you're tilting & it's making you chase garbage then yeah, get away.
if you're playing a solid game but it just seems like you keep having 2nd nut & constantly running into the nuts, or worse, you have the best, but seems like someone is always chasing & drawing out on you, then you should keep at it as long as you have the discipline to play a smart, solid game.

your w/l shouldn't necessarily determine your session, it should be more based on how good the game is and how good YOUR game is.