Variance is turning me into Phil Hellmuth

waltsfriendwaltsfriend
in General Poker Chat
I really feel like I am playing good poker lately, but my poor behaviour at the table after bad beats is accumulating. It seems like every time I am in a significant pot with at least a 4-1 advantage I lose. I am getting more and more frustrated and it is showing in my reactions after the beat. I really don't like my behaviour, but I can't seem to take the high road any more.

I don't even know what I am looking for as responses to this post, but I make it after yet another bad beat that took me out of Bristol tonight and a reaction that I am not proud of. But I have to vent my frustration somewhere.

Comments

  • MiloMilo
    The fact that you are aware of it, and feel it is improper, is the first step in being able to control it. Like one of my taglines states: If you would master others, you must first master yourself. I suffer from the same thing at times. I now make it a point, at the finale of a hand, to force myself NOT to react, whether I win the pot or not. Then, after that brief pause, because that should be all it takes to check an untoward response, I will either compliment my opponent (loss) or stack the chips (win). Keep working on it, you'll be fine.
  • moosemoose
    Try showing up late, then you won't go out early...
  • Big MikeBig Mike
    Do you play online poker for real money? Play a couple hundred thousand hands. You will be so used to bad beats simply because they will come so much faster that nothing will faze you live.
  • waltsfriendwaltsfriend
    Big Mike wrote: »
    Do you play online poker for real money? Play a couple hundred thousand hands. You will be so used to bad beats simply because they will come so much faster that nothing will faze you live.

    Although I have played, I never really got into online poker. I hated it.
  • blackmagiczblackmagicz
    You are playing with emotion to the money.....separate yourself from the money and the game is easier....

    There is another factor behind why you are getting upset other than what you are telling us.

    I play a lot live/online and I find the only times I will get emotional is when I am over my head (taking shots) or not playing in a sound state of mind (bad day at work, etc)

    Other than that I just wait for chips to come to me or be removed...
  • westside8westside8
    Try not to be so result oriented. Instead of looking at it as...I got in and he only had 4 out, FUCK he hit it! DAMN THIS TO HELL @#%(*!$!%@, just look at it as you got it in as a X % favourite, and thats all you can control. You can't control the cards that will come.
  • GTA PokerGTA Poker
    don't ever take up PLO
  • NoVeLTeKNoVeLTeK
    To be honest downswings really teach you a lot about poker. really makes you analyze your game in finer detail than you normally would.
  • Wetts1012Wetts1012
    Stop playing (for a while).

    If you are not doing this for a living then it is a hobby - which I assume is supposed to be fun.

    The fact that you are not enjoying the experience means there's something missing.

    Give it a week or 2 without playing. Do something you enjoy to change your mindset. When you come back the beats wont seem that bad.
  • pkrfce9pkrfce9
    you having a bad reaction when you lose a hand? unheard of...

    i have no advice for you. either you want to change or you don't. i wouldn't worry about it until people at the table start wanting to get into a fight with you.
  • HobbesHobbes
    westside8 wrote: »
    Try not to be so result oriented. Instead of looking at it as...I got in and he only had 4 out, FUCK he hit it! DAMN THIS TO HELL @#%(*!$!%@, just look at it as you got it in as a X % favourite, and thats all you can control. You can't control the cards that will come.

    Exactly.
    Last week, I was on the happy side of variance JJ/QQ actually held up against AK. Actually 90% of the time I went in ahead it held. This week not so much JJ < A9sooooted. Poor calls are getting rewarded. Just need to tell myself, I got in with the best hand and that's all I can do. I cannot control stupid calls by my opponents (although that's what I want them to do most of the time).

    And when Uncle Tilty calls, don't shove AK on a missed flop against 2 other players that called your raise :redface: (and I was doing soooo good not overplaying it)
  • JimmyHoJimmyHo
    if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. When you act like this at the table, it just shows the other players you are weak and the good players will use this to their advantage. Blondefish can tell you stories about players losing it at the table and his reaction. I've never understood how players can get so upset about being sucked out on. Its part of the game.
  • NoVeLTeKNoVeLTeK
    I got an idea make some really hard CS assignments for your students.
    I'm sure that will cheer you up!
  • BuzzzarddBuzzzardd
    Your blow up affected everyone else at the table. Because of it we didn't have to listen to the rest of Mark's story. God Bless You.
  • DrTyoreDrTyore
    Dammit.. it was a funny story!

    Mark
  • beach2002beach2002
    well you have another chance to tell it tonight Mark.
  • JohnnieHJohnnieH
    Sandy I don't think your rant was THAT bad.

    Bristol has seen worse, trust me :)
Sign In or Register to comment.
HomeDiscussionsToggle Dark Mode