Play through bad spells or wait them out?
I have recently being through a couple of spells where I can't seem to get any decent cards. These can go on for days, and the odd time I do get something playable I can't seem to catch anything on the flop. Of course, luck can be fickle and I certainly don't expect to always win, so I was just wondering if people feel it's best to play through these cold periods or just not play for a few days. In other words, do you experienced card player feel that you've got to keep playing and take your share of cold cards, or it is best just to not play for a while, hopping that luck will change with time rather than the amount of hands played?
Comments
You guys bring up some good points about the mental effect and the difference between playing bad (or tilting) versus just getting cold cards/flops. I find that impatience (and therefore bad play decisions) is sometimes a byproduct of these cold card spells, so rather than waiting for decent cards in a decent position, I'm betting hands that I wouldn't normally (and even out of position). Perhaps my best bet when these spells occur is to take a short break for a day or two just to regain some enthusiasm and patience before hitting the table again. Even if I still have to play through my share of cold cards, I can probably do it with more patience and save myself some cash.
If you are making poor decisions/playing bad it's time for a break. Take a few weeks off, read a book and only come back when you are hungry to play again.
Johnnie
That's only in Calgary..their lucky days are three behind us.
A good use of that time is off is to pick up a poker book..you've obv got the drive to play and your head in poker. Why waste that time on random?
Study!
Well timed thread, glad I didn't break you!
This is fairly typical, you've been sitting for 4 hours in a session and haven't had more than a couple of hands worth even seeing a flop for. So you start doubting your game and thinking that maybe you should be taking more shots and end up playing bad to go with running bad.
Thats actually a really good idea! If you need a break at the tables use that time to study, watch some videos etc. so that you raise your emotional level to get back in there and play your best.
I think the last 2 weeks have been my worst two weeks in about 3 years....I have had AA cracked i think 3 times by nothing over a 10....for stacks no less.
I have lost set over set...had to fold numerous hands where people got there on the river with 2 outers...its just sick sometimes what you see.
Keep your head in the game and play right through it. Don't change your game style at all.
I have a couple of poker strategy books I want to read, and I keep telling myself I'm going to do it soon, but the lure of being able to play poker rather than read about it always seems to win out. Before I know it, I'm in a game thinking "What's the best way to play this situation? I bet if I had read those books, I'd have a better idea."
So, thanks for the advice to spend some time more wisely. I'm going to make my best effort to take a break for a week the next time I have one of these bad spells and get my head into those books.
I'm sorry to hear about those long bouts people have where they get beat several times with AA or not being able to hit your high hole cards. It seems that some days, the only time my hole cards come up is when I fold them pre-flop. When that type of thing keeps happening, I find myself tempted to take it personally, even though I know it's not a rational thing to do. So, your reminder that we all experience bad spells and the assurance that they end and winning hands will start again is also encouraging.
Thanks to all for your comments and your patience with a rookie such as myself. I was concerned that I'd be starting a thread that had likely been discussed to death, and I may not hear from many people. Instead, I was very pleased to read all the encouraging and intelligent remarks.:)
Anybody have a loaded gun I could borrow?
If you are playing well, keep playing. If you think some time off to study might help, you are probably right so that never hurts either.
Also, if you have hit a bad enough downswing that you need to drop down to play within your roll, do it. No point in being proud and broke
Play even more passively when losing and win!!!
Over the long term that will seriously hurt your game, essentially you are now playing scared and that is not proper poker.
Move down limits or take a break....
Well said.
I also like to change games for a bit just mix it up. Playing Stud or Draw can be a nice change.