The agony of defeat (nicely graphed)
Excerpt from this week's poker log. The whole log at www.CanadianPoker.com
The Streak is over
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was on the “streak of my life†and I was. Well, the streak is over. For the last two weeks I have been in the cockpit of a Messerschmitt that is in a steep, screaming dive towards the ground. Whew. It’s unpleasant. Really unpleasant. It is, however, a lesson in keeping track of one’s lifetime results. As I recently posted to PokerForum.ca: “I am in the midst of my worst losing streak ever. $8500 in the past eight days. Ugh. Just prior, however, I was enjoying my best (and longest) hot streak ever. When I was in the hot streak I KNEW that the storm was coming. I KNEW it. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Eventually, there is always a storm. Now, standing here in the storm, soaked to the skin, lightning crashing all around me, it FEELS like I will never see the sun again. However, reviewing my lifetime results is comforting. Eventually the storm will blow over.â€
When I started playing poker seriously it took me a long time to accomplish two things (1) Keep track of every single penny won or lost; and (2) get and keep a poker bankroll. So, now when I get into a a bad streak there are two things that give me solace. First, I have enough money to weather the storm. Second, I can look at my results from the past several months and remind myself that “the sun WILL shine again.†This graph shows 2005 year to date (Yes, I know I eliminated the $$ and the time). If you can get a graph like this in your own game then you will find it very comforting during the down turns (like the one at the far right).Â
The Streak is over
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was on the “streak of my life†and I was. Well, the streak is over. For the last two weeks I have been in the cockpit of a Messerschmitt that is in a steep, screaming dive towards the ground. Whew. It’s unpleasant. Really unpleasant. It is, however, a lesson in keeping track of one’s lifetime results. As I recently posted to PokerForum.ca: “I am in the midst of my worst losing streak ever. $8500 in the past eight days. Ugh. Just prior, however, I was enjoying my best (and longest) hot streak ever. When I was in the hot streak I KNEW that the storm was coming. I KNEW it. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Eventually, there is always a storm. Now, standing here in the storm, soaked to the skin, lightning crashing all around me, it FEELS like I will never see the sun again. However, reviewing my lifetime results is comforting. Eventually the storm will blow over.â€
When I started playing poker seriously it took me a long time to accomplish two things (1) Keep track of every single penny won or lost; and (2) get and keep a poker bankroll. So, now when I get into a a bad streak there are two things that give me solace. First, I have enough money to weather the storm. Second, I can look at my results from the past several months and remind myself that “the sun WILL shine again.†This graph shows 2005 year to date (Yes, I know I eliminated the $$ and the time). If you can get a graph like this in your own game then you will find it very comforting during the down turns (like the one at the far right).Â
Comments
Manhattan rising.
You should be very proud of your accomplishments. If MY graphs and charts looked like that, I wouldn't be working so hard. Truely demonstates your ability to learn from mistakes, take corrective action to prevent them from reoccuring, and sustaining improvement over and over again.
Your losing streak will be a short one, if the data I'm reading is remotely accurate. You'll be rebounding sharply upward very soon.
I seem to struggle online, and do well in the casino. How do you rate?
Oh, and this is a great chart, Dave. You certainly show a great deal of discipline in tracking this information. Something I should aspire to.
Keeping track is easy. I use StatKing. It takes just a second to key in the info and it builds the graph for you (in any number of a different ways).
And, poker is a LOT like the stock market. Lots of ups and down and a big trend towards up.
Well... assuming you're a Microsoft. Or a Dave Scharf. :cool:
"In fact, I made a graph. I make a lot of graphs."
-Lisa Simpson
ScottyZ