I’ll either have a good stretch or a bad one. Why not a little here and a little there?

Doesn’t make sense.”

Because once players start to run bad, they typically start to play bad.

As you know, you will hit a few suckouts to get the earth back on the correct axisis and then you will go on a huge winning streak after that.

Actually, I don’t mind people questioning me, as long as it is done in a thoughtful way (instead of an accusational way, in which case I’m likely to get all defensive).

So, with that said, allow me to explain:

(1) I do believe that my recent downswing is mostly variance based (specifically 2nd best hand syndrome) and the resulting awfukits, like Hoy mentioned.

(2) I still have confidence in my abilities, but think I need to work on consistency.

(3) I am a semi-serious player, in that I will often play when inebriated, which we all know is not good, but is, after all, good fun. This adds to the leak.

(4) The blogger tournaments are -EV because I rarely cash. Why is this? Well, partially, I think it is because of my general image amongst bloggers. Partially, I don’t think I am adapting to the different type of play that one sees in a blogger tournament. Hell, partially, its because bloggers are better than the average player and also that in these events, we all tend to play differently. I often get a lead early and watch it slip away until I but in the top 50-25%.

So, basically, the blogger events have a different feel. I play different, my competition plays differently than most MTTs and I haven’t been able to effectively adjust…I think.

In the end, I’m not damning poker or myself. I’m just being honest about losing lately. I’m still have confidence in my abilities, although sometimes its hard to summon it at the table. I know it’ll turn around. Its just important that I remain honest here.

End post-within-a-comment here.

Why do you think the blogger tournaments are -EV for you?

I think it’s an important examination. If you’re constantly playing in events where the quality of play will generally lead to you missing the money, then game selection is the issue. However, sometimes they can be learning experiences.

If you’re not out of your league in these events, why do you think they are -EV. Is it because you play them differently than other events? If that’s the case, then why? Are tourneys in general -EV for you?

I think answering these questions can help stop your slide. Please don’t take this as me questioning your abilities. It’s NOT meant that way at all. Real introspection can be very benefitial.

I’ll either have a good stretch or a bad one. Why not a little here and a little there?

Doesn’t make sense.

You are not alone! And it will turn around in time.

I have less experience with poker than most and have not been willing to try this myself but I imagine a nice break with no poker playing is probably good for the soul during a bad downswing. Instead, I opt to mess around with forms of poker other than my usual game and find I have a LOT of fun. It doesn’t help at all with recouping losses but it does at least put the fun back into poker for me.

Good luck turning things around. It WILL happen sooner or later. Variance is a real bugger at times is all.

Cheers!

Btw I know a whole lot of bloggers and other online players who have been on a noticeable losing streak of late. Not sure why that would be, but I know for myself, I’m getting rivered and turned in the worst possible ways, I’m getting killed lately by redickulous runner-runner situations, and then eventually that definitely tends to have the effect of making me play like a fatalist, like I don’t give a sh*t. Like if I get reraised allin early in a tournament, and I know he has a middle pair against my AK, I’ll just go ahead and call it, even though I know I’m calling off all my chips early in a tournament on less than a 50% chance of winning. Is that dumb or what? But that’s what a bad losing streak can do to a man, even New Yorkers such as ourselves.

I’ll look for you this weekend, though I probably will only play in the evenings is my guess.

I am in a slump as well… I really upped my bankroll in a big way at limit HE, and wanted mix it up with some NL SnG (my favorite way to play). I cashed 1st or 2nd in like 5 tourneys in a row… and I was feeling invincible.

Then, I went on to bust out of the next 5 or 6 SnG’s, place 2nd in one then busted out of 3 more… yikes. Suddenly, one third of my new and wonderful bankroll is gone. Was I feeling too invincible and played off my game??? Some of the tourneys were ultra weak/tight were I could not get anyone’s money when I played, but would lose a few bets when my timing was off and was rerasied, while trying to steal. Was grinded down and busted out…

My cards were pretty dead for most of that play, and the players where not paying off my good hands AA, KK, QQ. And I think I was playing poorly with poor reads and folding when I should have played, playing when I should have folded…(probably kept sliding as things went poorly)… Now, I am gun shy to play again… like I am going to lose and should just throw my money away.

I need to reset and do some tight/aggressive play at LHE to get my act together… what a damn roller coaster ride this is.