How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Hey Guys,

I have been playing poker 2 - 3 nights a week at Crown Casino, Melbourne and have had a great run in the last 3 months. ( 9 out of 10 sessions im walking away up )

I have been playing mostly $5 -$10 limit, and some $1 - $2 no limit as well. I am super competitive on the tables and absolutely hate to loose.

I understand that in poker there will always be variance and the Donks will occasionally suckout every now and then....

My question is how do you react to a loosing session?

I have been so used to winning lately that when i do have a loosing session i will get off my table take a deep breath clear my head and walk straight up to the higher limit area and focus on playing my A game to try and win back my losses....

I have done this twice so far and won my buy ins back, plus more!

I dont have the BR to be playing $2-$3 no limit and $10-$20 limit however i have and can beat these stakes.

I think im mad because i refuse to walk away down...i know even the worlds best players have loosing sessions every now and then...I have been so accustomed to beating these games that my ego gets the better of me and i keep playing until i win.

Can anyone relate to this obsessive behaviour at all?

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Crown tables are full of fish tbh u can grind consistantly on the 1/2 tables but the 5/10 limit its debateable whether or not you can beat the rake long term.
just my thoughts at Crown

If you want to take it more serious play online where you can beat the rake and be more comfortable.

I get addicted to playing Dota for obsession to win but sometimes its better to cut your loses especially when you realize your playing tilted and walk away and come back another day.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

I'm not necessarily addicted to the thrill of the win, but can't stand the sting of loss, so I tend to just keep playing until it turns into a winning session (or at least break even). I also have solid control of my emotions or whatever and very rarely tilt, so my way probably isn't for people that can't handle that aspect.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

If you're winning at $1/2 consistently you should have the BR to play $2/3 easily by now.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Usually i go eat something, watch tv, do anything to put my loss behind me and get my passion back. usually it doesnt take long. but as long as I'm not playing mad and trying to build a massive stack in a tournament because im so paranoid im going to lose it eventually

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

u gotta find something that ur good at, and where luck plays a very small factor. When u end the night down, u go do that, and massacre everyone and everthing at whatever that may be and then ur ego will be repaired. That works for me.

because basicly the problem is the ego here that has been damaged a little.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

[ QUOTE ]
u gotta find something that ur good at, and where luck plays a very small factor. When u end the night down, u go do that, and massacre everyone and everthing at whatever that may be and then ur ego will be repaired. That works for me.

because basicly the problem is the ego here that has been damaged a little.

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds good. Maybe I pick up pool again. I used to destroy the game, but quit about 10 years ago, cause I got tired of it, since my father had a pool hall and I grew up there [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

the word is "losing"

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Ah, the sweet irony of correcting someone's spelling with an uncapitalized, unpunctuated sentence.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

that's not even a sentence. that's a sentence fragment. you may want to consider revising that.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Good catch. You pass the test.

What was this thread about?

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

loosing

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have been so used to winning lately that when i do have a loosing session i will get off my table take a deep breath clear my head and walk straight up to the higher limit area and focus on playing my A game to try and win back my losses....

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't do this unless you want to go broke.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

umm, i can't handle losing and usually tilt and lose more.

Yes i need to work on my self control. In the midst of a losing streak now. Very tough to even ante up.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

[ QUOTE ]
How do you handle a loosing session?

[/ QUOTE ]

Tighten up!

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Leave, put it behind you, forget about it, keep winning attitude for next session in tact. Everyone has loosing sessions.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

I agree with most of the advice in this thread, except the 'put it behind you' one. You *shouldn't* put it behind you and you *must* analyze whether the plays you made had positive expected value (EV) or not.

I had winning sessions in which I played terrible poker, putting in a lot money when behind and then rivering a win against the odds, and I had brilliant sessions where I lost, even though I made neutral EV or +EV plays in every hand I played.

Be brutally honest with yourself. If you played well and got most of the money good, then you did well. You shouldn't bother looking at the final result. If you are putting money with the best hand, but get outdrawn after all the chips are in the middle and the final card is dealt - you don't lose. You play good poker and eventually a winning trend will emerge.

However - if you realize that you are constantly putting money when behind (specifically with second best hand on the river/7th street), call too much, 'gamble' on lucky draws, over-value your hands - then you are making losing plays. If you do not recognize and admit it – you cannot correct your mistakes and you will lose in poker in the long run.

During and after a session, ‘losing’ or ‘winning’ one, I personally reflect on the key hands that I played and try to analyze my play in each hand and each street. I try to determine how much did I really ‘lose’ or ‘win’. If it turns out that I made good plays, I feel great, regardless of result. As should anyone feel IMO. If it turns out that I played poorly I try to correct the errors I made next hand I play.

If you sense that losing cash affects your judgment during the game, you should take a break or quit. A common mistake is to chase loses and this should be avoided. During a losing streak your urge to win or break-even can easily overcome your judgment and cause you to over value your hands (basically – tilt). During this period of time when your judgment is clouded, there is greater probability you will make losing plays and thus increase your loses. This spirals quickly to multiple buy-in chip-spewing.

So – to sum up – for me, handling a losing (but necessarily) session goes like:
1. Examine play, determine whether it’s +EV or not.
2. Control and suppress negative emotions.
3. Repeat.

Final note: Remember that you won’t get ‘lucky’ every time. Sicko down-swings exist and every player, including the most successful ones, encounter them every once in a while.

Hope this helps in any way.

Cheers.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

i recently started playing shooter games on my pc. I have a brutal one where u can shoot of limbs and all. God that helps to vent off! Blowing enemies to pieces with a huge machine gun.

I think if u live in the states, driving over over to ur local gun range will help greatly.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Comfort food and or drugs and or Women.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

I kill a little puppy.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

I cry...at the table...it's humiliating but after about the 50th crying session most people ignore you...I guess it is better that I leave a wet spot on the table than on the chair...but the salt deposits need to be cleaned as they are building up [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

I just quite, its the greatest thing about online poker for me and y Id hate to play live, I can hop ona bunch of tables right away and as soon as I get even a glimpse of tilt I can just quite and go do something else so I dont spew money all over the place like I would if I kept playing

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

I think about all the mistakes i made and make sure i dont do em again

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

Do something positive/creative/productive

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

[ QUOTE ]
My question is how do you react to a loosing session?

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know because my session hasn't ended yet. It will end when I die and it really won't be most pressing problem at that time.

However, downswings in variance really stick in my craw.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I agree with most of the advice in this thread, except the 'put it behind you' one. You *shouldn't* put it behind you and you *must* analyze whether the plays you made had positive expected value (EV) or not.

I had winning sessions in which I played terrible poker, putting in a lot money when behind and then rivering a win against the odds, and I had brilliant sessions where I lost, even though I made neutral EV or +EV plays in every hand I played.

Be brutally honest with yourself. If you played well and got most of the money good, then you did well. You shouldn't bother looking at the final result. If you are putting money with the best hand, but get outdrawn after all the chips are in the middle and the final card is dealt - you don't lose. You play good poker and eventually a winning trend will emerge.

However - if you realize that you are constantly putting money when behind (specifically with second best hand on the river/7th street), call too much, 'gamble' on lucky draws, over-value your hands - then you are making losing plays. If you do not recognize and admit it – you cannot correct your mistakes and you will lose in poker in the long run.

During and after a session, ‘losing’ or ‘winning’ one, I personally reflect on the key hands that I played and try to analyze my play in each hand and each street. I try to determine how much did I really ‘lose’ or ‘win’. If it turns out that I made good plays, I feel great, regardless of result. As should anyone feel IMO. If it turns out that I played poorly I try to correct the errors I made next hand I play.

If you sense that losing cash affects your judgment during the game, you should take a break or quit. A common mistake is to chase loses and this should be avoided. During a losing streak your urge to win or break-even can easily overcome your judgment and cause you to over value your hands (basically – tilt). During this period of time when your judgment is clouded, there is greater probability you will make losing plays and thus increase your loses. This spirals quickly to multiple buy-in chip-spewing.

So – to sum up – for me, handling a losing (but necessarily) session goes like:
1. Examine play, determine whether it’s +EV or not.
2. Control and suppress negative emotions.
3. Repeat.

Final note: Remember that you won’t get ‘lucky’ every time. Sicko down-swings exist and every player, including the most successful ones, encounter them every once in a while.

Hope this helps in any way.

Cheers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent post.

Re: How do you handle a loosing session?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Guys,

I have been playing poker 2 - 3 nights a week at Crown Casino, Melbourne and have had a great run in the last 3 months. ( 9 out of 10 sessions im walking away up )

[/ QUOTE ]

You have been running hot. Regardless of how outmatched your competition is, that is likely one of the better three month streaks you will have in your life (unless of course that 1/10 loss has been much bigger than the average win.)

[ QUOTE ]

I have been playing mostly $5 -$10 limit, and some $1 - $2 no limit as well. I am super competitive on the tables and absolutely hate to loose.


[/ QUOTE ]

That could be a problem, depending how you channel that competitive spirit. I believe everyone has this to some degree, but what's more important is that you use it to stay focused and play solid poker. If someone beats you for a large pot, don't let that competitive nature take over you and aim to get back at them personally. This is almost a surefire way to lose.

[ QUOTE ]

I understand that in poker there will always be variance and the Donks will occasionally suckout every now and then....


[/ QUOTE ]
Not every now and then. The more often you are ahead, the more bad beats you will suffer. A winning session for me playing NLHE might include 3-4 bad beats for substantial pots.
[ QUOTE ]

My question is how do you react to a loosing session?

[/ QUOTE ]
The same way as a winning session. Log the amount lost, hours played, etc. into my spreadsheet and review the night. Think about mistakes I made, spots where I didn't maximize profit, where I paid off a winning hand, analyze whether I was aggressive enough and whether I played too few or too many pots, etc.

[ QUOTE ]

I have been so used to winning lately that when i do have a loosing session i will get off my table take a deep breath clear my head and walk straight up to the higher limit area and focus on playing my A game to try and win back my losses....

I have done this twice so far and won my buy ins back, plus more!


[/ QUOTE ]
Do an internet search for Martingale gambling systems. Then consider that in this particular game, as you raise the stakes, the competition is getting tougher so that eventually each "bet" is less +EV and eventually -EV.
[ QUOTE ]

I dont have the BR to be playing $2-$3 no limit and $10-$20 limit however i have and can beat these stakes.


[/ QUOTE ]
Then you can certainly beat lower stakes. Beat them until your bankroll is sufficient.

[ QUOTE ]

I think im mad because i refuse to walk away down...i know even the worlds best players have loosing sessions every now and then...I have been so accustomed to beating these games that my ego gets the better of me and i keep playing until i win.


[/ QUOTE ]
This is extremely dangerous. Your ego will lose you every penny you own if you let it. Remember the quote, I forgot who said it..."Never try to get 'even'. You already are even."
[ QUOTE ]

Can anyone relate to this obsessive behaviour at all?

[/ QUOTE ]
If you ever take a trip to Vegas, walk down the strip and look at the row of enormous hotels, casinos, skytrams, fountains, etc. I bet whoever paid for all that could relate.