[nineinchal]

The best way to understand this problem is to read Mason Malmuth's "Gambling Theory and Other Topics." Essentially, it explains that luck can be measured and evens out in the long run. That being the case, Malmuth goes on to explain an individual player will do if he is based upon his skill level.

A poor player can expect to lose in the long run, a good player can expect to win; the only caveat is that your expectation doesn't happen immediately. Great players can possibily have losing streaks lasting up to two years, and poor players can possbily a winning streak lasting up to 1000 hours. Once I learned that, I had to realize that I must constantly work on improving my game so that I possess a skill level to hold my own in any game. I also had to maintain an adequate bankroll to withstand the fluctuations of the downswings. I also had be flexible enough to move down in levels from time if I wanted to stay in the game for the long run, in other words, never go broke.

Along the way, I just realized that downswings are just part of being a poker player. Now it doesn't matter if I win or lose. Don't get me wrong, I love to have winning seesions, its when I have a losing session, I just shrug it off and don't dwell on the loss. I think of whether or not I played well, what mistakes I made and why it was a mistake; what mistakes my opponents made, if they outplayed me or if they got lucky. I then may go have a nice dinner with my wife, go shopping, go to the gym, whatever, it really makes no difference in the long run, because I am adequately bankrolled for my next session, that loss made no difference to my lifestyle or the ability to return for the next session. Also along the way, I actually bought some nice things with my winnings, like a condo, a big flat screen TV, paid for several vacations, some gifts for my wife, even when I was in a downswing. So I can appreciate the long hours I logged in either on line or in the casino. I just know that even though I enjoy poker and may lose from time to time, it ill not affect the quality of my play, even more, the quality of my life.