How do you handle a loosing session?

[Mr Rat]

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]

[demon102]

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

[Necromancer]

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

[creamfillin]

Do something positive/creative/productive

[PantsOnFire]

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

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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.

[Luckyspikes]

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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.

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Excellent post.

[CrazyLond]

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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 )

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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.)

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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.


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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.

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


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

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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.

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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!


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


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Then you can certainly beat lower stakes. Beat them until your bankroll is sufficient.

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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.


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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."
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Can anyone relate to this obsessive behaviour at all?

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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.