To Break Or Not To Break That Is The ?

[I Eat Gamblers]

When you're in a slump do you stop playing for a couple days or keep going with the attitude that you can win it all back?

[liladypokerpro]

If I feel like I'm on a bad run, I'll quit right then and there. History proves if you end up on tilt the only inevitable consequence is disaster. I may not have to quit for days at a time, though. I'll take as much time as is needed to cool off, get my head on straight and start over fresh.

[I Eat Gamblers]

for me, i try to take a break from the cash tables and maybe play some low buy-in STT/MTT's

[liladypokerpro]

Originally Posted by I Eat Gamblers for me, i try to take a break from the cash tables and maybe play some low buy-in STT/MTT's

I used to do that too, but there was one particular day that changed that for me. After having a bad run at the cash tables, I did like you said and decided to go play a few chump-change SNGs. Problem was, my hands weren't getting any better and when I did have a good hand it got sucked out on LOL. Some days are just not good days to play. I've started noticing the patterns and taken brakes accordingly.

[mikeyu21]

if your running bad you have to focus more to make sure your not pushing hands you are not supposed to

[I Eat Gamblers]

tried that before, but the badbeats kept coming, and i was playing premium hands only. AA,KK,QQ,AK you get the picture.

[The Poker Don]

The key is to have an accurate idea of why it is that you are losing. Even a profitable player can have 20 buy in losing streaks given a long enough timeframe, simply due to variance. Poker can be a cruel game, and bad luck is simply part and parcel. If you have played long enough to be sure that you have a real edge at the stakes you are playing at, then you dont need to worry about taking a break when you are losing. Just keep going with the knowledge that over time your edge will play out. The exception to this is if a bad streak is actually affecting the way you play, for example, making you fold profitable draws because your not feeling 'lucky'. But as long as you are sure of your edge than this shouldnt be a problem.

If their are more fundamental reasons for your losses, that is, you are not as good as those you are playing against - then move down in stakes and read some more about the game!

[I Eat Gamblers]

I guess i should have been a little clearer on my question. I'm not talking about the ability of the player, but more so what do you do when no matter how good of a hand you have someone sucks out on you ie with less than 5 outs and rivers. this has been happening to mr for about 3 days now, not only the cash tables but also tourneys.

[TheyNeverLearn]

well since i am learning still i have only had to take a break from free roll but still even then u gotta take a break sometimes if u get mad or start playing bad.

some people dont know what they are doing u will always run into a lot online only thing u can do is try your best.

[The Poker Don]

Long runs of bad beats are a part of the game. So the answer to your question is: as long as you are sure you have a real edge (ie. have been profitable over 100-200 games) than you dont need to take a break, you can be confident your downswing is just inevitable variance. The exception to this is if the bad luck is making you play worse than you usually would, in which case take a break until you feel you can play at your best again - but only you can decide that.

[123bird]

when i'm on a bad run(which seems like all the time lately) i'll try to change it by playing 1 tourney after another until i'm just about to smash my computer,then i stop & don't play again for anywhere from 3 days to a week.