Handling Losing Streaks

A recent string of non-cashed in several tournaments brought to mind the topic of losing streaks. No matter how talented of a poker play you become, there will be times that you will encounter losing streaks. It happens to all players, so it is best to know how to handle losing streaks when they occur.

First, take a look at your game and look at it with a critical eye. See if there are any holes or mistakes that you are making while you are playing. You may need to enlist the help of a fellow poker player or mentor. I personally have a poker mentor that I discuss various issues with when I am not running well. Having someone take a look at your play will help to give you a non-biased perceptive of your play and will help you plug any leaks quicker.

Next, you may need to drop back in stakes or buy-ins. If you are regularly losing at the $10-$20 Limit or $2-$4 NL, you may want to drop back to $5-$10 or $1-$2. Some people will refuse to drop back to lower limits due to ego. Don’t let your ego keep your from dropping back in stakes if you need to. Dropping back in stakes will allow you to continue to play at a reduced risk. Once you pick up a few winning sessions and get your confidence back, you can move back up.

One thing I like to do is to switch my game of preference if I am running bad. If I am losing at Holdem, I will switch to Omaha or even Stud. This isn’t always an option for every poker player. If your only game is Holdem, then you may want to drop back in levels. Don’t pick up a new game just because you are losing at your normal game. If you are already proficient, then a game switch may help get your mind off your losing streak.

If all else fails, you may need to get away from poker for a while. A friend of mine that is a regular on the pro tournament circuit had a bad run for around a six month stretch. At the end of his run, he was so frustrated that he walked away from poker and took his family on a vacation to Mexico for a month. Upon returning, he won two out of the first three tournaments he played in and finished 4th in the other tournament. The break ended up being the best decision he could make. He then proceeded to make a deep run in the 2007 WSOP Main Event. Sometimes getting away from the game will help you to regain focus and put yourself back into a winning mindset.

If you are in the middle of a losing streak, don’t get into the mindset of “playing through the steak.” If you are beginning to rack up a streak of losses over weeks or even months, you need to evaluate your game and take action to put yourself back on the winning track. Failing to do so can decimate your bankroll and may end up putting you out of the game entirely.

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