Are there days when it seems that everything is against me?

[fernandofcp]

My friends, winning consistently at poker is difficult, even for the best players. This is due to a fundamental concept of the game called variance, which refers to short-term fluctuations in results caused by luck.
Incredibly, poker combines skill and luck. While skill is what differentiates players who win consistently over the long term, luck still plays a significant role in each individual hand and over short periods.

 

[fishvolatil]

I know that I can't win every time, even I know that I can't win half of the games

This topic has been raised many times here but are there days when it seems that everything is against me?

I have it roughly 2 days a week and it's often 2 days in a row, mostly friday and saturday, sometimes saturday and sunday instead. a good thing to remember is, it's just temporary. my challenge is to define, starting from which point do I consider the day pointless and stop registering to new tournaments as I tend to be a bit too stubborn and follow most of my planned schedule

 

[kelokemieri15]

There are days when even playing according to your strategy, things won't work out, it's better to give yourself some time to calm down and continue with the session

 

[anasslaaleg]

Yes, and that's perfectly normal. Even the best players in the world experience those days when everything seems to go wrong: every bet lost, every bluff that fails, every hand that turns against them on the river.
In fact, it's all part of the game. Poker is a blend of strategy and variance, and sometimes variance reminds us that we don't have control over everything. What matters is your reaction:
Accept that these kinds of days happen.
Don't let frustration affect your play.
Remember that success is built over the long term, not in a single session.

 

[Roller]

The key for me is remembering that variance is part of poker. Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail. What matters is not letting those rough runs convince you you’re cursed or “playing bad” when it’s really just the math evening out.

On days like that, I either cut the session short or drop down stakes and remind myself: the cards don’t hate me, it’s just variance doing its thing.

 

[chicbulls2]

hahahha, run bad is real people!!! just cant win win anything

 

[fernandovr]

Yes, I’ve had days like that, when it feels like nothing goes right and every card is against me. In those moments, it’s important to remember that variance is part of poker and even the best players go through downswings. The key is to stay disciplined, review your decisions calmly, and trust the long-term process.

 

[veszmo]

It doesn't just seem that way, it really is, at least for me. Not rarely.

 

[Mantinhoo]

Yes, I think everyone has days like that and not just in poker. Sometimes you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, spill your coffee, and everything feels like it’s against you. It’s just part of life. The best thing is to stay calm, remind yourself it’s only temporary, and not let frustration take control. In poker, just like in life, patience and a clear mind usually bring the good moments back around. Luck has a way of finding you again when you don’t force it.

 

[Alex Houngan]

I’ve had the same thoughts before, maybe it’s just paranoia, but it really feels like after making a withdrawal the cards start running colder. Almost as if some hidden algorithm gives a slight edge to depositors over cash-out players for a while. Of course, there’s no proof of that, but the feeling can be pretty strong on bad runs. In the end, variance is brutal and it’s easy to look for patterns when everything seems against you.