How do you deal with downswings?

L

lapgame

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Lately I have been going through a very difficult phase in poker. Even studying, making moves that I consider to be good, and controlling the bankroll, the results simply don't come. The famous negative tide , or the famous downswing . 😞

I wanted to hear from you:
How do you maintain focus and trust when it seems like nothing is going right?
Do you usually take breaks, change modes, reduce limits?

If you have any practical tips or even a mental “ritual” to help you get through these moments, thank you very much. It's hard to keep playing when your head starts to doubt everything.
 
Marcwantstowin

Marcwantstowin

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If I am on a downswing. The hardest part is to recognise it.

Once I have done that, I literally get up and walk away from the table. I made a decision to review all the plays I made during my downswing. I have to discern whether I was making bad plays, I was playing too loose or aggressively, and perhaps I was playing weak poker.

Once I have looked at all that, I then decide to make some changes to my play if I were playing "Bad Poker". I would then stay away from the game and study some more. A break away from the table will do you good.
 
RALF_AK

RALF_AK

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...the downswing is temporary, in the meantime keep your bankroll intact and with the smallest possible loss, play lower limits until things change again...
 
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fundiver199

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What kind of games are you playing, and on which site(s)? I ask, because often people think, they are in a "downswing", but the problem is actually something else. So to give this kind of advise its important to know something about the players track record. In your profile you only share your username for 888 Poker. According to Statsname you only have 131 cash game hands on 888 Poker, and according to sharkscope you have 1.587 tournaments.

But your average buyin is only $0.32, and you are essentially a freeroll player with a profit of $270. So clearly there was no "downswing" on 888 Poker. But perhaps there was on another site, and it would be great, if you would share your username(s) for this or these other site(s), so we can help you figure out, whats going on.
 
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hajaehyun

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When I have to work downswing, I think I have to work all of a sudden ~ I just have to eat my head, think, and remember and live with the players I play with
I think the downswing comes because it happens too often
 
Marshmalo1994

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Lately I have been going through a very difficult phase in poker. Even studying, making moves that I consider to be good, and controlling the bankroll, the results simply don't come. The famous negative tide , or the famous downswing . 😞

I wanted to hear from you:
How do you maintain focus and trust when it seems like nothing is going right?
Do you usually take breaks, change modes, reduce limits?

If you have any practical tips or even a mental “ritual” to help you get through these moments, thank you very much. It's hard to keep playing when your head starts to doubt everything.
Is good to stop for a while and review the own game, in order to find common errors.
I've also established a bankroll management that allows me to know when I have to decrease the BI level. That helps me to get some confidence again.
 
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