Recovery from Downswing...Lessons

PT stats:
13441 hands
Won: -$268.30
0.95 PTBB/100 (+ve PTBB/100 won, most probably due to the lower stakes and headsup winrate boost)
25.67 hrs played
-$10.45/hr

Rakeback: $262.62

Net won from Wingows Poker: $297

Total profit: $291.32


Finally in the black after much grinding. It's a great result after a series of bad runs and bad play in the beginning of the month. Well after this downswing (which is my 2nd major one so far), there are a couple of takeaway lessons.

1) Take a complete break from poker when you are running really bad. 2-3 days minimum. Spend the time reviewing your play, watching instructional videos, re-energize your love for poker. Then start logging in hands once you feel the great itch and desire to play.

2) Poker is a long-term enterprise. You will win if you consistently sit with weaker players and stay away from tough regulars. Extreme table selection is key to winning in the long term. You should be happy about getting outdrawn from weaker players because they are the one supplying your major winrate when they play badly.

3) To win in the long-run, 90% of which requires you to play good solid poker. What is good solid poker? Its about the things you can control. Its about playing your cards, your position, taking the best/optimal line, drawing with good odds, betting to protect or for value and offer bad odds, minimal bluffing (yes you dont need to bluff much to win), planning for hands. The 10% is reserved for short-term luck as well as making plays aganist decent thinking players e.g. regulars.

4) Review past achievements to motivate you to start logging in hands. Logging in hands is extremely important because you can't win when you don't play.

5) Take a step down to lower limits and play solid ABC poker again. This is to build your confidence for your step back up. Besides, the lower limits have a bigger pool of weaker players, thus your true win-rate will converge faster (assuming you are a winning player in the first place) and this psychologically gives you an edge when you play back at your normal level.

6) Variance is a bitch, playing badly is even worst. Keep yourself honest as to why you have been losing and take responsibility for it. When you suffer a downswing, you can either 1) accord it entirely to variance and whine about it, 2)Analyse the truth into your downswing and take action against it. You will come out to be a better poker player in the latter choice.



Thats all folks...