Cold Streak

redlude2k · Jan 20,2005, 10:31 AM

Have you ever noticed that your stack at a casino is dwindling when you play a cash game, either limit or NL? A few times, I've peed away $100 on a 2/4 table where i was getting called by people who shouldnt call like on Q3 off suit against my AK suited. Sometimes you may be on a 4 card open ended straight draw and a 4 card flush draw but just cant hit it?

Wondering what other people do when the cards dont seem to hit. My buddy who goes and plays blackjack will rotate from table to table if he cant get into a winning groove. Granted, poker has ups and downs like any gambling, but if it consistently down and you play smart but get out drawn due to low limit tables or people who play reckless. I saw on a NL table where someone called 20$ preflop raise and cause a full house on the flop with 5 10. I also saw someone raise $30 with 8 3 off suit and cause 2 pairs.

thx for the input

gordan_gecco · Jan 20,2005, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redlude2k

Wondering what other people do when the cards dont seem to hit. My buddy who goes and plays blackjack will rotate from table to table if he cant get into a winning groove. Granted, poker has ups and downs like any gambling, but if it consistently down and you play smart but get out drawn due to low limit tables or people who play reckless.

All you can do is keep your discipline and ensure that you have a proper bankroll for the limit you are playing, because, as you said, "poker has ups and downs." You have to be prepared for your opponents to play anything and everything. Sure, it can be frustrating, but those players are where your winnings come from in the long run, assuming you're a winning player.

Read and study Small Stakes Hold'Em by Miller/Sklansky/Malmuth, practice a lot, and make sure you have a good bankroll, and you be able to ride out the downswings easily. I think going to play blackjack or any other losing game is the worst thing you could do, as you WILL lose all of your money in long run doing so.

Hope this helps.

ScottyZ · Jan 20,2005, 11:58 AM

You mentioned changing tables, and this (namely, game selection) is a *very* important aspect of poker success. I'm not talking about changing tables to "change your luck" or something like that. The purpose of changing tables in poker is to change your opponents.

Realizing that you *want* to be at tables where players are playing hands like Q3, T5, and 83 and not allowing yourself to be affected emotionally by these kinds of players are big steps towards long term success, particularly at low-limit.

ScottyZ

gordan_gecco · Jan 20,2005, 12:19 PM

Oops, I didn't realize that you meant your friend plays blackjack and switches tables if he's not having success...not that he goes and plays blackjack when not having success at poker. Sorry about that. Ignore that part of my reply and listen to Yoda...er, I mean Scotty

redlude2k · Jan 20,2005, 01:34 PM

haha no worries. i lost 100$ at the 2/4 table getting out drawn. i took a break and played at the 3/6 table where i won $200.

Another time, I also played the 2/4 table another time while waiting for a 3/6 table and lost $15 but quickly jumped on a $1/$2 NL $100 Max table where i ended up winning $260.

I think maybe I have to be in the right mind set if i play the 2/4 table. I also think its more about the quality of players when u get to higher limits and they think more logically and more like me. I find its hard to read bad players who call everything.

I think i may try the 5/10 tables, although the 4/8 is the largest limit table ive played on.

I guess i was never willing to throw in $10 in to see a flop, until i played the NL table where the avg was about $10. I even threw $30 preflop on a pair of 10's (hehehe story in ASK DAVE SHARF - post COULD I GET MORE MONEY OUT OF THIS HAND)