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How to Handle Losing Streaks in Poker

12 October 2010, By:
When you're on a losing streak, what should you do? Take a break, play more, quit for good?
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The first thing you need to understand is this:

  • There are no losing streaks

Your reaction to this? "What kind of moron is this guy? What's he talking about?"

Please don't get me wrong, I know it's possible to lose hand after hand, session after session. Very possible, happens all the time. I've been there too.

No, here's what I mean:

Every hand is a new hand

In all honesty, when a new hand starts, what happened in earlier hands doesn't matter.

If you've been unlucky, if you've been lucky, if you've had bad or good cards - none of that is relevant anymore. Each new hand is a new hand.

Of course, your history at the table affects how opponents see you and judge your game. You need to adjust to that.

Losing streaks are in your mind

My point is, if your recent bad luck makes you feel like you're going to lose, you'll lose. Then you're doing it to yourself. Don't blame the streak.

All there is, is the present. Nothing else exists. If there is a streak, it only exists in your mind.

If you don't let yourself be owned by things that happened in the past, they can't control what happens here and now.

If you start every hand with a fresh mind and eager anticipation, you'll play your best game, and that's really all you can do. That must be good enough.

It's possible to have a losing streak, but every time a new hand starts, the streak is over

That's what you have to tell yourself when the cards are dealt. That's how you deal with losing streaks.

Plus, it's true.

/Charlie River

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