There’s nothing worse in poker than a long, miserable, cold run. You lose every race, get your Aces routinely cracked, miss all your draws and drop buy-ins faster than a hooker drops her knickers. Yes, as you might have guessed, I’m running bad. I don’t remember when it started and I don’t know when it’s going to end, but I do know that it’s been responsible for many a sleepless night and has consumed half my bankroll. But you know what? It could be the best thing that ever happened to me!
Yep, despite my losses, and the frustration and anxiety the bad run has caused, I have finally come to the realisation that this is my first big test in poker. This is a challenge, a huge obstacle that I must overcome and will make me a better player in the long run.
I recently read a column by Tom ‘durrrrr’ Dwan in which he talks about the need to be objective and keep sticking your money in even when you’re getting creamed. And he’s absolutely right when he says that if you have an edge in a game you have to keep playing and try to outrun the variance. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m getting back on the horse and anteing up, while tracking and analysing each session. I’m trying to take the emotion out of defeat and congratulate myself if I’ve played well but still lost. And in this way, I’m convinced my game will improve no end.
Dropping down and regrouping
In my bad run of form I’ve dropped down a level or two and already noticed the games are softer, the dead money so much more readily available, and my confidence is very slowly starting to return.
If you’re in the same situation right now, take solace in the fact that someone else is sharing your pain. In fact, in the darkest hours, when all I’ve wanted to do is smash my laptop to pieces, I’ve managed to somehow remind myself that even the greats, like Chip Reese, ran bad and lost far more than my relatively piddly little bankroll. But they came back! They conquered the game and beat the fish in the long run.
I’m sure it’s all about to turn for me, and my cold run is about to end. But just in case the poker gods haven’t quite heard my plea, ‘For heaven’s sake, flick my boom switch!’