ThePokerTest.com

Managing a Bad Run

No matter how long you have been playing poker you are eventually going to have a bad run. Just as you can run good the tables can turn in a matter of seconds. To suggest that you never have bad runs would be like saying the galaxy we live in does not have a huge black hole at the center of it. The fact of the matter is that having a bad run is not uncommon even to very skilled poker players. That goes from Phil Ivey all the way down to the online poker enthusiast that plays at home each night. The great equalizer is that the cards do not know who you are nor do they care. So it isn't about will you ever have a bad run but more about when it will happen.

Discipline

A poker player without discipline is doomed to go broke before he buys into his cash game or tournament. Bad runs make this eventuality even more apparent. When variance is not swinging their way many players believe spending more money and re-buying into their cash game is the way to “play through it.” On the contrary, the smart poker player will take a moment to step back and walk away from the tables for a few days. During this period that player may read poker material or analyze his game in hopes of identifying any leaks or holes in his game. This approach takes a lot of discipline because most people's instincts when they get knocked down are to get right back on the horse and continue to ride. By knowing when to quit and step away from the table you are doing yourself a tremendous favor and saving yourself and your bankroll.

How long will it last?

There is no set time for a bad run. When variance hits it can strike for a day, a month, several months or even years in extreme cases. The thing about variance is that it is completely blind to whom it may be affecting and has no memory. In my opinion the best way to combat variance is to acknowledge that things are not going your way. When the cards seem to constantly fall against your and the bad beats are piling up you need to be aware of it and admit to it instead continue to operate in a state of denial. So many poker players both live and online fail to realize when they are running bad and burn through their bankrolls in hopes of fighting off that bad run. As I stated earlier, a bad run can last for weeks or months. So the best thing you can do is wait it out. If you insist on continuing to play at least drop down in buy-in levels so you can hopefully minimize the impact on your bankroll.

Interest outside of Poker

Having interest outside of the game of poker is a huge help in handling bad runs and your mental makeup dealing with them. The idea of sitting down every day all day playing poker while I am taking beat after beat is not the least bit appealing to most. But for some strange reason many will continue to play simply because they have no other interest in life outside of the game. Don't get me wrong. I love the game of poker and playing into the wee hours of the morning when the deck is breaking even but if I take a few beats in a row or run bad for a couple of days I will step away from the table and spend time with the family. I will go out to see the latest movie or bike ride and workout with a friend. I will sometimes pickup a book and read it that has nothing to do with poker or gambling just to clear my head and re-calibrate my thinking.

The fact of the matter is that when you run badly you have two choices. You can attempt to play through it and hope you reach the other side without too much bankroll damage or step away from the table. The choice is yours but you need to be very clear that your bankroll can be severely impacted if you do not choose wisely.