How to stop an online losing streak

**Chipless Wonder** · 08-06-2008 11:12 AM

One week ago I posted about having a very successful online poker month in July. I was ITM for 24% of the games I played, and finished with a 147% ROI.

Then I got cocky and decided to start six-tabling in August.

So what would be the best way to describe my last few nights of online poker? How about a song...

'I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?'

Yes, that's right. I dropped the ball and need help!

So far in August I've been ITM 16% of the time and my ROI is negative. I've only cashed in three of the last 25 tournaments. My aces keep getting cracked and I feel like I'm making poor decisions when I don't have the aces. I even lost my Shark rating on Sharkscope. Check out this ugly dip in my graph.

**Chipless Wonder** · 08-06-2008 11:13 AM

Here’s my action plan to stop the bleeding, and this begins tonight…

1. Reduced number of games – cut back from six tables to two, three or four.
2. Reduced buy-ins – cut back from $39 ABI to ~ $25.
3. Reduced session length – cut back from ~ 12 games per session to four to six.
4. Tighten up – play better starting hands with better position.

I’ll let you know if I’m able to get this downward spiral back under control soon…

**wreaks** · 08-06-2008 11:46 AM

Good luck Scott, it sounds like you have a good plan in place.

**PaintedHeart** · 08-06-2008 12:27 PM

Not everyone can win everytime - if so we would all live in Vegas! It would be one large metropolis!

Kojangie · 08-06-2008 01:51 PM

I had a bad little streak too, but it never improved..

**PokerBroker** · 08-06-2008 04:34 PM

Everyone is going to take their share of ups and downs Scott! Keep the faith and keep on plugging away!

**ThePenguin22** · 08-06-2008 06:07 PM

What you did last month was amazing. Losing streaks you know as well as I do happen, I think there may be a bit of overconfidence, this has happened to me many times. You look at sharscope then look at your opponents and think "they cant live with me I will destroy them". Many times I have underestimated other players after a great run and this is always a huge mistake but in my opinion the bigger mistake is tightening up. I would keep your confidence, only a great player could pull of the month you did last month. But I would stop making "fancy moves" and play a normal aggresive game. Dont underestimate the players you play but whatever you do dont tighten up, in my experience this will just maintain your bad run. Play solid strong poker and you will be back in no time.