Advice - Bad beat and variance
Hello,
I would like some advice. In the past few weeks, I have had a lot of bad beats related to the variance. I’ve studied my hands and for the majority of them, I had the % by far (75% + more).
I know that variance is there and I have to accept it but when those bad beats are happening continuously, it’s affecting my play after that and my focus, tilt, patience.
I’m fairly new to the game but outside the game, I’m studying my hands and studying both technical and psychological books.
To specify, most of them are postflop where I was all-in or made bets to eliminate equity of straights, flush, sets.
Thank you
3 Replies
I recommend posting hand histories in the strat forums. Nothing you can do about variance. Just stick with it.
I second what Javanewt said and would just add that you need to be honest with yourself (which it sounds like you are for the most part) regarding how taking those bad beats impacts your focus, tilt and patience in that moment, as it will vary.
A situation I struggle most with, is eating 2-3 bad beats (or even just having terrible run outs against a weaker player in which they refuse to fold but manage to catch up) early in a session, where I feel like it would be absurd to just stop playing already and lose out on a ton of volume. However, without fail, I will open my range to try and play more hands to "win back" to break even OR I will get overly aggressive against players who aren't folding anyway. Once in a blue moon, I can in fact knock that crap off and just regulate my play, but most of the time, even if I THINK I'm not doing that stuff... I probably am - just need to walk away and let it be.
There are some people out there who have the fortitude to not even pay attention to the bad beats and they are just straight on to the next hand as if nothing ever happened, but if you feel like you are not one of those people, just pump the brakes sooner and avoid that itch to keep going until you can get back to a decent stopping point, as odds are, you won't and it will just compound the negative emotions and further impede your good play.
The two most cathartic things I've found in those moments are to: go study a bit (if you aren't too sickened by the session) OR and this is my personal favorite, go watch some bad beat compilations on the tube - nothing makes me feel better than watching far better players experience variance at far higher stakes and try not lose their minds.
All you can really do is avoid playing tilted and just return once you've got your mojo back. OH AND, do keep in mind that it's BECAUSE people will get it in as a 20% dog against you, that you're able to be a profitable player at all - bad beats are recreational player sustenance and we all have to provide our fair share. "Good luck"! =)
Don't:
play to win
care about coolers
play while tilted
Do:
play a set # of hands per sesh
judge yourself on quality of play only
shut down for the day when you feel physical pain
