What is the #1 killer of poker careers? Downswings. Sometimes an extended losing streak combined with poor financial management break a player's bankroll beyond repair. And other times, the player survives the downswing but is left seeing ghosts and never returns to the same player. The emotional residue from the downswing can be so heavy that some players quit altogether rather than risk a repeat experience. Most poker players have been warned: If you play poker long enough, you’ll eventually run worse than you ever thought possible. But a much smaller subset actually know what to do when this tidal wave of negative variance hits them. That's what this article and video are for: To be a complete guide for surviving poker downswings.
Watch Video: How Can I Stop Losing at Poker?
If there are three things to remember from this video and about downswings in general, it would be these:
3) Downswings are inevitable.
When you sign up for poker, you are signing up to eventually experience a downswing, no matter how good you are. Building this into your expectations up-front is essential, because this allows you to put resources in place ahead of time to give you the best chance at minimizing the damage. Some of these may include:
Ensure you are properly bankrolled for the stakes you are playing. Ideally live poker players will have 20-30 full buy-ins, and online players will have at least 50 buy-ins. That way, a standard downswing will be unlikely to wipe out one's entire bankroll, especially if you are willing to temporarily move down in stakes when necessary.
Consider having other sources of income. If you are someone that is solely relying on poker for your livelihood, be fully honest with yourself about how you'll handle a downswing, both financially and emotionally. If you recoil at even the thought of an extended downswing, you'll likely be much happier with a part-time job as a diversifier.
Have people in your corner that you can turn to for honest feedback about your play. Your coach and poker friends will be great resources for spotting leaks that you might not be able to see yourself to help you climb out of a downswing.
2) Practice self-care and tend to your emotions BEFORE making strategy adjustments.
This one is critical and is a step that is overlooked by many players during a downswing. Far too many players rush into strategy adjustments when things start to go south. The problem is that often their minds are still colored by recent events, and any adjustments that are made from a tilted state will be counterproductive. The most vital thing is to first create some internal space by doing the following:
Meditate or do a similar activity that allows you to fully feel the emotions associated with the downswing. This is the beginning of creating more space around these feelings so new possibilities can begin to enter. Be careful to not believe your thoughts too much at this time: Thoughts are just a reflection of your emotional state, and they will likely make many negative and inaccurate predictions in the midst of a downswing.
Exercise, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. Downswings are often a time when poker players resort to their most unhealthy habits and lose discipline. It is precisely in the hardest moments that these health fundamentals are most important.
Take time off. It can sometimes be hard to process recent events and leave the past behind you without a break. Make time for other hobbies and people you enjoy spending time with to regain perspective and recharge.
1) Make SMALL strategy adjustments once you are in the right place emotionally.
If you are looking to make major strategy overhauls, or are still telling bad beat stories, it's a clear sign that your mind is still compromised by recent events, and you should return to step 2) of self-care before moving forward. Downswings are a great opportunity to make many small adjustments, but winning players should be careful about radically transforming a strategy they previously had success with.
Group together the hands where the most money was lost or the spots where you were least satisfied with your play. See if these hands fall into patterns, and then take steps to address the specific leaks. Running hands by other good players or by poker coaches is a great way to get another perspective to help with this exercise.
Put in the study time on any leaks that you find. Work with poker technology, take an online poker course, or contact a coach. There is a good chance that our 30-video course will provide tips for addressing your leak as well.
Poker downswings are a separator.
If you are like most human beings on this planet, you will not enjoy your downswing experience. But in those tough moments, it's helpful to remember that this is your chance to separate from your opponents. Many poker players in 2024 are capable of playing decently well when things are going their way, but the wheels still come off for many of them once they start losing. Poker is ultimately a game of small edges, and the largest edge available is who can handle adversity and losing the best. Are you able to still play your A-game (or close to it) in the midst of everything going against you? If so, be grateful for downswings, as your ability to handle them better than your opponents will be a source of profit for years to come.
On the other hand, if you are someone that struggles with managing downswings, you do not have to go at it alone. Contact Joel Wald today at joel@pto-poker.com or book a free 30-minute Zoom call to discuss how PTO Poker can help you stay resilient in the midst of a downswing.
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