Started playing micro STTs again a few months back year break, not a large volume due to time constraints but had pretty good success. Anyway in the past couple of weeks I have set myself a proper playing schedule and have been really dedicated to studying my play every day, especially with regards to key ICM based decisions.

Unfortunately I've hit a downswing at the exact same time, resulting in me to have to drop down again in levels to the $3 on Party. Obviously if I knew I was playing bad I would stop and try again another day, but having reviewed my hands I am making the correct push in all but a couple of (marginal) cases so I know I am playing good poker.

For example today I played 3 sessions (4 tabling) and only cashed once - even that was a suckout to finish 2nd. Having reviewed my hands after each session I saw that I was making the correct push pretty much every time.

My question is this, if you know you are playing good but the results aren't going well, would you stop and tell yourself it wasn't your day or would you stick to your schedule as planned?

Sorry for the long post to ask a question I'm sure you've seen lots of times!

Depends on your mental state. Stop if you catch your thought processes being influenced by variance.

It's only my decisions on whether or not to play another session that are influenced, once I am playing it doesn't affect me and I can still make good decisions.

Why would you stop if you know you're playing good? Are you scared of more bad cards coming?

Keep playing as long as you're playing good poker. If you're a little angry/upset cut your session short or maybe you're a bit off and playing your B game, just throw in the towel for awhile and come back with a fresh mind later

If you're playing great poker, then play more. It really is as simple as that.

Here's a thought. Are you relying too much on your push fold strategy? Do you ever manage to get to the bubble with a big stack? Maybe you should tighten up in the early levels.

Keep playing till you run out of money. Then reload. Cheers.

I'm really tight in the early levels, which obviously means that if I don't pick up any big hands I'll be in the later levels with close to my starting stack. I do often make the later levels with a big stack, though.

Anyway thanks for the feedback everyone, I decided to stop playing for the night in the end but in the future if I know I am playing fairly well I will stick to my plan. I just need to be a bit less results orientated, which isn't the easiest thing when you are aiming to move up the lower limits quickly.

It all makes sense now, thanks!

Never stop. Run streets like drunks red streetlights

I stop playing on any bad streak longer than 6-7 tables, because I know that my chances of playing in marginal spots will tend to lean the wrong way when this happens, and the bad streak lasts longer. Usual advice is to get some sleep, get out the house or generally just do something else for a while, then come back to the game with a new perspective.

Lots of "bad runs" are due to bad play, rather than just variance, and downswings are very frequently amplified by tilt, even when you're talking about some of the best players out there.

Just stop running bad. Problem solved.

I'll actually give you some advice instead of a sarcastic response.

If your scheduling and living situation allows for it, consider taking 1-2 days off. Relax your mind, do something to forget about poker. This process will have a cleansing effect.

If you don't want to take that much time off, relax between sessions. For example, whenever I was not doing well but I knew I needed to play, I would take my dogs for a walk. Find something that fits your needs and likes.

Best of luck.

I find it very helpfull to do a walk while running bad.Not that when i returned i runned good but helped to refresh my mind

Yeah thanks, I have been taking breaks to do stuff like work out and cook food etc and it definitely helps to be away from the pc for a while.

I think maybe as well it's significant that when the results were coming I only had time to play for an hour or two, and not every day, so I was forced to take a couple of days break like you suggested.