So last night was a terrible session for me. I started playing 25NL and lost about 2.5BI after I couldn't fold AA in a 3 bet pot and got stacked after somebody flopped another set on me and lost as 70% favourite on turn for stacks.

I then started playing 10NL and dropped 6BI in ~1000 hands.
This was a case of me bluff shoving river twice and getting snapped off by nutted hands.
Losing with KK against QQ in 4 bet pot after V spiked a Q on flop.
Losing as 70-80% favourite on turn twice.
Having to constantly fold top pair/overpairs to villain raises as they are always nutted.

After this I jumped into a few $3.50 and $7 hyper turbos and dropped $75 after running $60 under EV.

Altogether I lost about $200 in one session so bankroll went from about $710 to $510. Also taking into account that just one month ago I had $1300 and was close to taking shots at 50NL and now have to play at 10NL, it is super disappointing for me. How do I recover myself mentally and start playing my A game as I believe I am losing due to partly run bad and partly tilt.

My mental game has improved a lot recently but after a run of running into strong hands, constantly getting raised post-flop in spots I have to fold with one pair hands and my value never getting paid off I feel like I am going to lose before I even sit down.

https://medium.com/@mattpusateri/thi...e-b98f8b06c1fd

This is a good article about ways to lose at poker. You will find yourself in the list, I guarantee.

take a break. exercise. go for a walk. do something creative like writing or painting. play video games. watch tv.

Thanks for the responses guys. Just an update:

I have read parts of: The Mental Game of Poker by Jared Tendler

I can easily say this is the most informative book I have read in my life. If any of you guys are suffering from any tilt/emotional problems within your game I highly recommend a read. I have actually found the mental problems in my game and what was causing them.

Wait... did you write this post in order to plug that book?

I have run bad, and played bad, and found taking at least 6 months off from regular play helps. I tend to go on big runs when I return.

You will have to ignore how you run and what happens and just play. You just play your roll and that's all there is to it.

Be grateful there is still a BR to play with.

That's a bit excessive. Enough time so it isn't in your routine, for example two weeks, will do.

I’m in the same exact boat as the OP.. I started getting coaching 2 months ago when I was playing NL50 and now I’m 3 bi from having to drop to NL10... and mind you I have hired one of the best coaches... I can’t stop the bleeding.. I’m still having fun but still something has to give lol

I had heard several users praise this book and found a free version online to read. After reading parts of this book, I saw examples he was using which described my situation perfectly. I wrote this post before reading.

In regards to the other comments I agree with them all. I had been on downswings but not bad enough ones where it would cost me huge chunks of my roll and I guess that caused me to doubt my ability. I have got over that loss more since I wrote this post and will aim to grind it back up

The best way to recover mentally from a loss is to prepare mentally before you lose.

Part of that is being able to recognize when you need to take a break from the game.

The fact you lost more after moving down seems to indicate to me that you were past the point of playing your A game.


If you get a chance, I'd recommend reading Tommy Angelo's book "The Elements of Poker." Its a really good read about topics like tilt and when to walk away.

study more as well as you likely arent playing a winning game based on some of the things you said.

and maybe its obvious you always fold when raised so these so called players nutted may be bluffing you. there is a lot to think about.

I don't find that to be true.

Good stuff here so far ... It's tough to sit down to play poker and run bad even when you are 'playing well'. You describe some good traits ... you went down (not up) in stakes and formats. You also describe some bad ones ... stepping away from solid poker and bluff off your stack (possibly because you felt 'superior' at the lower stake).

I still have a hard time stepping away from my 'allotted' poker time when I'm running bad.
1) Look at how the hand went down, was it bad play or bad variance?
2) Use these sessions to tighten up and work on your 'mental endurance'.
3) Be more honest with yourself about tilt ... see the book for that.
4) Keep remembering that poker is very humbling at times, stay humble even if you have to go back to the 'JV' table.
5) Remember it's where you are, not where you were or where you want to go. Each poker hand is it's own event You can look forward to reaching your goals (moving up) and remember the past, but it's most important to stay in the moment of the hand in front of you.

Only you can find the sweet spot for how long a break needs to be. What's going on in the rest of your schedule is a huge factor. Are you getting enough sleep to play your best, eating right?

Do you play on a site with nicknames? Perhaps the opposition has figured you out and exploited you in your most vulnerable spots? GL

Doesn't sound like a problem that virtually all poker players don't eventually run up against sooner or later. Looks like you tried to work it out and still got worked over by the game. Maybe at last you found some good advice in the book that will help you. Likely it will!

When I go on a downswing (usually $1k or so), I like to study more, take a day or two off, play a home game with friends, go to the gym, or work more on my day job. And I remind myself that I'm still a winning player in the long run, even if I have a couple losing sessions.

It'll turn around eventually. Keep a positive long-term outlook. It's a marathon, not a sprint.