the last few days ive been relatively card dead, except for some unknown reason when im first to act i seem to pick up monsters. the problem is being first to act and raising everyone seems to fold so i decided to slow play a couple of monsters and then i find being out of position all the time im never quite sure where im at. my deliema is how do you play being first to act? should i raise all the time or mix it up and see what happens. two nights ago i played ploh8 and for about 16 or 17 rounds the only time i got anything other than trips in hand or 2 bad pairs was in first position if the above happened to you, what would you do?.. today i played for about an hour and same thing first 2 positions monsters all others really bad hands so ive given up for a few days playing cash to see if my luck changes. has this happened to you and what did you do? cheers for any answers and sry for rambling

I guess you mean UTG before the flop. Depends on your opponents and the cards you hold. There's no generic answer that I know of.

See above answer. Also depends on the style you're playing (which probably should be opponent dependent).

In a brick and mortar casino, I think you come to be at a psychological disadvantage when get behind as a loser. If the trend continues, you tend to show depression and uncertainty. And that's a good time to leave the table. On-line and if you stay off the chat, it might be different because it's impossible for anyone to tell by your body language or facial expressions if you're happy or sad. But I think it's good advice to take a break when things are not going your way.

I wouldn't see if my luck changes. There is obviously luck involved in the game, but I don't think it's predictable. There's no reason to think your luck will turn around. And it's always possible that you're up against a particular combination of player types that's hard for you to beat. Take a break when things are going badly too long. What's "too long"? I think it depends on the individual.

Buzz

with so few hands played you cant be thinking bad luck, or you will never be able to handle normal fluctuations in poker.

Although I try to win, I don't really get upset if I have a losing session. It just doesn't bother me because I figure it's part of the game. You win some, you lose some. Meh.

Paradoxically, after about four hours of straight losing, I start to feel glum. Sixteen or seventeen rounds would be at least that. I'd feel glum, and, alas, it would show on me. For me it would not be about the money. (I don't care much about the money). For me it would just be about losing. I hate to lose.

It's not a good way to feel, but at least I realize it about myself.

I think we're all at least a bit different psychologically. If something bothers me, I get upset about it. (And losing for four straight hours in Omaha-8 can happen and bothers me when it does). It doesn't help for someone to tell me to not let it bother me. (I already know I shouldn't).

I can't control when I'm going to feel glum. It usually would take at least four hours of straight losing, but it could happen after just an hour. It might be related to blood sugar.

At any rate, if I get to feeling glum about losing, I at least have the self discipline to take a break, lest I go on tilt. For me the break must be at least a half hour, and may be longer.

For me, hopefully during the break I'll catch a nap, maybe just twenty or thirty minutes, before I'll feel rejuvenated enough to play well again and avoid tilt.

Buzz

thx for the replys guys

i hate losing, no i detest losing, i think that is my problem while playing poker. i should know better to. i know that you cant win every session you play, i understand that variance is a biotch and every poker player going must go through it but when it happens to me it becomes personal and that somthing i think i have to change in my game. if i said i dont mind losing the money that would be a lie, but its not as important to me than winning every session i play even if that means only be up one cent when ive finished playing for that day.
i guess im gonna have to work on my emotions more than my game(hence why i cant play live id be like a open book) any way cheers for replys and gl at the tables....