A strange question

Running Bing

Ok heres a bit of a funny one. We've all had those bad spells where we go for sessions whithout getting any decent luck. And for me it definately seems to come in waves i.e. Ill have an exteded period where im getting bad cards/bad beats followed by a period of good fortune. My question is would it be smart to drop down to lower limits and ride the bad luck out until you feel your hitting a good spell thus doing minimum damage to your bankroll. Also I know a lot of this bad luck stuff has a lot to do with frame of mind etc. so it could be beneficial.

Im not sure this makes sense and it may sound a bit stupid. But is there anything particulary wrong with it. I suppose this all depends on wether or not you feel you go through spells( I assume most players do feel this way?).

Derek C.

Funnily enough I always seem to go thru a bad spell when I've just had a big win. (big win for me that is)
Don't know why but when I win something significant I've learned to take a break for a few weeks.
Or if I'm busting out of 5 or 6 tournaments in a row without being within a sniff of the money then I tend to take a break for a while too.

I just think sometimes your head gets so full of thoughts it becomes so hard to do the simplest of things. Like Fold!

delanec8

If going through a bad patch affects how you are playing and you are honest enough with yourself to admit it then stepping down is an option but if you are continuing to play well enough to beat the game then you should continue playing at that level.

There is nothing you can do about variance swings. Continue playing well and there should be no reason to drop a level unless your bankroll has suffered sufficiently where you cannot play to your best ability.

Running Bing

I should have mentioned that I only play cash games.

But I will say although I would not regard myself as a great poker player my best attribute is by far my discipline. Beats dont really phase me(obviously im a little pissed but I realise its the nature of the game) so its not a matter of it affecting my play. I am sufficiently Bankrolled as well so that doesnt bother me. Basically what I mean is if when going through a negative variance swing you drop to low limits and then revert back to normal limits when that swing is over is that a smart/realsitic thing to do. Is it a smart strategy in the long run and could it boost a professional poker players earnings over a year?

Im not even really asking if I should do this I just found it an interesting thought and was wondering what other peoples thoughts of it were. especially those with a good knowledge of variance.

Lafortezza

It's probably just variance. I've played 4-6 tables at the same time for an hour and a half, and been up or down a buy-in in total. I go make a cup of tea and come back 5 mins later and go on a sudden rush and I'm up 4 buy-ins in 10 mins of play.

RoundTower

It makes sense if you're playing badly, not just getting unlucky. There is no way to know when you're in the middle of a downswing, or when you're about to run good.

You might be playing badly and not realise it, though, so maybe it would work for you to move down when you are losing and back up when you are winning.