[Closed] downswing real or perceived?

As said before, it depends on how you define a downswing. I think that a

"downswing" is commonly defined as a run of bad luck over a long period
of time which results in a player loosing money while playing +EV.

"(long-term) Tilt" is defined as loss of control over your game which results in the player playing -EV but not seeing his mistakes or not being able to correct them. This, of course, only applies to players who usually (while not tilting) play much better. Therefore a donk playing -EV is still a donk.

So talkign about downswings: there is only one way to get over them: continue playing. HOWEVER, even a minor downswing can cause a major tilt, which will burn your whole bankroll.

If you think you can beat a downswing by playing fake money, you should also consider life sacrifice to Holy Random. That might help.

IF you want to cure a tilt by playing fake money, that's very unlikely to help you as you will have no incentive to improve your game
1) Because you won't be loosing anything.
2) YOu'll be winning more games due to very low skill of fake money players.

As a relative newcomer to the game who's recently hit what i'd call a downswing i partially agree with what Hackett is saying.

Having had everything i've played (more or less) in the last week or so busted, i've been over my hands and in many cases played them right.
But over time, and watching bankroll deteriorate to almost nothing i'm very sure that this has affected my playing. How can it not?

If i know that in order to recover my money i must stick to my A game then i must be confident and aggressive at the right times.
If i do that, and routinely get beaten, my confidence reduces and i play more cautiously, which kills my game.

So i think a downswing is a pshycological thing, brought about by bad beats or whatever, which causes you to tilt much quicker than normal, almost from the start you're nearly there, and then leaks come in.

I totally disagree that playing with fake money will help but i dont think hackett is saying that, i think he/she is saying that it would only help if it was pure variance at work. I may be wrong there.

I personally know that by a few days of really shi tty luck my game has suffered, but then i'm inexperienced still and am still learning.

One thing i have learned, both through this thread, and experience, is that taking a break is the right thing to do. For me anyway.

In a couple of days i'll play again and i'm very sure that winning ways will return, simply because i'm fresh and the bad hands aren't so recent to me anymore.

At least i hope so!!!

Originally posted by funjubulus
I totally disagree that playing with fake money will help but i dont think hackett is saying that, i think he/she is saying that it would only help if it was pure variance at work. I may be wrong there.

I completely disagree with you here. If playing with play money helps you to refresh your brain, to put your negative emotions away and to start playing poker to play good poker instead of making money it might be a good idea to play with playmoney. On the other hand this can also be done easily by taking a couple of days off.

You're other point is wrong and illustrates that you missed an important aspect of poker: Variance can't be evened out!!!. If your downswing is solely a matter of variance than the best thing is to continue playing like you were doing. If you're playing your A game you should make profit in the long run, no matter what. Playing with playmoney won't help you. As soon as you believe your downswing (which was solely based on variance) is over and return to real money tables again, you may start losing money again.

Originally posted by luitzenI completely disagree with you here. If playing with play money helps you to refresh your brain, to put your negative emotions away and to start playing poker to play good poker instead of making money it might be a good idea to play with playmoney. On the other hand this can also be done easily by taking a couple of days off.

How can you completely disagree with me and then say it might be a good idea? You're either sure or you're not. You're completely sure i might be wrong?

You're other point is wrong and illustrates that you missed an important aspect of poker: Variance can't be evened out!!!. If your downswing is solely a matter of variance than the best thing is to continue playing like you were doing. If you're playing your A game you should make profit in the long run, no matter what. Playing with playmoney won't help you. As soon as you believe your downswing (which was solely based on variance) is over and return to real money tables again, you may start losing money again.

Not sure who you were referring to in the 2nd point but if it was me then you missed my point. I know variance wont even out. Sticking to your A game and carrying on through your downswing may be the best thing for some people, but i reckon there's a good few who it messes with and they need a break.
And you're saying that "Playing with playmoney won't help you" again, but further up saying it might??

But hey, as i've stated, i'm a newcomer to the game so what would i know.