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"""At the poker table, few things are more frustrating than running bad. You go all-in with AA against your opponent's AK, and magically, they make three of a kind. You flop a set of threes, only for your opponent to hit two consecutive running cards for a full house. You get a monster draw on the turn, and even though you're a massive favorite to win the hand, you fall short.
For better or worse, we've all been there. When it's your turn to suffer, it feels like the universe is conspiring against you. But these situations might conceal a bigger demon. What is it, you ask? Bad play, or more precisely, the poor decisions you make when running bad.
When you're running bad, it's easy to console yourself by saying you didn't do anything wrong—it's just bad luck. That's what you thought the hand before and the hand before that. Emotional interference with judgment is human nature, and even the best poker players struggle to perform at their best after a bad run. With memories of these shockingly brutal losses lingering, you begin to doubt yourself. You fold when you should raise, or convince yourself that your opponent ""can't possibly get lucky again,"" and you call when you should fold.
Situations like these are what distinguish a bad month from a truly disastrous month and, in the long run, winners from losers. But what should you do? The simple answer is to stop lamenting the losses when running bad and instead review your play. Take a look at what you did, where you made mistakes, and whether there could have been a different approach. Remember to think critically and avoid getting stuck in your ways. In some cases, you might find that you can't change anything, but you'll also frequently discover that your play wasn't as optimal as you initially thought. Perhaps a little adjustment is just what you need!
Remember, good luck will eventually come back at the poker table. Just make sure you have your bankroll to enjoy it when it does.""" |
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