ITH Poker Forum

[NoPepperJack]

I know that the downswings are really just short term .... but when you lose tourn after tourn.... how do you deal with it then? Since tournaments are short term by nature...is there a different way to look at it?

Jack

[the_hawk]

My recipe is to play cash. (And I'm only joking a fraction). In all seriousness my experience of tournaments especially with large fields and lowish buyins is:

1. Wait.
2. Get 3-outered.
3. Hope (1) was long enough to get you some money.

I don't know how the tourney guys cope. But, then again, most of the most vocal whingers on the Vent, Rant and Rave board (like, uh, me) are cash game players.

[Zenjo]

Recently I've been starting 4 at the same time so all being well I'll have a decent run in one of them. Then as you gradually bust out you can either concentrate more on the remaining tables or start doing other stuff.

I'm not sure how people deal with the varience of playing nothing but MTT. I'd definately recommend mixing in Cash or SNG if you're starting to forget what a winning session feels like!

[Piemaster]

Whle each tournament is indeed it's own 'short term' the long term comes over hundreds of tournaments. It's true that in tuornaments you can undo hours of hard work with one suckout, but then again that can happen in cash games too.

But if you are talking MTTs you are correct that the long term is much longer and results much more volatile than in a cash game.

[NoPepperJack]

Yeah, just after posting this.... I had my best money result in a tournament ever!

I guess that it all works out..... just have to accept the bad.... wait for the good.

NoPepperJack

PS: Thanks for the replies...

[Zenjo]

Now the next time you're in a downswing you've got something to reminisce about. It's important to appreciate the good times in poker as they help you make it through the bad.

[cowboyfan]

Be sure you have the right mindset for tournament poker. Since one win can be worth more than 150 min cashes, it's tough to handle when you bust out with the best of it.

Keep focusing on making all the right decisions and you will put yourself in the right spot to win. You need a little luck in the end no matter what you do, but you have to keep yourself making the right choices even if everyone else on your table isn't.

It's tough, but IMHO completely worth it when the good things happen.

[Stuey Brainy]

I know that the downswings are really just short term .... but when you lose tourn after tourn.... how do you deal with it then? Since tournaments are short term by nature...is there a different way to look at it?

Jack

You better have a super long term horizon on tournaments. Raymer himself said that he is 4 times more likely to win the WSOP main event than the field. Assuming an 8,000 player field, he'd win it once every 2,000 years.

If your'e playing tournaments be prepared for some degenerate level losing streaks.

[rockytherock]

Cash games are more profitable than tournaments in the long run.

[poker_Elmo]

Whle each tournament is indeed it's own 'short term' the long term comes over hundreds of tournaments. It's true that in tuornaments you can undo hours of hard work with one suckout, but then again that can happen in cash games too.

But if you are talking MTTs you are correct that the long term is much longer and results much more volatile than in a cash game.

I agree with the almost everything but not necessarily the last statement. If you only play 1000+ player fields, likely, but if you mix in some 100-200 player fields I don't think this is necessarily true.

That being said, I can no longer beat cash, so I might be biased.

[poker_Elmo]

Cash games are more profitable than tournaments in the long run.

Not if you suck at cash games (like me), but can handle your own in tourneys. Very different skill sets to win in SNGs/Tourneys vs. cash games.

[jrspm]

You're going to have to deal with variance in both tournaments in cash.

I think for most people the best way to deal with tournament variance is to play some of the smaller field tournies like the 360/500 cap ones they run on Stars, toutnies at smaller sites or play MTT SNG's such as the 45/180 man tournies.

These help you reduce your variance, keep your late stage game sharp (you won't get to final 2 tables, short handed or HU much in 2k fields) and even out the emotional swings.

[Doc T River]

Or play no entry fee bar poker. Seriously. If I am mentally tough when it comes to tournaments, it is because the thousands of hours I have logged playing in a bar. Without drinking.