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With the exception of being the subject of an ongoing steroid investigation, there's probably nothing a pro athlete hates more than going through a slump. Whether it's a baseball player batting .150 for a month, a basketball player shooting 25% from the floor in their last six contests, or a quarterback throwing six interceptions in their last three games, slumps are unwelcome in any sport.
The world of poker is certainly no different from anything else with regards to the ever present slump. A run of bad cards or a couple of poor decisions with most (or all) of the chips on the line can leave many players questioning their own skills at the table. One's psychology for the game can take a turn for the worse too.
The tough raises and calls that one used to make in critical situations start to turn into checks and folds during these trying times. A usually aggressive or unpredictable person can turn into a passive and extremely tight player. All of this can leave one pondering, "Is there light at the end of the tunnel?"
Even the best players in the world
run into a bad stretch of cards.
Fortunately, as with a slump in anything, a person can certainly make it through to a brighter day. But for this to happen, a person needs to realize that a poker slump will eventually end and it is simply the result of either a bad streak of cards or a couple of tough breaks here and there. One should never be questioning their own skills or abilities over something like this. Instead, any player who is going through a slump must take a moment to realize that there are definitely steps that can be taken to get out this dreaded category.
The first and most important thing to remember is that better cards will come and, when the good cards do come again, it's time to get back to business. Even the best players in the world run into a bad stretch of cards. But they don't get out of this mire by making foolish bluffs or folding anytime that they don't hold pocket kings. So when the cards start coming again, take advantage! And when they're not, don't get discouraged because it happens to everyone.
Another point to keep in mind is that too much of the same type of poker will eventually become mind numbing and can get a person off base real quick. Imagine someone who plays online Texas Hold'em cash games all day, every day. Eventually, they're going to lose their passion for it and just start going through the motions which can lead to some bad play.
That's why it's a good idea to switch things up from time to time. Say you love to play no limit Hold'em all of the time but have noticed that your bank account hasn't been increasing the way it used to. Well then, it's probably time to go and try something new for a change.
There's nothing wrong
with stepping down to a lower peg...
And there are plenty of options to choose from in the poker world for anyone looking for a little variety. Jumping into an online Hold'em tournament is definitely one approach to breaking the monotony of playing the same type of poker over and over again. Or a player could buck the trend entirely and go to a nearby casino to give the game of Omaha a try and, in turn, give them self a refresher from the norm.
Aside from playing through bad cards and trying a new angle on the game, stepping down a notch in the stakes can also provide an avenue for one to break out of a slump. All too often, a player will keep climbing the ladder in terms of limit games until they reach a high stakes point where they feel they belong and then won't budge. This can especially be propelled by early success which leads one to believe that they must stay at this level no matter what.
In all honesty though, there's nothing wrong with stepping down to a lower peg on the poker totem pole. Cards of lesser stature can steal more pots than they normally would when more money is involved. The games won't be as expensive and the competition usually isn't as intense either. This all adds up to a great setting for one to get over the hump and get back to playing the way that they used to.
Basically, everyone who plays poker for any significant amount of time is going to go up against some unfortunate luck. Poor cards and bad calls can ruin the joy that comes with something that intended to be a fun game. Worse yet, one can start to question whether they really want to play the game they used to love anymore.
However, if someone truly enjoys poker, then they should never let a little slump push them out of it. So remember: No matter how much money is on the line, poker is still just a game so have fun with it.
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