Wednesday, February 07, 2007

January sucks

Yuck January ended very badly. I got back from Australia ready to go for it online, not realising i was about to encounter my biggest streak of losing sessions in my life. Played around 10 sessions 25/50 50/100 and 100/200 and lost every time. Some of them more brutal than others. Losses ranging from $10000-$80000 each time. I ended up losing something like 35% of my bankroll which was not good. I lost two Hold'em pots of $80000 when i had over 80% chance when the money went in. If i'd won those the figures would have been nowhere near as bad.

I've since staged a mini recovery reducing the loss to a more manageable figure, and have won 7 out of the last 10 sessions which has made me feel a bit better. I now know what it is like to run badly... i don't think i did before lol.

I'm giving 100/200 a miss at the moment because my bankroll and sanity cannot take the swings.

I am NEVER playing online in January again. The same thing happened last year....

My William Hill grand Prix heat is on Skysports in a couple of weeks. I'll post when i know the exact time/date.

14 comments:

Mrz said...

Sorry Ben..

Did you think about how much every reason took part in that awful month?

Bad Luck?
Tilt?
Downrating your opponents?
Wrong moves?
Insufficient datas on your opponents's style?

Wish you a better luck!

Anonymous said...

ul chap,
chin up, step down a level and get your confidence back.
good luck,
cu in dortmund i hope

Mal said...

wow - very harsh.

ive had a horrible losing week as well - but way way way smaller stakes.

its probably an arsehole thing to say - but reading about someone of your calibre hitting a losing streak takes the sting out of it a bit. makes one realise it can happen to anyone - and doesnt necessarily mean you aint any good.

good to hear your pulling out of it.

best of luck for the rest of the year

Pokeking69 said...

Wow, not a good month

i had a bad month myself but a drop in the ocean by your standards
i have started my own blog recently- pokeking69 , would really appreciate it if you would come and check it out and post a link on your page as i could really use some comments to work on my game

cheers

snoopy1239 said...

When you say you are never playing in January again, are you kidding or do you honestly think that there's a particular reason why you run badly during that month?

snoops

Milkybarkid said...

Hmmm well i think alot of a losing streak is down to bad luck. I lost nearly every big 50/50 i played, and lost plenty of 80/20 situations as well.

My tilt was bad as well and probably 25% of what i lost was down to me tilting!

I don't think i really underrate opponents. There are quite a few NL Hold'em players online i never play Heads Up, and a few PL Omaha that i don't really see any value in playing short handed!

I am sure in such a bad run i made plenty of bad moves... probably too many to remember lol.

Milkybarkid said...

Hmmmmm well last year Jan was my only losing month... and i suffered big losses again this January. Just think its down to superstition, but i certainly won't be playing any high stakes cash next January!

Milkybarkid said...

Pokeking.. i added your blog to the list of links... only because you are a Man Utd fan though :-D

United113 said...

Ben are you a united fan???

January was ok for united! Let me know if you ever want tickets, i normally have 1 or 2 to spare

Good luck in feb

Mal said...

seems like, if i come out as a red as well, this blog is in danger of becoming a united fanzine.

treble is coming . . . . .

lee said...

Hi Ben,

Another link request I'm afraid, bt i think you'll like it, or at least some readers will - www.pokerbackpacker.com. I hope it doesnt matter that I support Stoke City lol.

The concept is as much about travelling as poker (I leave next week and will be travelling the world and playing poker on a laptop). Once I leave there will be plenty more pics etc added. No worries if you dont, but if you do like it and could give me a link, I'd really appreciate it.

Ta mate, Lee

United113 said...

Ben i would have to say that i don't like the colour of your blog, especially being a united fan... It does remind me of the local council team who play in the stadium that we payed for in eastlands...

Anyway, i hope february is a better month for you and you can rebuild your bankroll, you had a bad january last year and had a superb year in the end. Yours is a great blog and it is good that you take the time to update it regulaly so us amateurs can get an idea of what it's like to be a pro. I also enjoy reading bluescouses blog (scary stuff..) but he has stopped now and Dpommo hasn't updated his since the main evernt last year and the waster since october..

Small Stakes Poker said...

Keep Positive Ben and hopefully February is better for you.

Paul

Milkybarkid said...

Yeh i am a United fan. Have been since i was four years old. I don't get to see enough games nowadays.

Cool about the spare tickets. I may just take you up on the offer.

I can't change the colour of my blog. I tried to but i'd lose my banner and all my links.