Brake Or Break??

You know out of all the topics on this site so far have been some real good smack talking and comical. I love every bit of it. I'm gonna break that streak and get back to poker. I was talking to another player about a bad run of cards he's been having. This player plays more poker in one week then some play in a month. Albeit his bankroll is a lot higher then most of ours and his schedule allows for such a lifestyle, he's still losing. This brings me to where my little tid bit of advice comes in. When the cards seem to be running bad for a session or two it's no biggy. This is just part of playing poker. When you lose several sessions in a row, it's time to apply the brakes a bit. When your losing every session you play and have invested almost your entire bankroll it's time to apply the parking brake and get out of the car before you crash. This brings me back to bankroll management. Many of our players do not have seperate money to play poker on. Most
players just run by the ATM get enough to play in for that night and play. This way is STUPID!! You should always no exactly how much you have in every game. You should always have an emergency amount. This is where you have depleated your bankroll to a place where playing your regular game would put your whole bankroll at stake. Example my emergency amount is $300. If my bankroll gets to this amount I am very choosy on the games I play and if I play at all. A few players were surprised to find out I kept tabs on most players winnings and losses for 2008. Some players had no idea about losses they had accrued. This is because they did not keep track of what the vested in there play. This is dangerous. If all seems to be going crappy it's time to take a break. A timeout if you will. Time to rest your mind, stop second guessing the past, recover some bankroll through other means, and refocus. There is two key things to dwell on when on a break. #1 you
need to evaluate your past play. If you have been losing a lot then it's probably not just how the cards flop. Serial losses is a huge signal that it's time to evaluate ones personal strategy to the game. Putting it bluntly if your losing everytime then your style might just suck! As Chris Ferguson says if you can't spot the sucker at the table it's probably you. #2 take some time to refocus on the fun of poker. I am guilty of getting wrapped up in the check raises, the value bets, slow playing, pot odds, implied odds, splash pots, on suit or off suit, etc. Just like everybody else I sometimes need to just sit back and realize I love this game because it's fun. I realize that I'm not a pro player or as wise as my father, but I've been bruised and battered and learned how to recover. This advice only comes from personal expireiences. I have had to take 2 breaks in my time of playing and each time my evaluations have made me a better player. Also know
this you will need a break at some time. When that time comes are you good enough to take that break??

Keeping It Skinny,
"Flaco" Jake
Jakedp1980@yahoo.com

www.36kilos.blogspot.com