Is it really Bad Luck ?

I read a great article by Daniel Negreanu that I liked to share with you. It deals with bad luck and why it might not be only that. There is a poker saying, “Poker is a lot like sex. Everybody thinks they are great at it, but most people don’t really know what they’re doing.” Becuase of this, players blame their losing streaks on luck. Some situations this may be true, but there may be other factors. The article mentions these factors: • Bad luck — Luck does play a part in how well you do in poker and bad luck could be the reason you’re losing. However, the longer you play the way you should play, the less likely bad luck will continue. You have to ride out bad-luck streaks. Just don’t create your own bad luck. Hoever, if you’re losing after months and months of play, bad luck may not be the key factor. Here’s a suggestion: Chart your results by the hour. See how you’re doing after 500 to 1,000 hours of play before throwing in the towel. If you’re still showing a loss after that much play, it may have nothing to do with luck. • Too predictable — This is especially true if you were once a winning player against the same opponents and are now losing to them on a regular basis. If you have a straightforward approach to the game, it could be that your opponents are on to you. Add some deceptive plays to your game. • Playing in tough games — You might be a great poker player but the players you are playing against might be better than you. Game selection is very important to your bankroll and how you play the game. Swallow your pride, put your ego in check, and find a new game against lesser-skilled competitors. • Lack of fundamentals — This is a common reason for losing. Learning poker fundamentals is as easy as picking up a few great books and working on expanding your knowledge. If you don’t have a solid foundation for making poker decisions, you’ll always be a step behind. Learn how to play the game the right way by focusing on the basics, and when you get those down, add the elements of your own style to the mix. • Playing on tilt — Taking a bad beat or two is inevitable. The difference between long-term winners and losers is how bad luck affects their play over the course of the session. Don’t chase your money and don’t lose your patience by playing hands you know you shouldn’t be playing. If you can’t handle the stress then quit before things get worse. The article concludes with this statement: “Remember, there’s always tomorrow. Poker isn’t going anywhere.”