How To Play Well When Losing at Poker

A lot of poker players can play well when things are going well, but how do you play when you are losing and everything is going against you? In this video, I stream an online poker session on WPT Gold where my session gets off to a rocky start as I get called on a bluff and proceed to go card dead. I show you to stay patient and level-headed and continue making good decisions to help turn things around.

Watch Club WPT Online Poker Session Video Here:

How to Play Well When Losing at Poker Summary

• Playing well when losing at poker requires making solid decisions, staying patient, and not forcing anything to turn things around

• It's essential to consider the table dynamics, including the ante and straddle, when deciding how to play a hand, especially in online poker games like those on Club WPT Gold

• Online poker has its advantages, such as getting many hands in quickly, but it also has issues like potential collusion and real-time assistance

  
  

Effects of Poker Table Dynamics and Game Conditions

• The straddle in a poker game leads to tighter play because players have less incentive to play speculative hands, and big card hands gain value in a low SPR environment. There is also an additional player in the blinds which makes loose opens less likely to get through

• In contrast, the presence of antes in a poker game leads to looser play, as there is additional dead money, allowing players to profitably add more hands to their opening range from each position

• It's essential to check the stats of players in the blinds, as loose players will call with many hands, making it less ideal to open wide in those spots

  
  

Playing When Facing Aggression

• When facing aggression and down in a poker game, it's essential to refrain from forcing plays to get money back, and instead, stay patient and fold weak hands

• Playing on a site without HUDs can make the games softer, as pros can't access detailed stats on their opponents, and players have to rely on basic information like PFR and VPIP

• It's crucial to adapt to the table dynamics and opponents' playing styles, and be willing to fold hands that are not good enough to continue while continuing to look for exploits and better opportunities as you learn more about your opponents

  
  

Advanced Poker Strategies

• When playing in a loose and splashy game, it's essential to play tighter and not overdo it with marginal hands or bluffs, as players are likely to call with weaker hands

• Recreational players often cold-call 3bets with hands like medium pairs, ace-king, or suited broadway hands, and they often don't know that cold-calling 3bets is a losing play in most spots

• Players should consider the EV of betting versus checking and not just compare the EV of betting versus outright losing the pot, as this can lead to unnecessary bluffing with medium strength hands

• Consider adjusting to use 2.5x preflop open sizes in straddled games to have room to play post-flop against certain players and to have more room for a four-bet when 3bets and squeezes come in

Why Being a "Good Loser" is Vital to Your Poker Edge

When you are running bad, losing, and everything is working against you, this is your time to separate from the pack as a poker player. Most of your opponents will play reasonably well when everything is going their way. But when the luck turns around on them, cracks start to form in their strategies and mental games, and that's where they often give their profits back. If you can be the player that stays patient and level-headed during times like this to minimize your losses, your win-rate will soar.

If you are someone that struggles to make good decisions when losing, contact Joel Wald today at joel@pto-poker.com or book a free 30-minute Zoom call to discuss how PTO Poker can help you continue playing your best game no matter how things are going.