Learn Texas Holdem

It happens to even the best poker players: the dreaded slump. Although poker is a game of long-term skill, it is a game of short-term luck, and no amount of ability can protect someone from "running bad." A slump could last for days, weeks or months, but whenever it happens, it often seems like it will never end. What can a poker payer do to get out of a slump?

Assess Your Play

First, you need to determine if you are really slumping or if you are simply in a game that is over your head. Remember that most people who play poker are long-term losers; if everyone were of relatively equal skill level, there would be no pros. If you're losing consistently, it may well be because you are in a game that is too good for you.

If you suspect this may be the case, try moving down in limits or being more selective in the games you choose, observing tables for players who seem less skilled. Even if you have the skill for your current game, your bankroll size may be too small for you to be successful, so there is more than one way in which dropping in limits may turn things around.

Look for Leaks

Perhaps you have developed a leak in your game that has only recently become a problem. Or maybe you have been playing with the same general group of players week in and week out and have developed a tell. Go back and analyze the key hands in each session. If you lost the hand, ask yourself if you just got unlucky or if there were things you could have done differently. If you won, ask yourself if you could have won more. Try to notice patterns developing in the key hands that may give you clues about where you need to shore up your game.

Take a Break

Sometimes a little distance from the game is all it takes to get out of a slump. When you're playing constantly, you are so focused on getting out of the slump that it may interfere with your ability to play well. Taking a break will give you time to think about the game and why you play it. When you return, you may have a whole different attitude or your luck simply may have changed for the better.

Switch Games

If no-limit Texas hold'em is giving you fits, try switching to a game with less variance such as limit Texas hold'em or limit Omaha. This may be all you need to turn things around and the break from your normal game may refresh you and get you back to playing winning poker.