In chapter 32 of A-Game Poker, Elliot Roe explains how to navigate one of the biggest challenges in poker: extended losing streaks. He reframes downswings not as ongoing states but as interpretations of past results, and he offers mindset shifts that keep players grounded in A-Game thinking rather than emotional or strategic distortion.
Why Downswings Are So Dangerous
Roe emphasizes that:
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Downswings test emotional resilience more than any other aspect of poker
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Many players damage their technical game during losing streaks without realizing it
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Even subtle mindset shifts—like tightening ranges or avoiding aggression—can significantly harm win rate
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The real danger is when players treat a downswing as an active force rather than an interpretation of past outcomes
He stresses that handling variance well is a defining trait of an A-Game Player.
The Real Nature of Downswings
A key distinction in this chapter is that:
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A downswing is not a current state
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It is a pattern of past results that players mentally project into the future
Language like “I’m in a downswing” reinforces the belief that current and future hands are influenced by past variance. This belief, even subconsciously, leads to distortions such as:
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Avoiding profitable bluffs
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Over-folding
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Giving opponents too much credit
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Playing defensively instead of optimally
This becomes a form of trying to control the uncontrollable, which pulls players further away from A-Game performance.
Reframing Downswings Through Language
Roe demonstrates how wording shapes mindset. For example:
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“I’m in a downswing” → implies a present, continuous negative state
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“Recently my outcomes were below expectation” → frames variance as past events with no bearing on future hands
This reframing helps players detach emotionally and return to objective decision-making.
Four Mindset Shifts for Handling Downswings
1. Treat Every Hand as a Fresh Puzzle
Players should focus entirely on the current hand, using available information without being influenced by past results. This mindset:
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Prevents emotional carryover
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Reduces overcorrection
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Resets expectations from hand to hand
Information matters. Outcomes do not.
2. Assume Responsibility First
Instead of blaming luck, players should:
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Review their strategy honestly
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Look for leaks or patterns that may have crept in
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Validate changes with evidence, not emotion
Even during genuine negative variance, this process helps ensure play remains structurally sound.
3. Change the Time Window
Downswings only exist within the timeframe chosen to view results.
Roe suggests:
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Zooming out when short-term results are painful
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Evaluating longer-term data for a clearer picture
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Recognizing that small sample sizes often mislead
If the broader view is still negative, that’s a cue to study—not an emotional indictment.
4. Rely on the A-Game Poker System
When emotions rise, players should anchor themselves in:
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Routines
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Checklists
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Processes introduced earlier in the book
This structure acts as a stabilizing force—much like a lighthouse guiding through rough conditions.
Key Takeaways
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Downswings don’t exist in the present—only as interpretations of past variance.
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Language shapes beliefs, and beliefs shape gameplay.
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Emotional reactions can quietly erode technical execution.
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A-Game Players maintain objectivity, responsibility, and process-driven thinking even during prolonged losses.
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By reframing variance and leaning on structured systems, players can continue performing at an elite level regardless of short-term results.