I have written many articles in the past relating to how in my opinion variance is the biggest obstacle for any poker player to overcome. Variance is so powerful that it leads to emotional disintegration and that inevitably leads to losses. But it is the other factors as well and when you are losing then it can and does play tricks with your mind. You may otherwise be playing a very solid game of poker but losses can trick you into altering what was a previously successful style. It works in reverse too of course and players who are riding the variance wave and doing very well can have bad habits reinforced.
It is only when you look at PokerTracker graphs from respected experienced long term players can you truly see variance in action. I think you need to take a long sighted view of variance to really see it as it really is. In my mind then this is one of the most powerful uses of tracking software like PokerTracker. It simply allows you to see first hand the full range of what is possible. When you look at graphs of long term winning players and you see a million hands condensed then it appears on the surface like one big long continual line with slight blips.
However breaking that sample down into say 50k hand blocks paints a completely different picture! However for a novice then can you imagine what having to play through a 50k hand break even period would do to a player? Many novices are even upset at not having a winning session and this is why many of them try to force the pace and end the session ahead. This of course is ludicrous as the game itself will simply not allow you to win every day. In fact trying to do so basically sends you even further backwards. However it is a great quantum leap forward to be able to look at PokerTracker graphs and see the full extent of what poker can throw at you.
The Dean can be contacted at Carl@Pokerquest.f9.co.uk for anyone interesting in being coached in “The Vulture” NLHE system.
