Skilled and experienced punters know it. The most seasoned
punters have tested it. Even new punters soon experience it. A losing run. A
time when whatever bets you place, you just can’t win. A losing run can really
affect a punter, especially a new one. During such a terrible run, everything
you do just fails, luck deserts you completely and even your favorite teams
just can’t win. As a punter, you should know that you will experience such a
run at some point. Knowing that a losing run is going to occur should therefore
prepare you well for it, so that instead of panicking when on a losing run you
can deal with it and overcome it as soon as possible.
Here are 5 things you can do to overcome a losing run:
(1) Stop placing
bets
When you are on a losing run, your desperation can get worse
if you keep placing more bets and continue to lose more money. Therefore, the
first step you should take when on such a run is stop betting so you can step
away, take a break, reevaluate you betting strategy and resume betting when
your head is clearer. Remember, you will stop losing the moment you stop
betting. You can’t lose when you are not betting. A rest is a good way to stop
the run and to plan afresh how you place your bets.
(2) Change your bad
habits
Apart from just stopping and taking stock, a losing run can
also be halted by putting a stop to bad habits. For example, if you are on a
losing run because of trying to win with very long accumulators or with
underdogs having very long odds, you can change this to shorter accumulators
consisting only of favorites or by ignoring underdogs in your next bets. You
can also cut out habits such as betting beyond your set budget, betting without
a plan or chasing losses.
(3) Become more
adaptable
A losing run usually occurs for a reason and may continue
for a long time as long as you have no identified and fixed the underlying
reason. Hence, it is important that you take an open-minded and adaptable
approach to your betting, being able to evaluate what you are doing objectively
and being humble enough to realize that your betting strategy may not be as
solid as you think it is. Try to tweak your betting plan, use new strategies
and find new ways to adjust so you can put yourself back on track quickly. If
you have been backing so many favorites per bet or chasing long odds, try
adjusting this. Check your staking formula for any errors, find better sites
with up-to-date news on your favorite teams, and look for a more reliable
source of statistics. Whatever it is, just ensure you re-examine your betting
plan and strategy so you can improve.
(4) Reduce your
stake
If you have lost so much and you are almost getting
desperate to win, the best approach is to cut down your stake. While many
punters opt to increase their stake in order to hit a bigger win that can cover
up for the losses, the more money you throw at the problem the worse your
situation will get. Instead of throwing more money, reduce your stake and focus
on making smaller wins. Once you start winning again, you will get your confidence
back and may recoup what you have lost after a few more wins. Cutting down your
stake also means you will lose less with subsequent bets even if the losing run
continues. Likewise, when you start winning again, you must not drastically
raise your stake to recoup what you lost.
(5) Get more
thorough and more cautious
Usually, a losing run may be caused by carelessness. For
example, you could be losing because you are not researching and analyzing the
teams you pick carefully before you bet. Similarly, you could be losing because
of betting on unknown teams or because you have thrown caution to the wind.
When you find yourself in a losing run, the best thing to do is get more
cautious and thorough with your picks. Stop taking any shortcuts. Make sure you
do thorough statistical analysis, research the teams well and pick on real
favorites. Don’t be emotional and never overreact. Just out in a lot more
homework on your selections before you bet on them.