Is it just me or Laddies?

[ChonkyWonk]

Alright people, I have recently returned to Ladbrokes after a bit of a break from poker (nothing serious just no time for it) and I don't know if it's my mind playing tricks on me but some of the hands have been shocking. I've played at Ladbrokes for around three years and since I started playing again a few weeks ago I've hit more straight flushes, one-outers and sick rivers than ever before. Does anyone know of a change in the software or is this just a lucky streak?

[SuperTyke]

I've been playing Poker on and off for around five years now. 95% of my online play has been at Pokerstars.

When I first started out, I won like three tournaments in a row, hitting some crazy cards but then things started turning a bit sour. I didn't change my game all that much, it was just some of the hands were so hard to get away from, or bad beats all the time, it was driving me crazy. I'm talking, going in with AK on a flop of A-K-9 (with a pre-flop raise) and being called by an opponent with pocket 5's. Turn 8. River, 5. It was getting me down. So I called time for a while.

After around three months off, I started playing again. Again, winning with easy and placing in a few big tournaments, even qualifying for the $1050 Sunday Million. Again, after a while, things went downhill and I was getting frustrated, so packed in again.

I've not played for six months, but started up again about two weeks ago, and again, seriously, started off on winning note. Played 10 tournaments in my first week; won two and placed in another three. Once again, things have been going down hill since. I've been getting cracked left, right and centre. I've got to the stage again, where I'm getting frustrated and can't be bothered with it.

I know Poker can be a frustrating game, and a large chunk of luck plays a big part, however, online, I'm very, very dubious. I suppose there are more hands being played, so you see some of these crazy beats and stupendous flops a lot more, but I think it's strange that how I've spoken to lots of people who have spent time away from the online game, only to go back after a while, start winning again, only for their 'luck' to seemingly run out after a few wins.

I'd hate to think that this was the case, but it happens all to often.

I'm not stupid. I KNOW full well that the cards can fall in whatever way they can - it's a card game, it's luck. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. However, and I touch back on another point I made earlier; it happens ALL TOO OFTEN and seemingly in patterns.

Rant over.

ST