Upswing
An extended period of winning results, which may or may not be above expected value.
iGaming Journalist & Crypto Casino Analyst
What Is Upswing?
An upswing describes a stretch of sessions or hands where a player's results are consistently positive, whether driven by genuinely improved play, favorable variance, or both. Because poker has high variance, an upswing doesn't necessarily mean a player's true win rate has increased -- it can simply be a good run of cards and outcomes.
Examples
A cash game grinder on a multi-week upswing after several consecutive winning sessions.
A tournament player riding an upswing after making several deep runs in a row.
Strategy Tips
Avoid overestimating your skill level based purely on results during an upswing -- separate genuine strategic improvement from short-term variance by reviewing your decision-making, not just your win totals. Resist the urge to move up in stakes impulsively during an upswing without also considering your bankroll's overall size and your actual skill edge at higher levels. Keep detailed results tracking over a large sample size so you can distinguish real long-term improvement from a temporary hot streak. Stay disciplined with your normal game selection and strategy during an upswing, since overconfidence can just as easily lead into the next downswing.