[SixForty]

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How do you walk away a winner? It’s something I find hard to do. Or at least it’s hard to walk away with your maximum win.

For example, you play 1.00/2.00 limit Hold Em; you go up fifty bucks, winning a couple hands in a row. Can you stop then or do you have to lose a few hands before you stop?

I’d venture to guess that we all have to lose a few rounds first, get verification that the hot streak is over. Unfortunately, that verification sometimes comes in the form of losing back a good portion of our winnings.

It’s really horrible when you lose back all or most .of it, wind up finishing your session in the negative column.

What’s the best way to walk away with your maximum win?

If you go up a few BB—other than at the very start of a session—do you get more conservative in your hand selection, attempt to ensure that you finish as a winner?

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I like one of David Sklasnky's old phrases: "If the game is good, stick toothpicks in your eye lids to stay!" Basically, if the game is a good game to sit it, I'll try and stay regardless of winning or losing streaks.

But absent that, I try to go by a time limit myself. I play mostly live at a casino, so if I plan to play for 6 hours, then I'll leave somewhere around that 6 hour mark. If I just had 4 bad beats in a row, and I'm at the 5 hour mark - maybe I'll take off early. If I'm at the 6 hour mark but two really drunk, loose, weak players just sat down to my right, then maybe I'll stay another hour to see what happens.

But for the most part, I try not to let the emotional response of how well my luck is running control my decisions of whether or not to stay in the game.

There are times that I have left a good game because I have been up a fair bit. But it's usually when I go on a ridiculously good run. My second time playing at a new level of limits once, I had a fantastic run and was up 85 big bets after only 2 hours and 45 minutes. So I left. I should have stayed, since the game was great because the players were horrible, but I was in a feel good mood and didn't want it to end.

And again, a few weeks ago, I went on a sick heater and won 50 big bets in my first 2 hours at the table. So I got up and left. I won't deny that there is something psychological about booking a great win and then leaving for the day.

But most of the time, if the game is good and you have an edge, it pays to stay in it.