Walking away when up

Matt Williams · #1 10-18-2006, 12:44 AM

I normally play 4/8 and 6/12 live at the Trop and Borgata in AC. I know that you shouldn't set limits as far as winning. (If the game is good, stay.) The problem is, I find it hard to concentrate and play well for more than 2 or 3 hours straight. I've been noticing a lot of times that if I am up after 3 hours or so, I usually break even or lose money after the 3 hour mark. But I've been forcing myself to play longer because the game is good or whatever the reason may be. I know I really shouldn't do this, but would it be better if I set money goals instead or time goals? Lets say I make $200 in the first hour playing 6/12. Should I just get up then knowing that in another hour or 2, I won't be as sharp? The goal of playing poker is to make money, so I personally think for me it would be better to play in small 2 to 3 hour chunks even if it means leaving a profitable game. Am I wrong?

EightStuda · #2 10-18-2006, 02:20 AM

Well, try out your theory for a while and see how it works for you. I think you should really try to figure out why you lose after 3 or so hours.

-Dimitri

slik · #3 10-18-2006, 08:51 AM

You need to learn to objectively judge your play. Doesn't matter how bad the other players play, if you play just as bad after the third hour. But, a break to the strip club might be good idea after the third hour [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

dustyn · #4 10-18-2006, 09:01 AM

If you aren't playing winning poker after the third hour, you should leave, regardless of game conditions. If your attention span simply limits you from playing more than that length of time, there isn't really a point in staying so you can give back your money. However, you might want to think about working on your endurance and playing longer stretches - but you should walk away before you start playing badly.

govman6767 · #5 10-18-2006, 09:02 AM

When I find that I'm winning after a few hours I take some of my winnings and try to parlay that into a bigger win with the casino games.

1) Keno (you can win tons of money)
2) 5 # bet in roulette (Only bet where you get 5 #'s wow!)
3) Any 7 in craps....(hey 7 comes out the most right)
4) 180 to 1 bets in Sic-Bo.... (find me a game that has 180-1 odds)
5) Using the martingale on a 2 or 12 in craps sooner or later your going to hit for 30-1 BIG SCORE
6) Play the "tie" bet in baccarat you get paid much better than betting on the bank or player
7) Taking you win in poker and betting it on the Flag or Joker on the money wheel [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Using some of these tactics will score you a monster win while only putting at risk your small earnings at the poker table.

scotnt73 · #6 10-18-2006, 10:41 AM

when i get up a decent amount quickly i just set loss limits. like "ok im up 400 after just 3 hands. so ill stay as long as the game is good or until i drop to +200".

if i get more profit then i raise the +200 to whatever. this allows me to not limit a good sessions wins and also assures me that ill leave a winner.

this strat isnt for everyone. but for me personally stringing together several wins keeps my confidence up and my play level optimised. sure there are times when i get unlucky in a hand and drop to my loss level and walk away from a good table a smaller winner than i could but for my personality im walking away a winner and will keep playing well because of it. if i risk a sure win for a chance at more i could lose it. and while 1 loss doesnt faze me once i string 3-4 together in a row i start losing confidence and not playing optimally.

so the sure winning sessions really help me keep my confidence and game in tip top shape. i know people will scream that you should never leave a good table but i play online where finding another good table takes all of 5 minutes.

MikeSmith · #7 10-18-2006, 12:23 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I normally play 4/8 and 6/12 live at the Trop and Borgata in AC. I know that you shouldn't set limits as far as winning. (If the game is good, stay.) The problem is, I find it hard to concentrate and play well for more than 2 or 3 hours straight. I've been noticing a lot of times that if I am up after 3 hours or so, I usually break even or lose money after the 3 hour mark. But I've been forcing myself to play longer because the game is good or whatever the reason may be. I know I really shouldn't do this, but would it be better if I set money goals instead or time goals? Lets say I make $200 in the first hour playing 6/12. Should I just get up then knowing that in another hour or 2, I won't be as sharp? The goal of playing poker is to make money, so I personally think for me it would be better to play in small 2 to 3 hour chunks even if it means leaving a profitable game. Am I wrong?

[/ QUOTE ]

Its good that you realize this, if you dont want to leave a good game, how about taking a break for 15 min. or something. If that doesnt work then accept your limitations and leave, look at mike matusow on HSP season2, he was up pretty good but then kept playing when he was tired(he is known for trainwrecks when tired) and lost it all.

vhawk01 · #8 10-18-2006, 03:47 PM

Except Mike had probably been playing for like 12-15 hours and he was playing against good players.

You have the right idea, OP, you should be trying to play in good games, and a game where you are tired or out of it isn't a good game, unless the players are horrible. But you play live, and you are saying you have a hard time playing more than 3 hours a day? At 6/12? How can you possibly be making any money playing live 6/12 for 15 hrs/wk?

PantsOnFire · #9 10-19-2006, 02:20 AM

Personally, I think it is a mistake to leave a table based solely on your results.

The only exception to this is if your results are poor and they are poor because you are in a tough game. Other than that, you should leave a table based on a self imposed time limit, you are no longer having fun or if you feel your A-game is gone for whatever reason.

Dementia · #10 10-19-2006, 02:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I think it is a mistake to leave a table based solely on your results.

The only exception to this is if your results are poor and they are poor because you are in a tough game. Other than that, you should leave a table based on a self imposed time limit, you are no longer having fun or if you feel your A-game is gone for whatever reason.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. If you legitimately feel like you have an edge over the table you should stay. That all depends on whether you can accurately assess if a game is good for you or not though. So long as you aren't chasing losses or playing rash, I say play until you're not into it. Don't have any set time limit or outside distraction.