Quitting Strategy

Eldog · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 11:16 AM

Im wondering if anyone uses a firm quitting strategy while playing ring games? so many times i find myself up only linger to long and give it all or most of it back before i leave the table. Last night for example im playing some 2/4 holdem and im up about 150 ish after the first hour and winded up giving it all back before the nights through. This seems to happen to me alot more then id like to admit

Someone had told me once along time ago you never want to pick a number to quit on if your up because you never want to limit your profit potential. He had said you want to try and leave the table if you pull back more then 20% off your highest profit point. This doenst really seem to work for me because say im playing some 2/4 and im up 30 or 40 bucks that means if i lose a 8 dollar hand its time to quit???

Anyway im wondering if anyone has a set plan or do most of you just kind of wing it like i do?

-Eldog

hachkc · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 11:50 AM

I try (and mean try) to cash out if I'm up at least 2x or 3x my buyin online. At this point, I started looking for another attractive table. If I find one, then I try to get on that one and close out the other one. I don't view it as limiting my profit potential but managing my money better. Poker can be a game of swings and I like to get out when I'm still playing with other folks money.

bsoder52 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 12:02 PM

Personally when I play in a ring game, 1-2 nights a week, I bring a bankroll with me appropriate to the size of the NLTH buyin/rebuy amont and the blind sizes. I play til one of two things:

- I loose my bankroll
- The game is over

I go to the game with the expectation that people are gonna be playing the cash on the table to a stated time with a somewhat understood number of players. Yea, I agree that its a ring game and it's ok to run a little late, or leave a little early if ya have to, or of you have another commitment you can state when you need to leave and leave then.......lotsa outs there........

Bsoder52

Limit Breaker · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 03:36 PM

I set myself 2 limits: A specific time to quit, or when I lose my bankroll. Say, if I bring in $200 and play $1/$2 limit or no limit games, I'll be out of there...say by 10:00pm. Eventually, I'll hit either of the two - almost consistently the time barrier. You can get into tailspins if you keep trying to win your money back.

jmda · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 03:48 PM

I usually do not know how to quit - it has been a problem

PTjvs · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 04:53 PM

I quit when the table is no longer good, or I am playing badly.

jvs

SpeakEasy · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2005, 11:45 PM

Leave when...
you're tired.
you're making mistakes.
the competition is better than when you started and you're getting outplayed.
its time to go home or tend to other obligations.

If you don't have to leave and you grow tired, continue playing if the game is good, you're better than the competition, you're not making mistakes and there is still money to be made.

chipper57AA · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2005, 09:46 AM

I always set a stopping time for myself every night before I start playing, so either way, up or down, I always stop by a certain time. The only exception I make is if I'm in the middle of a SNG and will play it out until the end of the tourney.

One thing I always liked doing when playing ring games, if I was up a lot, I'd take a break and play a SNG. Even if I won or lost in that SNG, I would still end UP for the night.

There is no magic formula to tell you when to stop. Obviously if you're way up you don't want to stop. If you're way down, sometimes you stay in too long and chase to try to catch up.

It's too bad an alarm can't go off to tell you you've hit your peak for the night. As others have said, pay attention to what's going on. If things don't seem right, then re-evaluate.

jojobinks · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeakEasy

Leave when...
you're tired.
you're making mistakes.
the competition is better than when you started and you're getting outplayed.
its time to go home or tend to other obligations.

If you don't have to leave and you grow tired, continue playing if the game is good, you're better than the competition, you're not making mistakes and there is still money to be made.

what he said. you're costing yourself money if you quit a good game, while feeling good and winning, just b/c you set a time.

just the same, in a good game where you're playing well, you might lose some money. if your judgement is good, and this game is one you can beat, and you're not steaming, quitting b/c you lost a coupla buyins will cost you money.

SpeakEasy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojobinks

just the same, in a good game where you're playing well, you might lose some money. if your judgement is good, and this game is one you can beat, and you're not steaming, quitting b/c you lost a coupla buyins will cost you money.

In the local casino $500 and $1000 buy-in NLHE game on Friday and Saturday night, I come armed with plenty of ammo. Based on my track record in this game, it is almost always beatable to very beatable (depending on who is in the game). If I start with a down swing, I keep reloading to stay at the max buy in. Unless I get really horrible cards all night, which has happened, I will eventually have an upswing that will make up for the initial downswing. The same is true for on-line play with a soft table -- I'll reload if there is money to be made.

Have confidence in your play and judgment, and don't let a downswing chase you away if you believe you are superior to your opponents.