when to stay and when to go.

this came up because of my last trip, I was supposed to meet my wife upstairs for some marital bonding, but I was on such a amazing run of cards I couldn't leave the table. So I thought I would make a post of when you should and when you shouldn't leave a poker table.

when to leave

1. When you feel you are not one of the better players at the table. As much as we like to think we are the best players at the table there will come times when you are not the best player. If more then half the table is as good as you or are better then you need to leave. At my second table there was 2 players that were as good as me if not better, since there were still 7 players I felt like I was better then I stayed. Now if we would of went shorthanded to 6 players or less I would not of stayed because it would not be profitable for me to sit there.

2. You are tired - , this is obvious. Poker is about making the best decisions on each turn and if you are tired you are not at top form and making good decisions.

3. when you are tired or on other substances - just like the above example, you will not be making the best decisions.

4. when table has you figured out - If you are the kind of player that can not mix it up and just play ABC tight poker then once table figures you out then you need to find new table with new players.

when to stay

1. If you are on a run then usually you should not leave the table. You need to be able to realize when you are on a run of good cards and run it out. When I played last week I was on a great run of cards and rode it out for about 3 hours then left the table after about a run of 30 minutes of bad cards or bad flops.

Thats really the biggest reason to stay, all other ones are personal preference reasons. Basically just wanted to go through the reasons to leave the table. If I missed any feel free to add to list.

when to stay

as long as you are beating the game. if im drunk off my ass and demolishing a game i still wont leave.

even if you are drunk and beating it at the moment dosent mean you are beating game in long run. If you are soo impaired that you will not be able to leave when your "luck" runs out then you are going to lose alot.

You missed a key "When to leave" item, IMO. The reason that this even came up. You should leave the table when you need to attend a function of any sort in which your presence is expected. Don't blow off your buddy's wedding because the cards were good. Don't blow off the theater or show with your wife/girfriend/etc because you were killing a table. And the moment you start rationalizing how they will understand or get over it or won't care, you need to step back an reevaluate things. Anyone that plays professionally and depends on poker to pay the bills may have some wiggle room in this if agreements are made with the wife or whoever. But if it isn't your fulltime income, then expect a world of trouble with the family when you miss a kid's game, recital, or sport.

well of course I wouldn't miss a function like that over poker, but our trip to Atlantic City was basically to gamble and play poker. She knew this which is why she wasn't mad. But if you are running good and you are not tired and you have nothing planned you should not leave.

I wasn't actually directing my input at you, but rather towards adding it to the list of items of "When to leave".

in that case, yes I agree good addition.

I always asked myself this question,my runs go in spurts and have had nights at the casino where I lost the whole time,and nights where I won for 16hours str8.its a toss up with me.

maximize your wins when you are running good.

minimize your loses when you are running bad.

Excellent initial post. Gee - were you reading my mind? These are the things I consider when I play at a b & m casino. I would add ...

When the cards just are not going your way no matter what, it is time to go. You can always take a break and return.

I just want to say to Jack D what a great great reply... Always tomorrow for a card game. but the kids play or Baseball game will be over and the memory that they will have that you wasnt there when they got standing ovation or messed up a line and needed you to say its ok or they hit a homerun will last a life time.or you stay and play cause you were running 1 to many times will the wife or G/F be there the next day... Take care of Home 1st life will be easier