When to stop playing

Hi guys,

I am playing at Party Poker in low limit cash games and use a fixed percentage of my bankroll to risk per session. If that goes then I stop. The goal then is to double that amount and if I hit that then I stop.

Do you think that is a good way to determine when to stop or should I simply play for a certain number of hours?

Thanks
Schatzdog

Here's a link to a nice article by Annie Duke on that exact subject.

I'm not sure what link the dogs posted, but a rule laid out by Howard Lederer is that he won't lose more than 30 big bets in a session. If you're playing .5/1, and you go 30.00 down, stop. There are many reasons, but the biggest I can recall is that it keeps your table image up. Remember, you're playing in the same limits usually so you will probably see some of the same people that you saw on your losing night. Don't ruin your image throwing good money after bad. Pack it up and move on. You keep your shirt, and your table image.

*EDIT*
I just read the article the dogs posted and it was the same one I was thinking. Damn, four dogs, we run in some of the same circles?

It doesn't surprise me Diablo. You are but a shadowy version of myself.

Thanks guys,

How then do you gauge when to leave when you are beating the game?

Schatzdog

As long as the game is soft and you're getting a decent amount of positive cash flow, by all means, stay. I will stay awake and play as long as others are giving their money to me, but if I'm losing, or having a bad run, ill just leave and try to find a softer game. If I can't do that, ill quit for the night.

I'll let you know when I find out.

If I've been doing well, I usually set an amount to reach where I'll leave. The second thing that makes me get up quick is a sudden and prolonged change in the cards. It takes great discipline to get up; however, it's the only way you'll ever leave a table with money...

Here is my weekness. I loss many thousands when Im losing. I can't get away from the table. I generally carry my stake for the evening, plus dinner money. Pathetic I know, but it is better than going home and explaining that I lost 10-25 thousand. So I walk out the door with 8k that is my daily limit. And yes I have lost 25k in one night

Bill

Give yourself a limit and STOP when you reach that limit. Never spend more than you have originally in mind or you will become addicted.

Easier said than done ngi112, once you start losing all those cash it takes all a persons willpower and self control to get up and leave. I dont know if its easier online but I dont think so and only the most experienced players will beable to control this at some point. I dont set any limits to the amounts I win or lose, I play for several hours and when I start to get tired I leave cause I know it will affect my game. Whether I win or lose is a completely different matter.

The problem I get is that when I hit my upside target I feel that I should stay and press through instead of taking my winnings and leaving. Some pro players keep records to determine their hourly rate. Then they play and play and hope to increase this rate. In this way you end up playing for hours, not for a cash target.

I think as long as the game is good I should stick around.

Later

OH yeah the hardest games to walk away from are the ones where you have lost money. The time to start thinking about leaving is not when you are up or down the time is when you are playing badly, if you are the best player at the table and are playing well NEVER leave the table. Now when you are playing badly or are distracted WALK!!!!!