When to quit...

I don't see many guides or strategies on this but to me it's probably one of the most important skills in poker. I played at the casinos for the first time a few weeks ago, went up 4 buy-ins after about 30 minutes, and told everyone I was done for the night. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy. 2 people told me I was on a roll and needed to hang in there. The next night I came back and watched one guy go from losing 3 buyins, to being up 8 buyins, to losing 2 buyins again.

As a rule of thumb, when is it a good time to take your winnings and leave? Any tips for walking away? Online I seem to always lose my winnings for the session, at the casino it's easier for me to get up and go.

If the table is good, I will stay. If the table is bad, I will leave.

When you are no longer capable of playing your best or you no longer believe the table to be profitable then you should leave. Also if you want to leave because your content with the session by all means do so.

My level of skill in the game is marginal.

If I double my buy in, I see a nice addition to the BR and I will usually bolt.

Usually.

CHURCH, you also should try to remember that if you've won other people's money it might look rude to leave after only 30 minutes of play without (in their minds) having given them a chance of winning their losses back. Now I know you dont want them to win their money back either, but 30 mins with real people is short. I could see an hour long or 2 hour long session being a more reasonable time to quit, unless it is obvious to you that these people you are playing with wouldnt be offended of you leaving early after taking their money. (ive never played in a casino but yea...)

People usually quit while they are ahead, but to me its a good player who can stay and turn profit into a bankroll or a tournament buy in.. I try to stay and I set a limit. Ex: started with 50$ cash game im now at 170$ I say well if i get to 135 I will go somewhere else and start with 50 again.. Idk this is just me

NiceNisus said:

CHURCH, you also should try to remember that if you've won other people's money it might look rude to leave after only 30 minutes of play without (in their minds) having given them a chance of winning their losses back. Now I know you dont want them to win their money back either, but 30 mins with real people is short. I could see an hour long or 2 hour long session being a more reasonable time to quit, unless it is obvious to you that these people you are playing with wouldnt be offended of you leaving early after taking their money. (ive never played in a casino but yea...)

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You gave them the chance to keep their money before they lost it to you. Once it's in my stack, they've lost all ownership, and have to earn it from me before I decide to leave.

When I first saw the title, I thought it was a player wondering when he should give up the game of Poker

I would never leave a game just because you got up x buyins. But, my suggestion would be, when you get to that level of winnings that you may consider it is time to leave (like OP did)--instead of leaving, set a small amount below the current level that you will leave if you lose some chips, but keep playing if you keep winning (u have 200 in chips 100 profit, set level at 175 chips). What I do is I constantly keep moving the level up that I will leave at as I keep winning (get to 300 chips reset level to 250). Once I cross the threashold I always leave--but I never leave more profit on the table. I do not mind taking a little less profit if I can have the potential to make a lot more profit. On the other hand, I don't have to worry about losing all my profit and being pissed off--like I did many times when I was younger.

i always go in to a table and tell them i am playing for 2 hours and getting up

I would tend to play as long as I feel my EV is positive and I don't have a substantially better option in the form of a juicier table I can switch to. This might involve various factors and combinations of them. A couple of obvious ones are how well the current composition of the table suits me, and how well I'm able to concentrate at that time.

Everybody is wrong.... you should leave the table when the casino closes or the table breaks lol

I put in a 16 hour session once lol

Jarod1231 said:

Everybody is wrong.... you should leave the table when the casino closes or the table breaks lol

I put in a 16 hour session once lol

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That's not that much... I've done a couple 30-hour grinds. I know a few who've gone for 48 hours strait... Or even 70 hours.

You have to quit next second when you enter. It is the best metod to save your money.

FTPHeHaTeMe said:

People usually quit while they are ahead, but to me its a good player who can stay and turn profit into a Bankroll or a tournament buy in.. I try to stay and I set a limit. Ex: started with 50$ cash game im now at 170$ I say well if i get to 135 I will go somewhere else and start with 50 again.. Idk this is just me

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This is a good rule of thumb. That way you were up and are still up just playing somewhere else and have a chance to step away from the game and reflect!

Eugenius said:

That's not that much... I've done a couple 30-hour grinds. I know a few who've gone for 48 hours strait... Or even 70 hours.

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Cant do more than 22 hours here, all the casinos close for at least 2 hours

Jarod1231 said:

Everybody is wrong.... you should leave the table when the casino closes or the table breaks lol

I put in a 16 hour session once lol

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Whrn I was younger and dumber I would start playing Friday night and not stop on several occassons until late into Sunday night/morning, then get up for work tired as hell on Monday.

if i ever triple my buyin ill leave the table, go to the bar, relax then go to another table.

I always quit as soon as I feel my focus going away. Regardless of winnings or losses. Staying sharp mentally is even more important in live play than online

Quit when your the fool

I quit when i am made a fool of. Sometimes i make a bad play.. say something stupid.. or just pass off a bad table image.