Quitting Poker Sessions
One problem that many beginning poker players run into is when to get away from a game. Some players do not know when to get away from a game and wind up losing more money than they should. Other players leave too early and end up losing potential profit. Finding a good medium ground will help you to maximize profits and minimize losses.
First, never stay in a game if you are in a bad game. A bad game is defined by a couple of criteria. If you are in a game where you are one of the more inexperienced players, the game is bad. If you are in a game where the players are all rocks and you have to work exceptionally hard to make money, you are in a bad game. Bad games are a waste of time. Find a better game.
If you reach you stop-loss for the session or the day, it is time to leave. It does not matter what type of game you are in, if you are at your stop-loss. Go home. A typical stop loss is 30 big bets in a limit game. It is unlikely you will make that back once you reach that point. Leave and try again another day.
Another time to get out of a game is when you are losing focus or getting tired. We have all heard the stories of players playing 32 hour sessions or playing for a week at a time without rest. There are a few rare players that can do this, but not many. When you are tired or when you are losing focus, leave. You will just bleed off money or make poor decisions that can cost you your winnings.
If you have any other serious needs that need to be met, step away from the game. Whether it is food, medicine, or even sex, if you have a need that has to be met, step away from the game and come back later. When you are hungry, you will not make the best decisions because your body is running low on food. If you are on medication and skip your doses, this can affect your health and can cause any number of problems depending on your condition. Some of you may have laughed about needing to satisfy a sexual need, but there are times where some guys will let their hormones distract them from being able to play effectively. Sometimes the only way to get back their focus is to satisfy that sexual need. Even Barry Greenstein said in his book that a sexual partner can help a player play better because they are more relaxed and focused.
Many players do not know when to stop. They have a sink or swim mentality. As a result they go broke unless they hit a very fortunate lucky streak. Knowing when to step away from the table will help you maximize your winnings and keep your bankroll from getting in danger of ruin.