There are a variety of reasons to play poker. It may be a source of income, an enjoyable method of spending time with friends, a means to keep your mind stimulated and active, or a way to pass leisure time.
However, there are moments when leaving the game makes sense.
Below is a brief overview you should consider in your next poker session.
Loss limit
A loss limit caps the amount you are willing to lose. If you lose that sum, you have to wrap up your session. If you are playing $1/2 No-Limit Hold'em, you may set the maximum buy-ins at $200 each. If you lose $400, you end your session.
The clear benefit of establishing a loss limit is that you are guaranteed to leave the casino without having spent more than the amount you specified. By deciding that you are willing to lose up to $400 and sticking to that threshold, you will avoid a more significant, catastrophic loss by limiting your initial loss.
Tilt
Tilt is one of the most evident reasons you should quit a session. Knowing you are tilting is an essential skill to learn.
Being self-aware and detaching oneself from the circumstance can prevent a single poor beat from multiplying into several losses. Early detection of tilt makes a significant impact. Identifying a scenario that might cause you to lose your cool and removing yourself from the game is better than discovering too late that you are playing poorly.
Strong opponents
You win money in poker by playing against weaker players. However, you may sometimes find yourself surrounded by better players.
Whenever this happens, your instincts may urge you to stick around, fight back against these opponents, and demonstrate your toughness. Do not rely on these impulses. Regardless of your competitive nature, leaving is the wisest course of action.
Your win percentage will always be far higher when you play with recreational players splashing about with poor hands and making plenty of fundamental errors.
So, if your opponents are outstanding, end your session early. It is a perfect moment to do a session evaluation and work on your own game. There is always going to be another game.
Time limit
A time restriction specifies how long you may play. If you set a time limit of four hours, you must leave after four hours, regardless of how well you are doing or how fantastic the game is.
You should also leave if you have grown too tired during your session. This can influence how your brain interprets information, leading you to make decisions that are not well thought out, thus affecting the session's outcomes.
Summary
Knowing when to leave the poker table is not always clear in a cash game. It is crucial to have a strategy in place before your session even begins. Set a time limit or a target number of hands when you start playing.
It would be best if you only strayed from this approach when games are going very well and are profitable.
