Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Written by Nigel

I bet that this question has been asked countless times in countless different situations.  Yet have you ever found yourself asking this question while at the poker table?  If you haven’t, it could both be a good thing and a bad thing.  You may not have had to ask this question as you always know when to leave the table.  On the other hand, you may not have had to ask this question because you never know when to leave.

Ask different people about their take on this topic and the chances are that you will get all sorts of answers.  One common strategy that many people use is to leave while you are ahead.  It is a good thing actually, very sensible.   No one is 100% tilt proof. If your emotions get the best of you at some point in the night, then you are dead.  So while you are still level headed, get out of there.

Others will tell you to decide based on your streak and your opponents.  If you are playing with obviously weak players, then stay and win more money – that is their rationale.

I do not really have anything against these lines of thinking.  They do make sense, no one can argue with that.  My take on this, though, is that one is always better off playing by the hour and not by the result.  What I mean is simple.  Set a time limit as to how long you will be playing for the night.  Once that is up, get up and leave.  What do you think?