by Mario Alfonsi | Published on Aug 5, 2020 | Updated on Aug 5, 2020
In poker, it is never wise to continue to stay at the table when you know it no longer benefits you. The best option is to leave the table and take a break. It does not necessarily mean you lack the strength or skill to carry on. It simply indicates that you’re brave enough to know when to stop.
The live poker scene is slowly reopening after being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since June, a number of poker rooms around the world have begun accepting customers, giving players a glimmer of hope that things could eventually get back to normal.
The excitement to return to the live felts is understandable, but overindulgence is a different story. As a player, you need to carefully assess whether staying in a game will still be beneficial for you. But self-awareness and self-control are difficult to observe especially if we enjoy and love what we’re doing.
3 Tips To Take Into Consideration Before Playing Poker
So how would you know if it’s time to leave the poker table? Consider setting limits. You can do this in three ways, as explained below:
- Limit Your Losses
- Limit Your Play Duration
- Limit Your Wins
When you set a certain loss limit, you’ll know just how much you can afford to lose, and this depends of course on your bankroll level and the stakes you’re playing.
For example, if you’re competing in $1/3 NLH, you might want to limit your loss to a maximum of $1,000 – that’s equivalent to two $500 buy-ins. If that amount is reached, then it’s time to stop. When you play within that limit, you can prevent yourself from chasing losses, which is a very dangerous practice.
You may also place a limit on how long you’re going to play. For example, you may set a five-hour limit – if your play reaches five hours, then you step away from the table regardless of the level of your performance.
By doing this, you can make sure you don’t get too exhausted, and you also avoid being caught in a downward spiral as a result of staying too long.
When you place a win limit, you set a particular goal in terms of the amount of money that you must win. For instance, if your aim is to collect $1,000 in winnings, you immediately exit the game the moment you hit that amount, despite how you’re doing. This method makes sure you keep your profits and prevents you from losing them back.
While placing limits isn’t something most of the highly-experienced and skilled pros do, the practice is actually beneficial for amateurs and beginners who are just starting to build their bankroll. In the real world, it’s so easy to get lost in the moment and lose track of our goals. Setting certain limits at least initially is an important first step towards a successful poker career.
If you want to hone your skills and play for fun why not try some of our selection of poker sites which offer some great bonuses as well as opportunities to practise before you play for real.
