When do you stop playing for the day?

[GainerRakeback]

My question is out of curiosity, that is, when do you decide to stop playing cash games for the day? (Levels played vary, so just move the decimal point to match your game. Poker is also just recreational for me. I have a day job, but I like to win like everyone else). I play tourneys too but that's a different discussion.

I played two tables at UB a while back and went up $60 total fast. I thought about stopping but didn't and ended up losing about $100. I was p*ssed at myself for not stopping. The next time, playing 2 tables, I went up about $30 total and stopped. I did the same thing today - played two tables, made $30 and stopped. I like stopping while ahead, even if not much, since I'm in a better mood. I see some players at tables for hours and hours. I don't know how they do because some players constantly re-buy to max out at all times. I would be very happy to win $30 / day.

What do you do? Goal for day to win, or stop-loss to lose, or no particular goals? Do you just keep playing until you're exhausted?

[powrdragn]

Some people, and you may be one of them, play looser and get overconfident just because they are head on their cash. You have to learn your play style and stick to it, regardless of how much money is in front of you.

I see nothing wrong with setting a goal and then taking a break. Many poker books will gripe at you for setting a "stop-win" condition, but if it's how you stay profitable and works for you, go for it.

Personally, I set a goal sometimes like reaching so many FT points. Other times I set a timer on myself. If I go over two hours, I'm hopping off for a few minutes, even if the game is good, so I don't lose focus.

I normally play 4-6 tables.

[XDRAGON]

The system i use is if i feel im playing well (regardless of if im winning or loseing) and im in a profitable game, not tired or on tilt in any way and im making good decisions, reads etc i will keep playing. As soon as any of these factor's change i will stop playing. If i feel i am no longer able to make good decisions and i may start making mistakes i'll stop. If i feel the game is no longer profitable, say if there's no weak players at the table, i will leave the table and try to find one that that is better. Here's a good poker saying:

"You lost all your profit and your original buy in? Why didn't you leave the game when you were $2,000 up instead of carrying on?" This is a stupid question becuase nobody ever ask's you that after you've won $10,000.

Players tend to leave profitable games because their up and stay in unprofitable games because their down, which is the opposite of what you should be doing.

[Vito_Nuccio]

Unless I have to go somewhere or guests coming over I play until I feel I am done. There is no set time frame and usually has nothing to do with how I am doing. Since I am playing well within my bankroll one great or terrible session does not determine anything, I stop playing when I want to quit (of course after getting as many free hands as possible before I am BB again).

XDragon made a very good point about leaving profitable games, if you are winning, try another rotation or two, one more time around should not kill a good session. If you are losing, try another table or take a small break.

PowDragn also made a good point about playing when ahead. Remember those chips are yours not freebies or others. When ahead, play the same style that got you there in the first place.

If playing within your means the time to stop is solely up to you, there should be no pressure to continue or stop, do what you feel is right. I would not play until completely drained, not good for focus or attitude.

Thanks,

[liladypokerpro]

I stop playing when it is deemed appropriate...that is, for any number of reasons...I could just not be feeling up to it, or the cards may be running bad, or conversely, they could be running very good, but if I get tired, I stop. Anything that happens that could be a distraction is reason enough to stop for the day.

[villakoira]

Well, I normally tend to have a brake every hour or so for 5mins. Doesn't matter i I'm up or down. And I simply call it a day when I've played too long - that is when I start making mistakes

[powrdragn]

Something to think about to is that breaks are good for your body.

You should definitely good up to stretch your legs. Positive blood flow can help relax your body and help you think clearer.

Also stretching your arm muscles can be good as well. It helps prevent carpal tunnel.

And don't forget that your eyes need rest to.

Use your breaks to grab a glass of water or something and you might be able to play comfortably longer and extend your session time overall.

[iceveins0901]

There will be times that I have played for an hour or two, and realized that the very loose table that I started out at became a table full of tight aggressive sharks all looking for the same fish dinner. I will play for a bit longer, to maybe one or two more rounds, and then usually get off.

[ungarstu132]

hehe, i wish i could tell myself to "stop" i just love the game so much...sometimes the game doesnt love me back, but it evens out

[allthatremains]

I have accounts on 4 sites. I usually play a tourney along with a couple cash games on the side at the same time. I first find the tourney that suits my style best( buy-in amount, # of players, expected length, payout structure, blind inrease levels, ironman freeroll, etc.)

Then I play the cash games on whatever site I am trying to clear bonuses or reach a status for the month. Ideally the tourney and cash games are on the same site at the same time, but this doesn't always happen.

I take the 5 minute break on the cash games and tourney at the first hour. After the first hour(assuming I am still in the tourney) I will only play the first 1/2 of each hour on the cash tables and "relax" by only playing the tourney in the second half of each hour. I restart a couple of cash games after each 5 minute break in the tourney but only play them for the first 1/2 hour.

This seems to keep me fresh.

[Brooklynbum]

It really depends.

I usually play 250 hands per table and then I'll stop and see where I'm at. If the tables I'm playing at are profitable I'll continue to play, if the tables aren't then I'll stop.

If I lose a buy-in then I'll stop playing at that table.

If I ever lose 2 buy-ins then I'll stop (luckily that hasn't happened yet...crossing my fingers).

There are times when I can play for hours though and other times I just play for a bit then leave.

If I play a MTT then I'll devote all my energies and time into that.

I don't know this kind of works for me.

[DEXTER08]

I play untill ive reached my target for the day, im playing 0.50 - 1 cash, and if i reach 60 dollars thats me done and will come back the next day. Ive played on so many times when ive been above 60 dollars and lost it with a big hand, and then im only around even or even losing.

[GainerRakeback]

Dexter,
Those are my thoughts too. I play NLHE and PLHE .50-1.00 and .25-.50 (but pots can fequently get up to $100). If I start at 2 tables with about $90-$100 and I make $30-50, it's a good ROI and I stop. And if you stay too long, you may just give it back. It may be a conservative approach, but it all depends what you want out of playing... .

[BUILDMO]

I will discontinue play at a cash game after I double up.
I will then proceed to a different table with half the winnings.

Press the bet, you are playing with OP MONEY.

[Wyte22]

I never stop playing, I play poker in my sleep. I had a dream about hitting quads last night during a HUSnG and my villian moves in on me and guess what

Full Tilt Poker Game #7626670760: $33 + $1.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (58017901), Table 1 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:05:30 ET - 2008/08/13
Seat 1: burgh29 (1,880)
Seat 2: Wyteman (1,120)
Wyteman posts the small blind of 25
burgh29 posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyteman [9c 9d]
Wyteman raises to 150
burgh29 calls 100
*** FLOP *** [9h 9s 4s]
burgh29 checks
Wyteman bets 300
burgh29 raises to 1,730, and is all in
Wyteman calls 670, and is all in
burgh29 shows [5c Jc]
Wyteman shows [9c 9d]
Uncalled bet of 760 returned to burgh29
*** TURN *** [9h 9s 4s] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [9h 9s 4s 8s] [Kd]
burgh29 shows a pair of Nines
Wyteman shows four of a kind, Nines
Wyteman wins the pot (2,240) with four of a kind, Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,240 | Rake 0
Board: [9h 9s 4s 8s Kd]
Seat 1: burgh29 (big blind) showed [5c Jc] and lost with a pair of Nines
Seat 2: Wyteman (small blind) showed [9c 9d] and won (2,240) with four of a kind, Nines

[liladypokerpro]

Hey Wyte, maybe you should have a dream about winning a bracelet if they come true like that one did

[frob23]

I can sympathize with Wyte. Hell, today was the first day of work for me and I have been having trouble sleeping (you've all seen the 2:30am posts)... so last night I took a couple sleeping pills. I was sitting around, waiting for them to work... so I decided to pop online and play some $5NL until they kicked in.

They kicked in a little slower than I thought (about 45 minutes) but for at least 30 minutes I felt myself zoning in and out. And I think I closed the program just in time. Ten minutes later and I would have been playing in my sleep. I think I was probably playing terribly but it's $5NL so I did make a profit. That makes me sad... that I can be completely out of it and turn a profit.

[liladypokerpro]

I know what you mean frob....I was out of work for a whole week 2 weeks ago with my shoulder injury, and ever since my sleep schedule has been all screwed up. Used to, I'd go to bed around 3 or 4am......now, as you see, it's almost 7am and I'm still wide awake. *ugh* I'll be glad when I can get back in the habit of sleeping again......sleep is such a good thing......

[Wyte22]

Hey Wyte, maybe you should have a dream about winning a bracelet if they come true like that one did

I am working on that dream But first I gotta have the dream of winning a seat to event that offers a bracelet!!!!

[LyndaNova]

Sweet win with the quad 9s, Wyte!
Did you laugh out loud as the villain pushed, after you bet on the flop?
What a terrible move on his part!

Keep on dreamin' -and- winnin'!