Every person who has experienced a gambling session where they risked something of meaningful value has at some point had to consider the question, “Is it time to get up or should I keep playing?” In the game of poker, there is perhaps no greater routine decision that will impact long term results stronger than this choice! It is one that should always be evaluated by a confluence of factors, and in this article we’ll examine what they ought to be.
Here are the questions I consider when deciding whether to continue playing in a cash game:
- Is the game profitable (Is it a “good” game)?
- Am I playing well or poorly?
- What is my image? Do these opponents fear me or am I considered meek?
- Is my mental state calm and collected or frustrated and irritable?
What many people notice first when I list these questions is more often what is absent rather than present. Nowhere on this list will you find included the matter of “whether I am currently ahead or behind in the session.” The reason for that is, contrary to popular belief, being up or down should have absolutely no impact on the decision making of whether to remain in a game.
Poker hands are independent mathematical events. As such, being currently ahead or behind does not offer future predictability of whether hands will go well or not. The only impact it could have is if others perceive one to be playing well and thus have impact on their real-time decision making. Now that perception is factored into what I consider, and though that is often influenced by how I am performing, it is not directly related to my current results.
So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the four factors that ought to determine whether you should continue playing in a cash game or whether you should quit.
Good Games vs. Bad Games
Good poker games are filled with weaker players, and bad poker games are filled with stronger players. The reason for this is that over time it will be much easier to profit from weaker players and more difficult to profit from stronger players.
Every player has at some point been frustrated because they have been in a good game that was filled with reckless and crazy plays by opponents that cost them large pots, and thus may get steered away from good games because of this. While events like that will sometimes happen, it is more a result of the variance that good games can deliver, and these are still far more valuable to participate in than tough games where chips on player’s stacks can collect dust from lack of motion. As such, the more we play in good games, the better our results will be, so the first thing I consider is if the game I’m in is a profitable one and as such will be worth the effort to continue.
Am I Playing Well or Poorly?
This is an important consideration since, even if a game is good, a player who isn’t playing well will be unlikely to capitalize on the circumstances and may be better off not participating in any game at the moment whatsoever. So, first check: Is the game bad? Then it isn’t worth playing. Is the game good, but I’m playing badly? Then it still isn’t worth playing. Is the game good and I’m playing well? If the answers there are objectively “yes,” it would seem wise to remain in the game. The trick here is to objectively evaluate one’s own play and admit that there were hands in which errors were made, or if they had made reasonably prudent decisions every step of the way.
What Is My Table Image?
One’s table image has an impact in the way other opponents approach pots with us. If players think we are tough, they may put us in more profitable positions than normal because of the intimidating image they have of us. On the other hand, if we show steam and tendencies to tilt, they may be more apt to play against us since we are giving off an image that is something they can successfully exploit. Pay attention to the comments people make and who they are keying on, and you will get an idea if they are the fish in the game or if they think that you are.
What Mental State Am I In?
Everyone (yours truly very much included) has gone on tilt in a poker game where things just weren’t going their way. Maybe it was compounded by not getting a seat to the right of a tough opponent, or maybe the floor made a rough decision against them that wasn’t quite fair. Perhaps cards were being unkind when large pots arose. Whatever the case, issues can arise at the table that can rattle us and effect our play sub-optimally. Nobody is immune to this, and with a little honest integrity we can admit to ourselves when we are off and get up from the table when we just aren’t right to play.
Conclusion
By considering these four factors, we can try and optimize our decision making to remain in a poker game or get up and leave. None of these including whether or not we are currently up or down, and none of them should. Having that approach of “Well, am I up or down for the session?” only serves to get us up from good games when things haven’t gone well, and get us out of good games when things have gone well, too! When we are ahead in good games, we should stay. When we are behind in good games, we should stay. When we are ahead or behind in bad games, we should leave. When we are playing poorly in any game, we should leave. Consider these factors when making these decision on the felt, and I am willing to bet that your results improve in tandem.
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