So, when exactly should you leave the poker table? This is one of the hardest things for most poker players to understand. But it’s usually when you find yourself making a lot of bad decisions in a short time span or possibly running bad on that given day and not accepting that there is always tomorrow. Sometimes you can’t chase yourself out of variance on any given day.
The Poker Session That Made Me Ask This Question
I was playing mainly pot limit Omaha for a few hours on Ignition Poker and I was having a solid day overall. I’d played a little over 1000 hands on the day and was up almost $2000 in profit playing PLO 500. So, it’s fair to say I was running well.
The issue was that I was starting to become a little over confident combined with the fact I had already been playing a little over 5 hours. And that’s when it dawned on me. I was dealt a marginal hand for PLO with it only being a 108 suited combo with a J7 off suit. This is not the ideal hand you would expect to do well playing 6 max PLO. What happened next was kind of crazy.
I Called a $500 All in With Garbage
Since I was up a lot on the day I made the terrible decision to call a $500 all in with a very bad hand. I would say the reason I did this was that I was starting to get a little bit tired and I just figured because I had been running so good why not. Which was honestly really stupid. I ended up taking a loss in this session which dropped my profit to a little less than $1500 on the day. The result on the day was still good, but to me this was the biggest sign to leave the poker table and just call it quits.
Signs It’s Time to Leave the Poker Table
There are different signs, it’s time to leave the poker table. Some of the common ones is tilt, and in my case, it was winners tilt which is a thing. Another thing is that when you find yourself making bad decisions repeatedly, that is usually a sign of fatigue and then coming to grips with that maybe you should take a breather and come back to the game later.
Which is another thing. Sometimes when you play poker mentally or physically tired its not the best use of your time. I’ve had to learn to take days off because if you play for too long without giving yourself a break that’s usually when you start to play bad or worse burnout.
Should You Leave a Poker Table When You’re Losing?
I don’t think you should automatically leave a poker table just because you’re losing. I’ve had plenty of sessions where I was down two or three buy-ins early and still ended up having a profitable night. Losing money doesn’t necessarily mean you’re playing badly. Sometimes you’re simply running bad, losing flips, or getting coolered.
The bigger question I ask myself is whether I’m still playing the same way I was when I sat down. If I’m still making good decisions and the table is soft, I usually don’t have a problem continuing to play. The problem starts when I notice myself chasing losses. Maybe I’m calling too light, forcing bluffs, playing bigger pots, or constantly checking how much I need to win to get back to even.
That’s usually when things can get ugly. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made over the years is staying at a table because I wanted to get back to even. Being down $500 can quickly turn into being down $1,500 when you stop thinking about individual decisions and start thinking about your overall loss.
How Long Should a Poker Session Last?
There really isn’t a perfect amount of time a poker session should last. I’ve had sessions where I felt completely focused after six hours and others where I could tell my decision-making was getting worse after only two or three. For me, the bigger factor is how well I’m playing, not how long I’ve been sitting at the table.
That said, I think longer sessions become dangerous because it’s easy to underestimate how tired you are. You might still feel fine, but suddenly you’re making loose calls, missing obvious spots, or playing hands you probably would have folded earlier.
I’ve found that taking a short break every couple of hours helps. Even getting away from the table for 10 or 15 minutes can clear your head. I also don’t like setting a goal that I have to play a certain number of hours. If the game is good and I’m playing well, I’ll keep going. If I’m tired, tilted, or the table has gotten significantly tougher, there’s no reason to force it. A four-hour profitable session is better than turning it into an eight-hour losing session because you didn’t know when to stop.
Final Thoughts
I would say it was clear that I needed to step away from the poker table after calling off with a measly 108 suited combo preflop. That is about as dumb of a thing to do playing PLO that you will see. I was easily dominated by bigger pairs like AA or KK preflop with a lot of other suited diamond hands that could have easily dominated what I was holding.
But even after losing this pot I was able to ask myself one question. Maybe I should call it quits for the day. And you know what? That’s exactly what I did. I think in these moments if you can catch yourself, it can save you a lot of money down the road and just make you a better, more capable player. It’s the little things other players aren’t willing to do that make the difference long term. And that’s how you need to start thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you stop playing poker for the day?
I usually stop when I notice my decision-making getting worse. Being tired, frustrated, distracted, or tilted are much better reasons to quit than simply being down money. If I’m still focused and the game is good, I’m comfortable continuing.
Should you quit poker after losing 3 buy-ins?
Three buy-ins can be a useful stop-loss, but it doesn’t have to be a hard rule. If losing three buy-ins causes you to chase losses or play differently, leaving is probably a good idea. Variance alone, however, doesn’t mean you’re playing badly.
Should you leave a poker table after a big win?
Not necessarily. If the table is soft and you’re still playing well, I don’t see a reason to immediately leave after winning a big pot. The important thing is not becoming overly confident or protecting your winnings so much that it changes your decisions.
How do you know when you’re tilted in poker?
For me, the biggest warning sign is playing hands differently because of previous results. Calling too much, forcing bluffs, increasing aggression for no reason, or constantly thinking about getting back to even are all signs I need a break.
Is it bad to play poker for too long?
It can be. Once fatigue starts affecting your decisions, any advantage you had at the table can disappear quickly. Quality of play matters more than the total number of hours you play.
Edward Pao is an online poker and casino affiliate marketer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has referred over 30,000 players to major poker platforms and specializes in reviewing the best online poker sites and casino bonuses.