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sitting out when you're way ahead (bankroll management question)

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  1. #1

    Default sitting out when you're way ahead (bankroll management question)

    I've read up on a lot of the fundamentals of bankroll management, but never really understood one part of it that pertains to stopping a session or leaving a table when you're way ahead.

    In Chris Ferguson's challenge, he suggests leaving the table of a cash game session if the money on the table represents more than 10% of your total bankroll. I've also noticed that some of the stop-loss software out there have features that alerts you to stop when you win a certain # of bb's in one session.

    The only time this makes sense to me is if there are other people at the table who are also very deeply stacked -- because then you could risk losing it all in one hand. But otherwise as long as you're actually playing well (& not just on a lucky streak), why not keep going?
  2. #2
    You are right. Relative stacks are all that matter.
  3. #3
    Shotglass's Avatar
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    IMO keep playing as long as the game is good.

    Quote Originally Posted by givememyleg View Post
    i'll never understand how anyone can go through life being sober.
  4. #4
    rpm's Avatar
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    yeah i've never seen playing well/winning/feeling good as a valid reason to stop a session.
  5. #5
    The only time I leave a seat is if some decent player to my left has me covered. At the micros, if the table is good I never leave. Nobody on this forum should have any problems playing deep vs anyone at the micro stakes. You just need to know what to not do.
  6. #6
    rpm's Avatar
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    ^^ true. deep-stacked OOP vs an opponent who you think is better than you is just asking for a headache as they will always have the positional/skill advantage, which is like always having the nuts. but that's to do with the table seating/effective stacks. not what % of your bankroll is on the table. assuming you are adequately rolled, you want to be playing the absolute deepest stacks you can while still having an edge. (and obviously, deep against a very good opponent is not one of them)
  7. #7
    ^ that said, they don't have to be better when they have position. When playing deep, position is kind of the trump card that gives them more skill than they would normally have, so even a fish can kick our ass if we make mistakes.
  8. #8
    rpm's Avatar
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    ^ agreed. position is the nuts.
  9. #9
    The only time you should ever leave a game you are winning in is if you start to feel uncomfortable for whatever reason. Whether it's because you suddenly have half your roll on the table (at risk or not), a better player has position on you, or you are losing focus. I mean if you are perfectly comfortable with your game and don't have a problem sitting at 100NL $1000 dollars deep with a fish then do that. If you are $10 deep at 2NL against a reg and don't want to lose that then stand up.

    Any time you are playing not to lose you are going to make mistakes.
    [00:29] <daven> dc, why not check turn behind
    [00:30] <DC> daven
    [00:30] <DC> on my hand?
    [00:30] <daven> yep
    [00:30] <DC> because I am drunk
    [00:30] <daven> nice reason
    [00:30] <daven> no further questions
    [00:30] <yaawn> ^^Lol

    Problem officer...?
  10. #10
    In Chris Ferguson's challenge, he suggests leaving the table of a cash game session if the money on the table represents more than 10% of your total bankroll.
    I'm sure if he was asked he'd clarify that people at the table have you covered. It is hard to make correct decisions for 20% of your roll, or even to know what a correct decision looks like. As your total BR increases your can play larger games, which assuming a similar win rate makes you more money. So by passing on risky +EV plays you might increase your total expected win since you can for sure play in the larger games, whereas you might only have the roll to play those big games if those +EV plays work out in the short run.
  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by drmcboy View Post
    I'm sure if he was asked he'd clarify that people at the table have you covered. It is hard to make correct decisions for 20% of your roll, or even to know what a correct decision looks like. As your total BR increases your can play larger games, which assuming a similar win rate makes you more money. So by passing on risky +EV plays you might increase your total expected win since you can for sure play in the larger games, whereas you might only have the roll to play those big games if those +EV plays work out in the short run.
    Ah, that makes perfect sense. Thanks dr!

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