Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

Even though the 5/10 SH games have been getting tougher recently, my run of good cards has compensated -- 6k hands this month, 5BB/100. (I'm normally a 2.5BB/100 player.) Pretty damn sure that the bump has little to do with skill.

But I know that that -100BB swing is comin' . . . and so I find myself logging off quickly after any relatively short session (100 to 200 hands) in which I post a good profit. Just to make sure I'm Keeping Ahead, so to speak. Anyone else doing this (quite lame) move? The whole "want to end on a high note" problem seems even worse than usual -- I know this run can't keep up, and the more hands I play, the sooner it will end . . . blah blah blah.

This is where you tell me I'm retarded. Queue the music . . .

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running g
 

I do this, but in the exact opposite situation. If I've been running bad for a while and suddenly hit a hot streak of cards (or a good table), and score some big wins, I'll often quit a session early for the psychological advantage of "booking" a winning session. Probably makes no difference in the former case and probably technically -EV in the latter, but I think the psychological benefits of feeling like a "winner" are often beneficial enough to make it worthwhile (for me, anyway).

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

The reason why the "hit and run" technique is a loser is because you are limiting your winnings. There is no reason to think that you wouldn't continue to win 2.5BB/100 for the next 200 hands.

But, in the grand scheme of things, the only thing that matters is how many hands you play. And confidence is good. So any statistical argument somebody could make to convince you to stop could be countered by the argument that it's helping you play well... and either way you're going to play hundreds of thousands of hands of poker.

The only real problem occurs when you consciously decide to play until you either win 10BB or lose 100BB. It doesn't sound like you're doing that.

Enjoy the run.

"I love winnin', man... it's like... better than losin'"

-Meat, from Bull Durham


Irieguy

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

"*Queue* the music"?

I *am* retarded . . .

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

Yeah, I'm retarded, too.

I've been playing online sporadically over the last couple of months, and most of that time, have been on a losing streak.

Last night, I hit a monster and raked a 40BB pot. Heck, I was so delighted to be in the black for a session, that I quit soon after.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running g
 

Mike Caro has an excellent article on his website www.poker1.com, under the articles section under the MCU of Poker tab near the top entitled "How Poker Players Suffer Big Losses By "Reverse Manufacturing"".
It describes why what you are doing will be detrimental to your bankroll.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running g
 

[ QUOTE ]
Mike Caro has an excellent article on his website www.poker1.com, under the articles section under the MCU of Poker tab near the top entitled "How Poker Players Suffer Big Losses By "Reverse Manufacturing"".
It describes why what you are doing will be detrimental to your bankroll.

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely fantastic article. That's me. That's SO me. Holy crap . . .

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

This is a very bad habit to get into because you will start shorting yourself on the total hours played. Inevitably, when you do hit your downswing, it will take you longer to dig out of it.

Focus on playing every hand in every session to the best of your ability. Don't worry about individual session wins and losses.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

If you read what any 2+2 book has to say about money management, you'll see why what you're doing is silly. If you are a winning player, put in your hours. End of story.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

Oh, I put in tons of hours . . . when I'm down and need to catch up [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]. I probably play better when I'm down, too, as odd as that is.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

I don't think you should worry about it. You'll play the best you can and the cards will either help or not. You have to think about why you're playing: for the challenge, the fun, etc. Personally I think it's a much better feeling to stop a session when you're ahead to the point where you feel "good" about it and don't particularly want to go back down again in that session. It's bad to keep playing to try and make back what you've lost in a session too in my opinion, because you rarely do (or so it seems). Stop when you *want* to stop, and if that's because you're worried about losing, then that's okay - as long as you played long enough to get enjoyment and don't want to play any more right then.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

I'm definitely guilty of this. I just hate giving it back.

Although, for once tonight I feel I'm justified. I'm on a flight for Vegas in 17 hours. Loaded up Party for some final online action before tomorrow. 17 hands, +34BB. Put a smile on my face before retiring for the night and flying out tomorrow. A little bit of good karma, if you will (or bad, if you think that I used up all my good cards and nut straights in those 17 hands [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

I don't think anyone denies that it's silly.
But psychologically it is still relevant.


I do think to a certain extent...but usually in combination with something else (like getting kinda tired anyway so might as well quit).

Today, for example, I got up a quick 60 BB's in a couple of hours. Since I had slowly bled-away 60 BB's the previous couple of days I played I was thrilled to 'get it back'.
Since I'm fighting a cold and I was getting groggy really fast I said "This is a good time to quit anyway....so I might as well."
So...it was a situation where I should have quit anyway because I was tired. But I used the fact that I had gotten my 60BB's back as well.

also....after resting I am now back at the tables continuing to grind away and it's only a few hours later.
I think this is much better than quitting for the day or the whole week. Just taking a break and letting yourself enjoy being up....but not preventing yourself from returning to the tables later on.


I think that 'locking a winning session' like this on an infrequent basis is okay.
Just don't make a regular habit out of it and it won't be costing you too terribly much.

I'll check out Caro's article now.

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running good?
 

Pyschologically it does wonders.

I could lose 3 sessions in a row for 50 BB each in a live game. On my forth session I could just win something like 3 BB and feel great. Overall I am still down, but my confidence is up again and that's what matters to me at that point.

Lawrence

Re: Wussy Short Sessions -- anyone else do this when they\'re running g
 

the term is "nit".