Something I have been thinking about

[El Tigre]

i think you should stay as long as you feel you can play your best. an example of this is tonight, i was down 110BB in the 3 tables i was playing in 1 hour!!!! i felt i was playing well though and wasn;t going to tilt. I finished the night up 2 BB. Stick with it at a good table!!!

[ZootMurph]

[ QUOTE ]
This may be better suited to the psych forum, but you guys are better poker players than the regulars there, and I consider this more of a strategy related poker issue than an emotional one.

First off I am not in a downswing. I am in a Upswing that has featured a extended series of -80BB, +90BB,-40BB, 60BB...etc sessions. I play about 6000 hands a week and play 6 out of seven days.

Now for my question. You are at a good table, maybe even a great table. One you are happy to find and ordinarily not consider leaving. You end up getting run down a few times after buying in for 30BB, you go down 20BB, rebuy for 10 more... and nothing seems to click.

What I am considering doing is instead of solidering on at this good table, I am considering leaving, shortly after the first rebuy.

The reason is, most of my off nights have featured, getting my ass handed to be for -30BB to -50BB on a single table. I really can only remember a couple times when I have come storming back and taken my vengence on the asstards who thumped me in the first place.

I mean is table image at an otherwise good table important enough by itself to make you leave?

[/ QUOTE ]

When I'm in this situation, I often think of the debate about whether rushes are real or not. My belief is that rushes are real, and if I'm at a table where my luck seems to be bad, no matter how good the table is, I leave and move to another. I usually play four tables, and I'm happy to leave a table that is running me down. I used to stay at these tables as well, and found that I would lose more or not gain any back about 80% of the time. That number is big enough to convince me that rushes, and the reverse, are real and I'm more convinced than ever to get away from those situations when possible. Finally, since I've made it my M.O. to leave 'bad luck' tables, my BB/100 is up 0.4 (from 1.5 BB/100 over ~120k hands to 1.9 BB/100 over ~80k hands). Of course, this improvement COULD be from my game improving as well...

Now, as far as leaving a table for other reasons, there are three things I look at when deciding (other than the usual emotional/physical reasons like being tired, on tilt, etc.):

1) How I am playing at the table - I have found that for some reason I occasionally play very poorly at a table while I'm playing well at the other three, and I can't come up with an explanation.
2) The strength of the opposition. If I find a table is really tough or tight, I will get off the table.
3) As already mentioned, the luck or rush factor. If I'm on a bad run at a table, I will definitely leave.

As for table image, I don't think that has anything to do with me leaving a table. As I think everyone here does, we try to adjust our play to utilize our table image most effectively. So, whatever image you have to others, you can use that to your advantage. The 'hard luck' guy is just another table image to utilize where possible.

[jskills]

I wish I would have read this yesterday. It could have helped me leave this massive fishpond badbeat jackpot table where I managed to drop two buy-ins.

Table image does count ...

[badbill7]

Wish i could have an original thought once but since i still need my diaper changed when it comes to poker i agree that the texture of a table is more important than the image. At least in small stakes i think the scenario you put out of blood in the water gives too much credit to the table. To have whole or even half table catch on to something you are doing would be a small miracle and if you cant make up for it with your own play(not counting a horri ble time with getting bad cards)given time with same people at table you should make back money with good play. However if you dont have the confidence to stay at table probably better to leave just for psyche sake.

[flair1239]

[ QUOTE ]
Wish i could have an original thought once but since i still need my diaper changed when it comes to poker i agree that the texture of a table is more important than the image. At least in small stakes i think the scenario you put out of blood in the water gives too much credit to the table. To have whole or even half table catch on to something you are doing would be a small miracle and if you cant make up for it with your own play(not counting a horri ble time with getting bad cards)given time with same people at table you should make back money with good play. However if you dont have the confidence to stay at table probably better to leave just for psyche sake.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good thoughts.

And at levels from .02/.04 up through 2/4. I agree.

However starting at 3/6 and proceeding up through 10/20; I think your average opponent does become more observant, and stuff like this matters more and more.

But the main point of your post I agree with in general. I just think, that this does matter to a higher degree the higher the level.

[MyTurn2Raise]

I always buy-in for more than suggested...2-3X. There is so much turnover and the typical person not paying attention that only the few TAGs notice, whom probably pegged me already. In this way, the idiots don't feel free to take shots at me just because I'm losing.

Obviously, there are still times when it goes bad and you cannot hide the over buy-in live. In those cases, I adjust my game to match the image I have in order to take advnatage of it. If I'm winning alot, I steal and semi-bluff much more often. If I'm losing, I show that resigned to my fate face as I bet holding the nuts. Little things help.

[badbill7]

thks for the reply flair havent played enough 3 6 and up to know any better

[flair1239]

[ QUOTE ]
thks for the reply flair havent played enough 3 6 and up to know any better

[/ QUOTE ]

I would say that even at 3/6, 5/10, and 10/20; what you said is the best way to look at it the majority of the time.

However I think there will be more and more cases the higher you go, where you EV is effected enough where moving becomes a strong option. The problem is learning to identify those cases (Which may or may not be worth the effort...I don't know [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img])

This is just my rule, but it works for me!

No matter what ring game I'm playing I buy in for 40BB.

If I hit 80BB or fall to 20BB I walk! I NEVER RE-BUY!

I know there are going to be folks in here say that if you are on a great table and hit 80BB why walk away?

I just know it works! Even if you just take a bathroom break and get a drink and come back to the same table 15 minutes later and buy in for 40BB.

In the long run you will make money by following this rule, IMO.