In ring table poker games is it better to take your profits as soon as they come or stay on the table?

Question

I've heard that its better to take profits immediately off the table as soon as your get them and by back in a t another table, and repeat but I've also heard that its better to stay on the table and try to build your stack. Which is the superior method?

Answer 1

Use your own judgment.  I've found that once I build a stack, it becomes hard to maintain after a few hours, whether it be by bad beats, bad card runs, or just fatigue and boredom.  Also, if you develop a reputation of leaving after taking down big pots (online or in brick and mortar card rooms) you'll see a lot less action when you're in hands.  Consider that, as well.

Answer 2

I think you should always buy in for the maximum, so that you are not short stacked.

Let's say you buy in for $200.  There may well be people at the table who have been there for a while.  Perhaps they have $400 or more.  They have the power to put you all in.  Then there are shorter stacks who either bought in for less or have lost their initial buy in.

Rightly or wrongly, when you sit down at a table you are going to make the assumption that the larger stacks are the more dangerous players.  You want people to think this of you, when they sit down.  So if you move every time you make a bunch of money, your stack will not be much bigger than the max buy in for very long.  So you can't utilize that big stack image to intimidate players.

So with that in mind, I say stay at a table as long as it appears to be profitable to do so.  Have the self discipline not to donk away your chips.

But to me the idea of cashing out say $100 of winnings and then sitting down at a new table doesn't make any sense.  You relinquish your nice stack.  You have to re-learn the tendencies of all the players.

So at the end of the day, I say stay for as long as you want.  Just stick to your rules regarding length of stay, maximum you can lose, maximum you should try to win.  Whatever your goals are, keep them in mind.  And if the table is not profitable, don't be afraid to move.

Answer 3

I think it really depends on your skill level relevant to the table.  If you feel it is a profitable table for you (i.e. your skill level is above that of most of the people at the table), it's a good idea to stay there.  If you feel that any winnings were just "lucky" (i.e. your skill level is below that of most of the people at the table), or you are barely making it, leave.

One way to tell is by observing the other players' stacks.  If there is a huge discrepancy between them (say, 4 players have stacks of $20-30, and 3 players have stacks of $100+), and it's been that way the majority of the time, you've probably walked into a shark feeding frenzy.  If, however, the stack sizes fluctuate widely at a loose-aggressive table or the stack sizes are all relatively the same at a passive table, you've probably just discovered a gold mine.

Also, if possible, I often cash out a certain amount from the table and then return, so that, even if something unfortunate were to happen, I at least softened my losses for the day.

Answer 4

Live action, you need to stay until you're done.  Whether it's a home-game or a casino, no one's going to play with you if you're taking chips off the table before you're done playing.

Online is completely different.  I think it depends on two factors.

A little depends on your skill level.  If you think you're one of the better players (or you just feel like you're playing your 'A' game) stay on.  As long as you're at your best, you know it and they know it, and you'll keep winning.

On the other hand, if you've been bleeding chips and you just got lucky on a call you shouldn't have made, or maybe you caught an aggressive player napping and got him pot-committed for a double up .... take the money and run.  Pocket the profits and find a better table or, better still, take a break and come back with a fresh attitude.

A more important factor is your table image/playing style.  If you're an 'any two cards' kinda guy and you're winning, you'll have the whole table eating out of your hand.  You'll have the chipstack to play your game, and they'll be dying to take you down, which is exactly what you want when that's your style.

If you're a tight player, watching and waiting for your kill shot, it's better to be camoflaged.  Once you've taken down a monster hand or two you need to reevaluate your image.  Do they know you're playing premium cards?  If so, play out your free hands, look for a final bluff opportunity, and cash in so you can go find a new hunting range.  Tight players can't make money if everyone knows they're playing tight.

Answer 5

First of all you should never keep moving tables. I never sit right down into any game without first taking a look at the table and who are the weakest players. I never want to play against any good players in cash games, i want to find the weakest table i can find, that gives me the upper hand in the game so i can maxI'mize my profits. Now as far as what you should buy-in for, and as far as when you should pull out of a game is up to you. I myself set a limit on what i will or lose at a table before i sit down, that way i know when i sit down what my limits are for the day. If i buy-in for 300 in a cash game and i double up my buy-in, then im done for the day. The same rings true if i loss my buy-in as well, i never chase the ghost  if i can help it, also if im on a good run i might stay at a table for a while, but for the most part if i double up or loss my buy-in im done, no matter if im at the table for 10 hours or 5 Min's.

Answer 6

It depends on if it's a live game or on-line.  In live games, for the most part the pit boss won't let you switch tables, and if you do you have to transfer all of your chips to the new table.  On-line, it depends on the table.  I don't trust that the people at the tables aren't colluding with each other, so on the rare occasions I play on-line if I get up a set amount, I switch tables and rat hole my profit.

Answer 7

when the going gets good, stay on that bus. hit the exit button when the going gets bad. quite often, good usually leasds to more good and bad to more bad.

Answer 8

This really depends on your skill level and the skill level of the players at your table.

Taking Hold Em' as an example, if you are a tight, passive player who only plays the best starting hands (AA,KK,QQ, etc) then you should probably take your money and run when you hit the big hand.  You only get these premium hands once in a blue moon.  If you are sitting there waiting for them your profit will get blinded away and you will end up losing money.

If you are loose player (any 2 cards and hang on to the river hoping to hit)  you should definitely leave as soon as you make a big pot.  You are bleeding your stack away by playing too many hands.  I played online against a guy who played 98% of the hands (I try to limit my self to 25-28% and less.)  Yeah he hit a few  times for big pots but he would slowly bleed his stack down to nothing and rebuy.  He did this 4 times.  I love playing against this type of player.  I use them as my personal ATM.

However, if you are a good,solid, aggressive player that knows how to calculate your pot odds and outs and you are able to read your opponents accurately, you should stay at the table as long as you are making money.  This especially true at a table of mediocre/bad players (like the 98% guy above.)  Yeah, you may take an occasional hit from that idiot that chases an inside straight to the river but over the long haul you will win that money back from him and take the rest of his money.

So, basically, my rule of thumb is if I am making money at a table of weak players I will stay at that table and take their money in the long run.  The pots are usually big since everyone wants to see the flop and you have a couple of idiots who chase to the river.  If the table is too tough (i.e. a table of good players) I move on to greener pastures since the pots at these tables are usually small compared to a table of weak players.