ITH Poker Forum

[omega man]

i have just reviewed my last 15 weeks play and worked out i could have saved more by stopping for the day when i have lost more than $50 in a day to the tune of $450.
This is FR limit of 1/2.
I would not stop when winning though.
Does this if i went ahead with it make some sort of sense,because i get the opinion you play worse when losing and better when winning.
Over 105 days i did not play on 2 days and had 61/42 winning days,
the 13 losing days though came to $1221.25,stop lossing these out at say $59.33 on average saves $450.
Worst losing day $221.25 best winning day $191.25.
Total profit about $675 for 73k hands.
As you can see i could improve my profitability my 66% if i use a stop loss mechanism.
I am wrestle_46 on pokerstars btw.
i am 15/10/2 on my tracker stats TAG type.

[Piemaster]

You're forgetting one important variable. How many times did you start of the session losing, but then the tide turned and you ended up winning? Quite a number of times I would imagine, which would have been money you wouldn't have won with your stop-loss approach.

I am in two minds about stop loss limits. On one hand, if you are still playing your best and are playing at good tables then there is absolutely no reason to stop. On the other hand, if you are the kind of player who tilts when he starts losing or have trouble recognising when you are in a bad game, then it's not the worst idea in the world.

[the_hawk]

25BB stop loss at 1/2? I'm a solid winner at that limit and if I imposed such a limit I'd hardly ever play.

One (not particularly unusual day) not all that long ago - which I recall recounting in IRC - lost 60BB, won it back, lost 40BB, won it back, lost 40BB, won it back and a bit more.

And I don't play a ton.

If losing 25BB in limit poker causes you to go off your game, you have a problem. However, I very much doubt your data "proves" your premise in the way you seem to think it does.

Simply put, be prepared to lose 60BB in a day or more. And get on with it.

[Spankenstein]

This is a question that has always plagued me until reading and accepting the Poker Mindset. If you can objectively analyze your play and come to the conclusion that you are playing correctly, then keep playing. even when you lose, you win in the long run (a tough concept to grasp, read the book). If you are not playing your A game, then quit.
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There is one more consideration: If you are playing your A-game and still losing, maybe your A-game isn't good enough for the table. If this is the case, move tables. If there are so many sharks in the tank that you find yourself fighting over scraps, you are in the wrong tank. Don't make the mistake of staying in a tough game when there are easier ones around. "If you can't spot the sucker within the first half hour...." Set your ego aside and find a game that you can beat.
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Not only should you be analyzing your play, but also the rest of the table. If you are losing to longshots then you are absolutely in the right spot. If you are folding a lot of hands on the turn or river after putting a large amount of money in the pot, maybe you are being outplayed. "It's no good to be the 10th best poker player in the world if the other 9 are at your table".

[Piscivorous]

</span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Spankenstein wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">There is one more consideration: If you are playing your A-game and still losing, maybe your A-game isn't good enough for the table. If this is the case, move tables.</td> </tr></table>
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This is definitely situational. Sometimes you simply have no choice. If you play on a small site, the table selection won't be there. If you play at a big site like PokerStars, Full tilt or Party, once you progress beyond the micro-limits, the tables generally get much harder. Add a bonus chase in there and playing lower simply isn't an option because you cannot earn enough points to release your bonus before the expiration date.
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Back on topic, I think the only reason for a stop loss is if the mounting losses takes you off your A-game and/or tilts you. There is a point when I play when I know I won't make the losses back. To me, however, if I can turn a -100BB loss into a -50BB loss, I feel I have succeeded.

[mchilger]

I agree with PI, stop losses are dependant on the player. If you're a cool cucumber and are playing in a good game, fine to keep playing. If you tend to tilt, then stop losses are absolutely key for you to have any success.
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Remember, there is always tomorrow.
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Matthew

[Jhay]

Yeah gotta agree with the replies it's all about mind set on when to push it and when to pull it <img src="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" />