Leaving the table

[gobbledygeek]

When I decide that I've had enough I usually play all the free hands I can before leaving (i.e. my last hand is the one where the big blind is to the right of me).

1) Is it considered poor etiquette to leave a game just before you are to pay the big blind?

2) Is playing the last round of "free" hands a good idea? I sometimes find I might not be in the best frame of mind on these last hands, perhaps too timid with not wanting to take a loss on the last hand of the night.

How/when do you leave the table?

[zinn0]

I always play to the BB. I think most players do this, and I see nothing wrong with it.

[tame_deuces]

Same here, I always play my last free hands and see nothing wrong with that.

[supafrey]

yeah nobody is going to call you on that. It's only reasonable. When you sit in out of position, they make you post a BB, right? Consider that as your penalty for leaving out of the blinds =)

As to your other point... If you realize you're doing it, stop.

Although, quite honestly, playing the last ring uber tight doesn't really cost you anything, and could save you from a last "oh it's my final hand i may as well play it" attack.

[Sean_in_NJ]

1) Is it considered poor etiquette to leave a game just before you are to pay the big blind?

+1 with the others.

2) Is playing the last round of "free" hands a good idea? I sometimes find I might not be in the best frame of mind on these last hands, perhaps too timid with not wanting to take a loss on the last hand of the night.

You're supposed to think of all your poker sessions as "one long session" but I still find myself cringing when I get AKo UTG at the end of a +4BB session. It happened to me last night too...QQ UTG+1, I lose to A2 in the BB. +12.5BB session turns into a +9BB session, and I don't feel good about it.

[Muck]

Yes I always leave UTG (I even started a thread about this etiquette issue too ).

Although, quite honestly, playing the last ring uber tight doesn't really cost you anything, and could save you from a last "oh it's my final hand i may as well play it" attack.

I think I play my final orbit too tight. I’m almost operating on the attitude “Well I’m not going to leave before the BB, suppose I get AAâ€

[Boneshocka]

I always play my last free hands and see nothing wrong with that

[jimmer]

my priororty=money!

i'm going to give myself every chance of making the most i can, for as cheap as poss.

hell yeah, this isn't just ok. it's a must!

[Soup_dog]

In the world of online poker, there is nothing to prevent you from playing ONE hand, doubling up, and then leaving. In fact, most players wont even notice. Thats one of the advantages of online poker.

B&M is a different story though.

[EasyDeal]

I never give much notice if players leave before or after their BB. I personally leave when I feel its time regardless of my gun position. When playing online , players often leave a table due to failure of their network, so you will see players leaving at all times, not just those dictated by ettiquette.

[HalfSugar]

In the world of online poker, there is nothing to prevent you from playing ONE hand, doubling up, and then leaving.

I'd do this at a NL cash table if not in my local haunt

[xhi]

Personally I like to play all the hands I paid for like with anything else. So if I'm dropping out I will do it just before I have to pay for the next set of hands. Same idea another way of looking at it.

Nothing about poker is free, lol.

[TxShadow]

Generally, if I'm having a good session, I'll leave regardless of where I'm at position-wise.

I, like many people, get a little timid when I know it's my last round. So if I'm up anyway, I just get the heck out of there. Four things can possibly happen from waiting around:

I'm going to lose a lot of money.
I'm going to lose a little money.
I'm going to win a little more money (at the risk of the previous 2).
I'm going to win a lot more money.

3 out of 4 of those things don't appeal to me a whole lot when I've had a winning session.

[TxShadow]

Ok, I left out:

I'm going to break even.

4 out of 5 of those things don't appeal to me a whole lot when I've had a winning session.

[martini]

Personally I like to play all the hands I paid for like with anything else.

Exactly. When you sit at the table, you either pay the bb to join in or wait 'til the bb gets to you. By leaving after paying the bb, you forfeited seeing all of those so called "free" hands you already paid for.