Do You Ever Change Tables in Cash Games When the Game Gets Tough?

Nesehorn156 · Mar 8, 2026

Something I’ve been thinking about in cash games is table selection. Sometimes a table starts out great with a few loose players, but over time it fills up with tighter or more experienced players.

At that point the game can feel a lot tougher and the edge might disappear. Some players immediately look for a softer table, while others stay and try to adjust their strategy.

What do you usually do in this situation? Do you stay and battle it out, or do you prefer moving to a different table when the game gets tougher?

Anders1616 · Mar 9, 2026

I would move to another table. Sitting and loosing steadly is not a good strategy.

Happy Bobi · Mar 9, 2026

I usually stay and just continue to wait patiently for my moment. I don't like changing tables. If my opponents are experienced and cautious, it simply means that I also have to play as carefully as possible and not take unnecessary risks.

eetenor · Mar 9, 2026

You should always change tables when the game gets tough. Your ROI plummets vs good players even if you have a slight edge on them. Only if the players tilt would you continue. The rake is the killer in these spots. If there is a better game go to it as quickly as possible

MAFNL16061986 · Mar 9, 2026

switching tables yes after noticing i am loosing on many bad lucks on a row

fundiver199 · Mar 10, 2026

Online you should always move to another table. There is no reward for being a hero and battle it out with a table full of tough regs. Go find yourself some 🐟🐟🐟and have fun with them instead. And if all the tables have dried up, just end your session.

Kerasuss28 · Mar 10, 2026

Nesehorn156 said:
Something I’ve been thinking about in cash games is table selection. Sometimes a table starts out great with a few loose players, but over time it fills up with tighter or more experienced players.

At that point the game can feel a lot tougher and the edge might disappear. Some players immediately look for a softer table, while others stay and try to adjust their strategy.

What do you usually do in this situation? Do you stay and battle it out, or do you prefer moving to a different table when the game gets tougher?

When I loose indent change tables
and when I tripple double the buy in I change
my best score is for cash game session
made 100 bb to 1000 bb in 37 hands , shortest best score winning session of me.

Stringy · Mar 10, 2026

I mainly change when i've increased my buy in by a lot and need to bank some of the money

hitmyaa · Mar 10, 2026

Table selection is honestly one of the fundamentals of poker and so many people overlook it. But mathematically if you sit down against good players you are not going to make money long term, you are just going to trade money back and forth while the rake eats you both alive.

The rec players at your table are the most important variable to track. As a rule of thumb you want at least two fish to make a table profitable, or one whale. And if you are lucky enough to have them sitting to your right it gets even better because you get to play more hands in position against them and really exploit their mistakes.

When the table fills up with regs and the last fish busts out, there is no shame in standing up and finding a better spot. The ego move is to stay and battle it out, the profitable move is to find a table where the money is actually flowing.

Colbefc · Mar 10, 2026

Absolutely, I play poker to win money and if a table is too tough I am out of there and find
a table full of nice juicy fish.

Mario7 · Mar 10, 2026

Of course you should change the table if it becomes tough. You are not winning money long term, when you have no skill advantage over your opponents - you are just rolling a dice, while the rake eats your money.

Station_Master · Mar 11, 2026

Just leave. The rake is too high to battle with only regs

Nesehorn156 · Mar 11, 2026

Sometimes in cash games I’ll be at a table where I’m winning, but the game slowly gets tougher. Maybe a couple regulars sit down or the weaker players leave. Even though I’m up, I start wondering if it’s better to leave and find a softer table instead of staying comfortable where I am.

A lot of players say table selection is one of the biggest edges in poker, but it’s easy to ignore that when you’re already winning at a table.

Do you usually stay if you’re winning, or do you still move if you think the game is getting tougher?

Jpatch · Mar 11, 2026

You’ve got to know when to run!
Take those winnings and go home while you are ahead!

Botuna · Mar 11, 2026

Nesehorn156 said:
Sometimes in cash games I’ll be at a table where I’m winning, but the game slowly gets tougher. Maybe a couple regulars sit down or the weaker players leave. Even though I’m up, I start wondering if it’s better to leave and find a softer table instead of staying comfortable where I am.

A lot of players say table selection is one of the biggest edges in poker, but it’s easy to ignore that when you’re already winning at a table.

Do you usually stay if you’re winning, or do you still move if you think the game is getting tougher?

I’ve had the same situation many times. Even if I’m winning at the table, I still pay attention to how the lineup is changing. If a few regulars sit down and the weaker players leave, the game can become much tougher very quickly.

Table selection is a big part of long-term profit in cash games. Being comfortable because you’re ahead can sometimes make you ignore that the game quality is getting worse.

If the table becomes too reg-heavy, I usually don’t mind leaving and looking for a softer game. In the long run, playing in better lineups is often more important than just staying because you’re currently winning. ♠️

ODRAGD3 · Mar 12, 2026

Nesehorn156 said:
Sometimes in cash games I’ll be at a table where I’m winning, but the game slowly gets tougher. Maybe a couple regulars sit down or the weaker players leave. Even though I’m up, I start wondering if it’s better to leave and find a softer table instead of staying comfortable where I am.

A lot of players say table selection is one of the biggest edges in poker, but it’s easy to ignore that when you’re already winning at a table.

Do you usually stay if you’re winning, or do you still move if you think the game is getting tougher?

It's called knowing when to quit! Obviously, if you're at a $10 limit cash game table and you've won $50, run to another table with another $10 and secure $40 if you lose the $10. Tomorrow is a new day!

fundiver199 · Mar 12, 2026

If the weak players have left, maybe because you stacked them, then its definitely time to look for a new table.

Kerasuss28 · Mar 12, 2026

Nesehorn156 said:
Sometimes in cash games I’ll be at a table where I’m winning, but the game slowly gets tougher. Maybe a couple regulars sit down or the weaker players leave. Even though I’m up, I start wondering if it’s better to leave and find a softer table instead of staying comfortable where I am.

A lot of players say table selection is one of the biggest edges in poker, but it’s easy to ignore that when you’re already winning at a table.

Do you usually stay if you’re winning, or do you still move if you think the game is getting tougher?

Ofcourse, I set small goals like , tripple or double buy in , smal sessions like , double 5 x and change after each 200bb reached…that is like make 100 bb >>>500bb profit, in short session like 3/4 hours on rush poker 6max tables.
sometimes even 1/2 hours short session ..

burro · 2026-04-04T08:11:18-0400

This is something I've been thinking about a lot as someone who just started playing cash games at micro stakes.
Honestly, I haven't changed tables much yet — partly because I'm still learning the game and partly because I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. But the more I read about cash game strategy, the more I realize that table selection is actually a really important skill that I've been ignoring.
The way I see it now, if I'm sitting at a table full of regulars who are all playing well and I'm clearly the weakest player there, staying out of stubbornness doesn't make much sense. The whole point of micro stakes for me right now is to learn and build my bankroll — not to prove something by grinding against tough opponents when there are softer tables available.
I think the hesitation for me comes from not always knowing how to identify when a table is actually tough versus just a bad run of cards. Sometimes I confuse variance with a difficult table dynamic, which makes it hard to decide when moving is the right call.

Silversurfer99 · 2026-04-04T08:17:08-0400

I only play the "Rush and Cash"..so every Hand is at another table..

Do You Ever Change Tables in Cash Games When the Game Gets Tough?

Nesehorn156

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Anders1616

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Happy Bobi

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eetenor

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MAFNL16061986

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fundiver199

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Kerasuss28

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Stringy

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hitmyaa

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Colbefc

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Mario7

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Station_Master

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Nesehorn156

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Jpatch

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Botuna

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ODRAGD3

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fundiver199

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Kerasuss28

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burro

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Silversurfer99

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