Do you ever leave a table after a big win?

After a good win, sometimes I feel like leaving the table to lock it in, but other times I want to keep playing while things are going well.


I’m not sure what the best approach is.


Do you usually leave after a big win or keep playing?

In my experience, which isn't much, the ideal thing to do is leave/change tables. You'll notice that it's rare to find players with huge chip lead differences at different tables. I have the impression that when we have a big win, we tend to become a little complacent.

@Nesehorn156, I think the "Hit and Run" vs. "Grind it out" debate really comes down to table selection.

If the players you just took those chips from are tilted or playing poorly, your edge is actually higher than when you sat down. Leaving then means leaving money on the table! However, I agree with @JhonnyThe357 about the "complacency" trap. Being the big stack can make you play too many speculative hands because you feel "safe," which is a quick way to give it all back.

Personally, I only leave if the table dynamic changes (like a shark sitting to my left) or if I feel my own focus slipping.

Do you have a specific "Stop-Loss" or "Stop-Win" limit in your sessions, or do you just play until you feel like?

After a big win, I try to focus not on the current session result, but on the quality of my play and the table composition.
If there are still weaker players at the table and I feel calm and disciplined, I usually keep playing — the money on the table is neither “mine” nor “theirs,” and each new hand is independent of the previous one.
But if a big win brings euphoria, makes me want to play too loose, or creates fear of “giving it back,” then it’s better to take a break or leave altogether. Emotional state is often more important than the size of the win itself.
So for me, the question is not whether I won a lot, but whether I’m still playing my A-game.