The Stop Loss Strategy in Online Poker

A player's results and winrate may not be bad, but the lack of consistency in game results, especially on losing days, can lead these players to create a cycle where a simple bad phase can add up to a feeling of defeat, leading to distraction and subsequently not playing the A-game.

This article will demonstrate in a simplified way the advantages and disadvantages of a simple strategy that can save your bankroll if used consciously and in a well thought out way, the stop loss.

Benefits of a stop loss

• You avoid losing large chunks of your bankroll by playing on tilt and stopping at a set point
• You play longer sessions when you're winning and shorter sessions when you're losing.
• You get used to losing the amount you set and finish the day's tasks if you reach this amount.
• It's good for your mental health, especially if you don't handle moments of defeat well.

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Disadvantages of using a stop loss

• You may be “forced” to stop playing when the games are good
• You play fewer hours than usual, so you may end up earning less
• Stop loss strategy is not a cure for tilt

For some people, stop losses can be a temporary solution to the problems of poker and variance. You can set a stop loss of 3-4 buy-ins per day. You can also create exceptions and/or variations in your stop loss strategy, for example, if the games are good (with lots of fish and donkeys) you can increase the number of buy-ins in your stop loss a little, but if the games are full of regulars and good players, it would be a good idea to reduce this number.

The focus of the stop loss strategy is to avoid the psychological impact of disastrous sessions where you can lose up to 10 buy-ins. You shouldn’t, in theory, leave a game if it’s full of bad players, but leaving a session knowing that you’ve lost a large percentage of your bankroll can cause even bigger problems later on, so the reason is acceptable.

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Other observations on stop loss and stop win strategies

In the same way that there is a stop loss strategy, some players also apply a stop win.

Honestly, stop win strategies have their merits, but they should rarely be used. One acceptable situation to use a stop win would be in a winning session after consecutive losing days. Recording a win can be very important to gain and/or regain confidence in your game after losing days, so it is better to walk away with 4 billion in profit than to risk it and end up with another loss in your bankroll and even lower self-confidence.

In general, everyone plays better when they are winning, so you should only stop playing in winning sessions when A) the games dry up and the fish leave B) you are too tired and are no longer playing your A-Game, or C) you notice that the game has started to turn and you start losing pots in a row, so you start playing to win back your winnings and that is not good.

Take stock of the three factors mentioned and also how much a losing session can affect your psychology, and, based on this, create your own stop loss and stop win strategy in the way that is most efficient for your playing style.

Article translated and adapted from the original: Poker Stop Loss Strategy