Jillychemung
Stacks & Stacks
Loyaler
When taking a break from your live cash game table, have you thought about what options you have?
Here some thoughts I have on Etiquette vs +EV ways to take a break.
1st off is the 3rd man walking 'rule'. If 2 players are already taking a break, it is considered very bad etiquette to become the 3rd player to take a break. Most venues will have a 3rd man walking rule for this situation and you can find lots of online discussions about this situation. If there is a waiting list for your game, the 3rd man walking risks having their stack pulled from the table with a player on the waiting list taking the seat. Usually there is a short time limit, 10-15 minutes, before this will happen but some games it will just be 1 orbit and some it could be immediate. So be forewarned here about becoming the 3rd man walking.
Lets talk about the best etiquette for taking a break. Taking a break where you do not miss paying your blinds and you do not play out of turn is considered the best etiquette. Getting up from the table before you are dealt any cards or waiting to get up until it is your turn and you fold is good etiquette. It is poor form to be dealt in late position and you get up from the table before it is your turn to act; this is considered acting out of turn and does effect action from players in earlier positions that have yet to act. I usually wait until I have played my BTN hand and then take my break since this gives me the most time until I would be in the BB again.
The +EV way to take a break is to get up from the table either 1 hand before you are the BB or when you would be the BB and then return to the table in LP (CO or HJ). When you miss your blinds you will be given some marker that signifies you have missed them. When you return to the table, you will need to post your blinds in order to resume playing or you will need to wait until you would be in the BB again. So it is +EV to return to the table when you will be in LP but it is poor etiquette.
Here some thoughts I have on Etiquette vs +EV ways to take a break.
1st off is the 3rd man walking 'rule'. If 2 players are already taking a break, it is considered very bad etiquette to become the 3rd player to take a break. Most venues will have a 3rd man walking rule for this situation and you can find lots of online discussions about this situation. If there is a waiting list for your game, the 3rd man walking risks having their stack pulled from the table with a player on the waiting list taking the seat. Usually there is a short time limit, 10-15 minutes, before this will happen but some games it will just be 1 orbit and some it could be immediate. So be forewarned here about becoming the 3rd man walking.
Lets talk about the best etiquette for taking a break. Taking a break where you do not miss paying your blinds and you do not play out of turn is considered the best etiquette. Getting up from the table before you are dealt any cards or waiting to get up until it is your turn and you fold is good etiquette. It is poor form to be dealt in late position and you get up from the table before it is your turn to act; this is considered acting out of turn and does effect action from players in earlier positions that have yet to act. I usually wait until I have played my BTN hand and then take my break since this gives me the most time until I would be in the BB again.
The +EV way to take a break is to get up from the table either 1 hand before you are the BB or when you would be the BB and then return to the table in LP (CO or HJ). When you miss your blinds you will be given some marker that signifies you have missed them. When you return to the table, you will need to post your blinds in order to resume playing or you will need to wait until you would be in the BB again. So it is +EV to return to the table when you will be in LP but it is poor etiquette.
