Ok, here is only subject, where ATE completely differs, from other "experts" Actually, I suspect that I do NOT differ, but that other's cannot tell the truth about the issue.

Pay attention, everyone,as this issue will most likely spell the difference between success and failure.

Ok, first let's difine terms:

(1) STAYSTER (original ATE term) One who believes that poker is one continuous game, and that you should continue to play as long as the "game is good" and you are playing well

(2) TMAR's (another original ATE term) One who believes that poker is about winning, no matter how long or short that takes. That poker decisions, including when to leave, vary depending on "how well you're running"


Now, let's preface any further discussion, by stating that ATE knows MANY Tmar's who, unlike me (and my mental problems) HAVE been successful, over a period of at LEAST ten years or more.

So, it's not like this is some "pet" theory, unproven over time.

The problem with the TMAR, ooops, better give the words behind the term:

TAKE
MONEY
AND
RUN

The staysters, have coined a derogatory term for this, they call it "stop win" This is ABSURD.

HEY, LISTEN, THIS POINT IS AT THE CORE OF ATE TEACHINGS.

The problem with TMAR, to STAYSTERS, is that there is NO way to quantify or define the practice, and that bothers them. Most staysters, have a substantial background in math and science, and seem to think that ALL of poker, is based on FACTS and LOGIC, and that there is no such things as:

(1) ART
(2) Instinct
(3) Hunches
(4) Grey areas, that cannot be put into scientific terms


Man! This battle, is about as heated, as "God vrs. Evolution" Staysters, cannot believe in something, that they have not seen. But, the things is: I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP, AND I HAVE SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN SEEN THE FALLICY of continuing to stay, when you're GETTING YOUR ASS KICKED.

We're not talking 10, or even 100 times, but many hundreds of times, over a period now almost 20 years! ! ! ! ! !

The reason ATE is such a Genius, is that I have to power to see and accept the truth, even if said truth is contradicted by milliions of people. Most people, do not have the power, the confidence, or the analytical ability, to see beyond what their peers think.

Fortunately, ATE's Dad taught me to be an individual, and not just "do what everyone else does"

In poker, there are many, many concepts that the rest of the world has TOTALLY BASSAKWARDS, yet no one (until ATE) had the GUTS to go against the world, with what they KNEW to be true.

Roy Cooke wrote in one of his books, about a time when he went from 2800 ahead (in 40-80, the equivelent of 280 in a 4-8 game) to 1000 behind. Then, at the end he said "that's poker"

GOD! How I'm SICK of hearing that phraze!! Just as I'm SICK of hearing " poker is one continuous game."

How untrue!! Poker is about EACH AND EVERY SINGLE decision, added up. What you do THIS game, can affect YOUR ENTIRE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!

TAke heed to that, I'll give you time to think about it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Bottem line: If you lose THIS game, because YOU ALLOWED a major dropback, there many not BE another game, in your entire life!!!

Now, ATE will admit that this is rare, but I'll give you an example;


You take 500, and buy into a big no limit game. Let's say that you have been a fairly successful player, and are making extra money. Your wife is opposed to you even playing, but tolerates it, as you are making extra money.

Miraculously, you build it into 5000. You call your wife up, and promise a trip to SWEDEN (why Sweden, because ATE is original, and it's just too damn eazy to say "Hawaii, or Tahiti")

Anyway, you just have to play, because the "game is good" You lose 1000 on Aces, and another 500 on kings. Still, you have enough for the Sweden trip, with some left over.

But, wait!! The Staysters told you, that you stay until the game is good.

Well, you end up losing the entire profit, plus several thousand in a desperate attempt to "get back to where I was"

Wife gives ultimatum: Poker or me.

You quit, never to return again.

Now folks, if you think this scenerio is FAR-FETCHED . . .Ya ain't a been around as mush as good ole' ATE

While this particular example is remote, similar things I've seen happen, A LOT!

Wins tend to have a compounding effect, and soo do LOSSES!1

Especially ones that you could have PREVENTED!!

My God, does Roy and the Staysters (Ed note: this is NOT an "anti Roy Cooke" thing, just this ONE issue) REALLY think that 99.9% or the players out there, can REALLY play good the next day, after giving back a big profit, and turning it into a loss!!

Human nature just don't work that way, folks!! We are not machines, and events of previous days, DO affect our behavior and performance, for a LONG time to come.

Anyway, I had more to say, but my Chinese food is about to be delivered.



P.S. Leaving a game a winner, does NOT mean that you are through for the Day.

This is a VERY important distinction.

ATE does Not advocate (more than occasionally) just taking a nice profit, and GOING TO THE BEACH for the rest of the day . . . . . WHEN said profit occurs in less than 5-6 hours or so.

You DO!!! have to put your time in, but in the day and age of internet, and GIGANTOR casinos with MASSIVE game selection.

The era of the staysters and the "Stay if the game is good" Is


OVER



Dissentling views, from Q"UALIFIED persons (such as Iceman) will be happily accepted, and debated

I sort of agree on most of this. Your point about winning players making mistakes based off of other losses and the such is definately head on. Good article

Thanks much Adam!

When I double up online, I really like to take my extra $$ off the table and start over on a new table. If I double up again I feel a strong urge to quit for a while.

So I guess I'm just a TMAR kind of guy. With your blessing I will not feel bad about it anymore.

Does it not also make it very salty ?

There are exceptions. But, anyhone who does not know, that poker runs in cycles, and that you must do things to accomadte this.

Of course, you cannot know, if the next hour is going to be the rush of a lifetime, or the worst pounding you've ever taken.

BUT, you HAVE to make your best guess!

Look, Choc. I have not exactly fallen off a boat. If been around and around.

WHEVER YOU HAVE A GIANT WIN, it almost ALW"AYS 99% involves going up, and up and up, back a LITTLE, up , up , up down a LITTLE, up up up.

:You do NOT NOT a thousand times NOT, go from, say 500 ahead, to 100 ahead, and end up winning 1500.

It just doesnt work that way. I realize that some may like something, that SEEMS more scientific.

And, remember that most people, are playing with a bankroll, that is WAY WAY "WAY too small.

If you have the kind of bankroll ATE recomends, 1000 BB, plus 6 months living expenses, you can be more of a "long run" player.

But, most have the SILLY 300bb, and NO living expenses, and a loss that COULD have been avoided, is BOTH fincially and physcologically devestating.


So;me day, i'll write a more comprehensive articel, explain both the SCIENTIFIC, and "grey area" reasons for TAKING THE MONEY, AND RUNNING