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Thread: Noob Question on Session Length

  1. #1


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    Noob Question on Session Length

    I’ve read keep session length between 45-60 minutes to avoid heat, makes sense.

    Are you then completely leaving that casino until the next visit? Or are you going out for lunch, walk, smoke whatever, and then coming back to different table?

    I live in the New England area, I’m a poker dealer (plenty of time practice counts in my head), and I have casinos within my area. But the idea of going to Mohegan, playing for an hour, Foxwoods for an hour, Encore for an hour, and then being done sounds like about 3 hours of cards, for 8 hours of time.

    Even with a $25k bankroll, playing $25 mins, that’s only $9.375/hour at one bet an hour profit (BEFORE gas mileage food etc)

    Advice for a noob?


    ** To clarify, I deal poker in NH. We have $5 BJ, with a max bet of $10, so zero chance to beat house edge. **
    Last edited by Calied; 03-06-2020 at 09:55 PM.

  2. #2


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    It’s a general recommendation and you are to early to make those. Much depends upon size of casinos, when you play, whether you are playing with a card, crowds, how often you play at a particular casino, attention from pit and more. If you feel the heat, are winning, it’s time to leave. Next visit, if they don’t even recognize you, no need to cut your play short. Basically, you don’t want to be remembered as a winner. For some casinos, winning $5k plus in a session may not attract attention, in others, $500 does.

  3. #3
    Senior Member JBourne's Avatar
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    Lots of factors can influence how long you play. If you are just visiting and playing without ID should you care if you leave before heat comes?

    If you really want to avoid heat and the risk of back-off, but still play as long as possible, consider these:

    Your bet spread and big deviations like taking insurance are the most obvious signs. If you have not done much of this, then you can play longer.

    Is the pit staff attentive? They are often clueless because they are busy. Dealers often don’t make much of it if you are tipping.

    Are other players gambling wildly? Unskilled players will change bets and risk large amounts. The more you seem like them, the less you stand out, particularly if you are betting in the same range. You are more exposed if you play alone.

    Are you losing? This of course looks more normal, particularly if you can make your big bets look like chasing losses. Big wins will start getting attention. If you can hide winnings it could help.

    Move between tables and pits. You reduce exposure to one set of eyes. Take breaks to coincide with unfavorable counts.

    Take a meal break before a shift change. You start again fresh with new staff. Or even better, move between casinos to play shifts in each one before starting over.

    My local sessions range from 0.5 to 4 hours and last 1.5 hours on average. I think I can do more, but I don’t want to lose my home place and I usually don’t have more free time.

  4. #4


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    Quote Originally Posted by ZeeBabar View Post
    It’s a general recommendation and you are to early to make those. Much depends upon size of casinos, when you play, whether you are playing with a card, crowds, how often you play at a particular casino, attention from pit and more. If you feel the heat, are winning, it’s time to leave. Next visit, if they don’t even recognize you, no need to cut your play short. Basically, you don’t want to be remembered as a winner. For some casinos, winning $5k plus in a session may not attract attention, in others, $500 does.

    Pretty vague answer.

    How long are your sessions on average?

    And, do you do repeat sessions at same casino that day? Or do you leave after a winning session no matter what.

  5. #5


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    After that 1.5 hour session in home casino, are you then coming back that day?

    That week, month etc?

  6. #6
    Senior Member JBourne's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Calied View Post
    After that 1.5 hour session in home casino, are you then coming back that day?

    That week, month etc?
    Generally one session for the day, but I would not hesitate to come back another shift. I feel comfortable with 2-3 times per week if I have time. I try to adjust if I am seeing the same staff on a regular basis.

  7. #7


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    Quote Originally Posted by Calied View Post
    Pretty vague answer.

    How long are your sessions on average?

    And, do you do repeat sessions at same casino that day? Or do you leave after a winning session no matter what.
    The answer is vague because the question is vague. Without knowing more about the casino, about your bet spread, the conditions at the casino , how often do you play at that casino (is it a local casino or one you visit once every 6 months) etc.

    For example, playing a casino like the MGM in Las Vegas with a $10 minimum 6 deck game on a big event night where you ate placing a max bet of $50 or $75, you can play all night. You can take a break, return the next shift. Nobody cares.

    You could be playing the sole DD game in a casino you visit more often in a small town, you would cut session short, maybe 30 minutes (if winning significantly) , leave, return at another shift on same day.

    you could be playing a casino you might visit several times a week. You have to vary session times, shift times etc.

    It varies, there is no one answer. You get the answers through experience.

  8. #8


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    Quote Originally Posted by Calied View Post
    I’ve read keep session length between 45-60 minutes to avoid heat, makes sense.

    Are you then completely leaving that casino until the next visit? Or are you going out for lunch, walk, smoke whatever, and then coming back to different table?

    I live in the New England area, I’m a poker dealer (plenty of time practice counts in my head), and I have casinos within my area. But the idea of going to Mohegan, playing for an hour, Foxwoods for an hour, Encore for an hour, and then being done sounds like about 3 hours of cards, for 6 hours of time.

    Even with a $25k bankroll, playing $25 mins, that’s only $9.375/hour at one bet an hour profit (BEFORE gas mileage food etc)

    Advice for a noob?


    ** To clarify, I deal poker in NH. We have $5 BJ, with a max bet of $10, so zero chance to beat house edge. **
    In my opinion...you are asking the wrong question. Who cares how long your sessions are, when doing this...
    "Even with a $25k bankroll, playing $25 mins, that’s only $9.375/hour at one bet an hour profit (BEFORE gas mileage food etc)".

  9. #9


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    Quote Originally Posted by Counting_Is_Fun View Post
    In my opinion...you are asking the wrong question. Who cares how long your sessions are, when doing this...
    "Even with a $25k bankroll, playing $25 mins, that’s only $9.375/hour at one bet an hour profit (BEFORE gas mileage food etc)".
    You’re cherry picking quotes.

    That hourly example was based on 8 hours of total time, just to play 3 hours of cards.

    I’m open to sources, but one min bet an hour of profit with a 1000 unit of bankroll seems like a sustainable long term win rate (assuming decent game selection, 1-6 bet spread and limited back offs)

  10. #10


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    Still vague.

    I’m starting to see why everybody talks smack to you on here.

    It was a pretty simple question, what is your average session length?

    Another poster very succinctly stated .5-4 hours, with an average of 1.5 hours, and gave concrete examples of when he would deviate from those stated numbers.

  11. #11


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    Quote Originally Posted by Calied View Post
    You’re cherry picking quotes.

    That hourly example was based on 8 hours of total time, just to play 3 hours of cards.

    I’m open to sources, but one min bet an hour of profit with a 1000 unit of bankroll seems like a sustainable long term win rate (assuming decent game selection, 1-6 bet spread and limited back offs)
    I am cherry picking quotes? Umm I simply quoted your complete original post...
    F off if you don't like my answer to your post.
    And you are wrong about all your numbers...that's why you are a newbie.
    Last edited by Counting_Is_Fun; 03-06-2020 at 11:59 PM.

  12. #12


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    Quote Originally Posted by Calied View Post
    Still vague.

    I’m starting to see why everybody talks smack to you on here.

    It was a pretty simple question, what is your average session length?

    Another poster very succinctly stated .5-4 hours, with an average of 1.5 hours, and gave concrete examples of when he would deviate from those stated numbers.
    Again F off if you don't like the responses you receive. My response was pretty succinct guy.
    Last edited by Counting_Is_Fun; 03-06-2020 at 11:59 PM.

  13. #13


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    Quote Originally Posted by Calied View Post
    Still vague.

    I’m starting to see why everybody talks smack to you on here.

    It was a pretty simple question, what is your average session length?

    Another poster very succinctly stated .5-4 hours, with an average of 1.5 hours, and gave concrete examples of when he would deviate from those stated numbers.
    Some don’t learn despite bans. Norm can only do so much.

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