Returning After a Layoff

Well, I've been away from the game for a few months. And it's a little bit like sports. If you stay off the ice for a while, the first time you step back on, your timing is off. Same with basketball. Same with football. But like anything competitive, if you've got game, it will come back. Texas Hold 'em is no exception.

I have a tendency to take time off to focus on other pursuits, and then return full force for a while, get a little tired out, and take another break. So I've developed a bit of a routine for easing myself back into competitive play at the tables.

My typical routine is a mix of ring games and sit n' gos. I started out with sit n' gos when I first broke in, so it tends to be my comfort zone when I dip my feet back in. When I'm running and gunning, I am usually multi-tabling (6 tables or more) at six-person tourneys with a minimum buy-in of $20. If I'm on my game, it's a reasonable hourly return.

So anyway, this is what works for me. For the first five or six days, I've only been playing four tables at a time, at six-person sit n' gos with a $10 buy-in. That means I only have $40 or so in play at once. And sure enough, for the first two days, my timing was off. I was playing break-even poker (at best).

And then since day three, I've been edging my way back to regular form. Another good day at $10 (it's been three in a row) and I'll step back up to $20. Three good days in a row and I'll step up the sit n go stakes again, while I simultaneously reincorporate my ring games into the routine (beginning with low stakes, either $.50 / $1 or $1 / $2).

And before long it should be business as usual.

As you can see, I have a tendency to be somewhat conservative. And it takes discipline to hold to a methodical re-entry to the scene when you want to just dive in headfirst back to the big stakes. But it's what's worked for me and keeps me comfortable. If you're easing yourself back in after a layoff, you may have a routine that works better for you. But if you're looking for one, feel free to adapt mine to your stakes and comfort level.

Good luck at the tables.