'Sitting out' in poker is when a player is taking a break from the action temporarily
but is continuing to 1️⃣ hold on to their seat at the table.
In a cash game players will
not pay any blinds while they are 1️⃣ sitting out whereas in a poker tournament the blinds
will continue to be deducted for players who are sitting out. 1️⃣ In this guide we’ll learn
the following:
What does it mean to ‘sit out’ in a poker cash game?
When should we 1️⃣ sit
out in poker?
How long can we sit out for in poker?
What should we do if our opponents
are sitting 1️⃣ out in poker?
Is it ok to sit out in a poker tournament?
Is it ok to sit
out in a poker 1️⃣ cash game?
What Does It Mean To Sit Out In A Poker Cash Game?
Sitting
out simply means we are taking a 1️⃣ break from a poker game but we are continuing to
reserve our seat. We won’t be dealt in to any 1️⃣ of the blinds but we will be required to
post the blinds when we return if an orbit has been 1️⃣ completed while we were away.
Players may prefer to wait until they will be dealt into the big blind position 1️⃣ before
returning from sitting out. There is usually a time limit on ‘sitting out’ at which
point our seat will 1️⃣ no longer be reserved.
When Should We Sit Out In Poker?
We can sit
out from a poker cash game at any 1️⃣ time when we need a short break (5 minutes or so). If
we require a longer break it will usually 1️⃣ make sense to leave the table and rejoin when
we are ready to restart the action. We should usually avoid 1️⃣ sitting out of a poker
tournament unless absolutely necessary because it could hinder our chances of achieving
a good result. 1️⃣ Poker tournaments will have scheduled breaks where the action on all
tables is paused for a period of time.
How Long 1️⃣ Can We Sit Out For In Poker?
In a poker
cash games the amount of time we can sit out for 1️⃣ will depend on the room, but it’s
usually not more than 15 minutes. Sitting out is usually for short breaks 1️⃣ only. For
longer breaks we should leave the table and rejoin the action when ready. In
tournaments we can sit 1️⃣ out for as long as we desire provided we still have a stack.
However, unlike in cash games, blinds will 1️⃣ continue to be taken from our stack in poker
tournaments. If we sit out for too long, we’ll have no 1️⃣ stack when we return!
What
Should We Do If Our Opponents Are Sitting Out In Poker?
In a cash game, players sitting
1️⃣ out essentially means the action has become more short-handed. Strategically this
requires us to loosen up our starting hand requirements. 1️⃣ In tournaments, the blinds are
still posted by players who are sitting out. This means that we should be aware 1️⃣ of
opportunities to pick up extra blinds. For example, if a player who is sitting out
posts the big blind 1️⃣ behind us, we should be looking to open raise wider than usual
since we know that the big blind will 1️⃣ always fold preflop.
Is It OK To Sit Out In A
Poker Tournament?
We should avoid sitting out in poker tournaments where 1️⃣ possible since
the blinds and antes will continue to be deducted from our stack even when we are not
at 1️⃣ the table. As much as possible we should try to take our breaks during the
designated tournament break so that 1️⃣ we get as much table time as possible. Of course,
we may sometimes have a genuine reason for sitting out, 1️⃣ in which case we should try and
return to the action as soon as possible.
Is It Ok To Sit Out 1️⃣ In A Poker Cash
Game?
There is no negative consequence associated with sitting out in a cash game. The
only thing 1️⃣ to keep in mind is that it’s best to sit out right before posting the big
blind. If we sit 1️⃣ out mid orbit we’ll be missing out on hands that we could have played
for ‘free’ since we have already 1️⃣ paid the big blind that orbit. If we rejoin the table
in a new orbit we’ll be required to post 1️⃣ the blinds again in order to rejoin the
action. The best option is therefore to sit out right before posting 1️⃣ the big blind, and
rejoin the action directly in the big blind position.
Summary
Sitting out while on a
poker table simply 1️⃣ means we are taking a temporary break from the action but intend on
returning. Whether or not we continue to 1️⃣ pay the blinds while sitting out will depend
on whether we are playing a cash game or a tournament.
Sitting out 1️⃣ is designed for
short breaks. If we require a longer break we should generally think about leaving the
table and 1️⃣ rejoining the action when we are ready.
Sitting out in poker tournaments
should generally be avoided since it eats into our 1️⃣ chances of securing the best
possible result.
