Hit and Runs

Hit and runs are very common in live poker and are not technically breaking any rules. If you are not familiar with the term, a hit and run is when a player sits down, wins a big pot, and then bolts for the exit. This is most common amongst people who are afraid of losing their money, for obvious reasons. Few good players will immediately leave a game that they think they can beat simply because they won a big pot.

While the most frequent reason for a hit and run is that a player is scared to lose their money, it is also possible that they have a legitimate reason. For example, even the most advanced player might quit when they win a 400 big blind pot in their game of choice. If there are other super deepstacked players at the table, this would present the opportunity for a pot to build to over 8 buy ins. Needless to say, most players aren’t fans of this type of variance.

Rules and Fairness

The fairness of a hit and run has long been argued, and the consensus is that players are not doing anything wrong and that many people find it perfectly acceptable. If you make it obvious that you are only hit and running in order to tilt or annoy other players at the table, however, be prepared to lose any respect you might have had. Players dislike hit and runners because they would like a shot at winning their money back. In the end, no one likes to lose a pot and then see their opportunity to win that same money back walk right out the door. The fact of the matter is, however, that by risking your money, you accept the chance that someone will hit and run you at any given moment.

Short Stackers

The worst type of hit and runner is a short stacker. Players who buy in for the minimum and then instantly quit as soon as they win a bit pot are seen as major scum in the poker world, and with good reason. Though they aren’t breaking any technical rules, they are definitely doing a major disservice to any game. Players who buy in for small amounts are killing off action enough as it is, but if they leave after building a respectable stack, they are then adding insult to injury for the true players in the game. If you are going to buy in short and quit if you win a big pot, most people would prefer that you not sit down at all.

This article was written by Jonathan Wanchalk.