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Tilt in Poker and What To Do About It.
PkDevil
Member Posts: 147
Tilt..it's a terrible thing and can ruin your day, week, or even month in a few short moments at the Poker table. You've studied and played hard, built up a nice bankroll and are starting to get somewhere after what seems like an eternity of grind..Then it happens. You have an off day. You woke up on the wrong side of the bed, it was miserable outside and you couldn't lift your mood, somebody said something to irk you, you had an argument with your partner. And in one ill-advised session at the Poker table all that discipline and hard work goes out the window. You make one silly play after another, game after game, try and get your money back by going up in stake levels and bam!! You've blown a good chunk of your bankroll and want to punch the computer screen.
Most honest Poker players will be able to admit they've had those days when things just weren't going right and they shouldn't have played but did regardless with dire consequences. So let's look at tilt, recognise what sort of things may put us off our game and how to counter them....
Tilt comes in many forms, or at least the cause of it does. Anything can set us off and it doesn't have to be at the Poker table or even to have happened the same day. Negative tilt (which I'm focusing on here instead of winner's tilt) is basically being in a bad/sad mood or having low physical and mental energy. It doesn't matter what causes it but if you feel like I've described then the chances are you're on tilt and should avoid playing, at least for that day. Below are some things that may cause it and ideas on how to counter those things:
1). Feeling ill, tired or miserable just because - Don't play. Leave it to another day when you are feeling better and more alert. If you have to play then do a lower stake than normal.
2). Feeling angry - Don't play at all. This is the most dangerous situation. When you are angry you will play too aggressively, make stupid plays against the odds and even play at higher stake levels because you don't care. You will get killed and destroy your bankroll.
3). Distracted - Could be anything but distractions are a nuisance. They may cause tilt. Turn off your phones, your TVs, close your social media. It may not be obvious but being distracted is just another version of tilt. Your focus should be 110% on the game you are playing. If you can't get away from noise because of other people for example then get noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. Maybe listen to some easy-going music to help you focus of that works.
4). Losing runs - A sure fine cause of tilt. Some days it just doesn't seem to matter what you do - you miss every draw, you get beaten by rubbish hands, your bluffs fall flat everytime etc etc. Best bet, either lower the stake level or even better come away and study. Play again tomorrow.
4). Trying to play through tilt - It doesn't work. You may try and counter it by playing more cautiously but this will just mean you play too tight and not take advantage of weak play as much. Again, if you have to play on tilt then play at a lower level. Even better would be to come away, calm down and just do some study until tomorrow.
So there you have it, just a very basic overview of tilt and hope it helps.
Most honest Poker players will be able to admit they've had those days when things just weren't going right and they shouldn't have played but did regardless with dire consequences. So let's look at tilt, recognise what sort of things may put us off our game and how to counter them....
Tilt comes in many forms, or at least the cause of it does. Anything can set us off and it doesn't have to be at the Poker table or even to have happened the same day. Negative tilt (which I'm focusing on here instead of winner's tilt) is basically being in a bad/sad mood or having low physical and mental energy. It doesn't matter what causes it but if you feel like I've described then the chances are you're on tilt and should avoid playing, at least for that day. Below are some things that may cause it and ideas on how to counter those things:
1). Feeling ill, tired or miserable just because - Don't play. Leave it to another day when you are feeling better and more alert. If you have to play then do a lower stake than normal.
2). Feeling angry - Don't play at all. This is the most dangerous situation. When you are angry you will play too aggressively, make stupid plays against the odds and even play at higher stake levels because you don't care. You will get killed and destroy your bankroll.
3). Distracted - Could be anything but distractions are a nuisance. They may cause tilt. Turn off your phones, your TVs, close your social media. It may not be obvious but being distracted is just another version of tilt. Your focus should be 110% on the game you are playing. If you can't get away from noise because of other people for example then get noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. Maybe listen to some easy-going music to help you focus of that works.
4). Losing runs - A sure fine cause of tilt. Some days it just doesn't seem to matter what you do - you miss every draw, you get beaten by rubbish hands, your bluffs fall flat everytime etc etc. Best bet, either lower the stake level or even better come away and study. Play again tomorrow.
4). Trying to play through tilt - It doesn't work. You may try and counter it by playing more cautiously but this will just mean you play too tight and not take advantage of weak play as much. Again, if you have to play on tilt then play at a lower level. Even better would be to come away, calm down and just do some study until tomorrow.
So there you have it, just a very basic overview of tilt and hope it helps.