Tilting in Poker
When am I on tilt?
Poker players love to tell themselves that they are not on tilt. It is an excuse to continue playing if nothing else. Another reason players like to believe that they are not on tilt is because it is easier to convince yourself that you can evade danger than it is to accept that you have succumbed to it. It all comes down to the ego of poker players. Ego is one of the driving forces behind both losing players and winning players. Losing players are sure that they are just amidst a streak of bad luck and it is sure to end. Winning players are on a never ending mission to get better. The winning players, however, are much more likely to recognize when they are on tilt.
What Creates Tilt?
One prerequisite to tilt is an unlucky hand. Many times a player will become infuriated after someone has just drawn out on them. This would be considered one of the more obvious indicators of tilt as it is what everyone has undoubtedly seen. I know I have gotten upset from time to time when I lost a big pot where I was a huge favorite. Stemming from this indicator is frustration that might be experienced after losing a string of small pots. A 20 big blind pot here and there is no big deal, that’s how the game goes, but five in a row is just aggravating. Another common creator of tilt is an overly aggressive player at the table. They might just be raising every other hand, but the inopportunity for you to get involved may be enough to put you on tilt.
How to Tell When You or Someone is on Tilt – Indicators of Tilt
It is often difficult to pinpoint the moment that we go on tilt, next time you are playing look for these indicators of tilt. Players will often raise much more than they usually would when they are on tilt. This might be done by mashing the pot button instead of making a calculated bet or by simply over betting a pot for no apparent reason. The timing of bets can also be an indicator of tilt. If a player had previously taken a second to consider what he was going to do but is now instantly making pot sized bets, there is a good chance that he is on tilt.
What to Do When Your On Tilt
The best thing to do when you are on tilt is quit. Quitting is just not in some players’ blood though. Luckily there are some alternatives. Instead of quitting your session, it would be a good choice to take a round or two off. Even ten hands can allot you a few minutes to calm down. It costs you no money to do this and you will be able to pick up right where you left off, minus the tilt of course. Another option that does not even require you to miss a single hand is to cut a few tables out. If you are eight tabling you can knock it down to six or so tables. The relaxed pace will give your mind the break it needs. The last option is the route that many choose, just take a deep breath. This only actually works for a small percentage of people, so you might consider going with one of the other choices the next time you are on tilt.