J
jeffman123
Rock Star
Bronze Level
Personally I don't really struggle with tilt that much. Like yeah going all in and having the guy win with 10% sucks, but it's not like I'm gonna start playing differently than what I normally do the next hand. I think the biggest factor to managing tilt is having a more decision-oriented outlook on the game rather than a result-oriented one.
7
77ecos
Visionary
Bronze Level
I think that time is what makes you immune, it is natural that if you are starting it dominates you but when you see that nothing changes and on the contrary your game hurts you, you realize that it is best to stay focused, with a cold mind you can dominate it, If you have been around for a long time, it is a problem that is surely already forgotten
WhiskeyFix
Visionary
Bronze Level
F
fundiver199
Legend
Loyaler
As a short term solution I use deep breathing and positive thinking. The next step is to simply take a break or end the session early, if the bad beats and coolers get to much. Sometimes its just not your day, and being able to realise this and step away is part of the difference between the long term winners and the majority of breakeven or losing players.
Slowing down also helps. For me the most tilting format is Zoom poker, because the bad beats and coolers just come flying in your face at such a high pace, that its difficult for my brain to cope with it. Its also extra frustrating to me, that they guy, who just sucked out on me, has already zoomed on to another table, so I cant even use any reads to try and get my money back.
Turbo SnGs have some of the same mental effect for me, because its so easy to bust from 5 of them in like 15-20 minutes, if you multitable. Playing less tables (I used to 2-table Zoom) or playing slower games like 10-15 min blind interval SnGs or MTTs help a lot in calming down my emotions.
As for how to prevent tilt, experience surely help. I tilt much less now, that I did 3 years ago, when I started playing. And I think a large part of that is simply having seen it all so many times, that it makes no sense to still get upset, just because things did not go my way in this particular session. If you have a serious tilt problem, lots of people recommend Jared Tendler "The mental game of poker".
Slowing down also helps. For me the most tilting format is Zoom poker, because the bad beats and coolers just come flying in your face at such a high pace, that its difficult for my brain to cope with it. Its also extra frustrating to me, that they guy, who just sucked out on me, has already zoomed on to another table, so I cant even use any reads to try and get my money back.
Turbo SnGs have some of the same mental effect for me, because its so easy to bust from 5 of them in like 15-20 minutes, if you multitable. Playing less tables (I used to 2-table Zoom) or playing slower games like 10-15 min blind interval SnGs or MTTs help a lot in calming down my emotions.
As for how to prevent tilt, experience surely help. I tilt much less now, that I did 3 years ago, when I started playing. And I think a large part of that is simply having seen it all so many times, that it makes no sense to still get upset, just because things did not go my way in this particular session. If you have a serious tilt problem, lots of people recommend Jared Tendler "The mental game of poker".
F
Fida
Rock Star
Silver Level
Ending the session early is something I really have to learn, I guess lol. Because the more I lose money, the more I want to get it back.
Anyway, thanks for the advices. I'll try to ckeck Jared Tendler
D
droozy
Rock Star
Silver Level
There are 2 golden rules for a poker player:
1. Never chase loses!
2. Never chase loses!
Now serious: how to deal with a tilt?
1. Get break or if you play live poker, simply get up and go for a walk few hands/orbit or leave. If you decide to continue playing, throw at least 2-3 hands away without look.
2.Try to analyze your hand which triggered a tilt and investigate what you could have done better
3.Exercise (20 push-ups) or 20 squats
4.Accept variance (if your aces get cracked by something else, especially in pre-flop all-in vs. all-in situations, there is nothing you can do).
5.Bring a punching pillow or stress ball.
1. Never chase loses!
2. Never chase loses!
Now serious: how to deal with a tilt?
1. Get break or if you play live poker, simply get up and go for a walk few hands/orbit or leave. If you decide to continue playing, throw at least 2-3 hands away without look.
2.Try to analyze your hand which triggered a tilt and investigate what you could have done better
3.Exercise (20 push-ups) or 20 squats
4.Accept variance (if your aces get cracked by something else, especially in pre-flop all-in vs. all-in situations, there is nothing you can do).
5.Bring a punching pillow or stress ball.
Ending the session early is something I really have to learn, I guess lol. Because the more I lose money, the more I want to get it back.
Anyway, thanks for the advices. I'll try to ckeck Jared Tendler
Momo9292
Rising Star
Bronze Level
I really hope I can help you out on this one, because it is something I have struggled with for a long time and recently have overcome. I used to be extremely prone to tilting and even punting MTT's off due to it and I knew it had become a problem.
How I overcame this:
1. Don't be results oriented on a single hand.
By this I mean don't beat yourself over a single hand and try to look at the situation statistically and logically. For instance if you got in AK vs AQ deep in a tourney and villain hits a Q, look at it is a positive investment and a good decision and understand that these beats are standard. And also try to look at things logically in the sense that they had nearly a 25% chance to win outright from the beginning.
2. Understand that we all have bad days
Watch some twitch streams, watch some of the top pro streamers, Lex, Spraggy, Fintan, Apestyles. I have watched them all go on massive downswings that have been bad beat after bad beat, understand that is just poker, it really is, but the people who win, are the ones who continue to make those same good decisions for months on end until their mathematical edge allows them to get back on top.
3. Take a breather, understand your anger.
This was a big one for me. Learning about what my anger actually is and being able to bring yourself back to your cool, logical self. We all have our calm, logical, "Normal", "Day-to-day", self. This is the person who does their job calmly, buys groceries and browses the internet, just our normal mindset, We call it our equilibrium. Understanding and being able to separate our "equilibrium" from our "Angry/Tilted" mindset is what allows us to grow past and come off of tilt quickly.
Basically I try to think about the situations logically when they occur, and I like to talk out loud(even when I'm alone) and explain the situation. Understanding that this tilted person, is not who we normally are and isn't going to help our situation in any way is the best way to coax ourselves back into our equilibrium. I know this may sound weird to some people but it really has helped me on my poker journey, while I do still get angry from time-to-time I am able to control myself better using this mindset.
I hope this helped a bit, i have been a winning player online for a while now, and this was one of the biggest realizations of my whole career, thanks for your post!!!
How I overcame this:
1. Don't be results oriented on a single hand.
By this I mean don't beat yourself over a single hand and try to look at the situation statistically and logically. For instance if you got in AK vs AQ deep in a tourney and villain hits a Q, look at it is a positive investment and a good decision and understand that these beats are standard. And also try to look at things logically in the sense that they had nearly a 25% chance to win outright from the beginning.
2. Understand that we all have bad days
Watch some twitch streams, watch some of the top pro streamers, Lex, Spraggy, Fintan, Apestyles. I have watched them all go on massive downswings that have been bad beat after bad beat, understand that is just poker, it really is, but the people who win, are the ones who continue to make those same good decisions for months on end until their mathematical edge allows them to get back on top.
3. Take a breather, understand your anger.
This was a big one for me. Learning about what my anger actually is and being able to bring yourself back to your cool, logical self. We all have our calm, logical, "Normal", "Day-to-day", self. This is the person who does their job calmly, buys groceries and browses the internet, just our normal mindset, We call it our equilibrium. Understanding and being able to separate our "equilibrium" from our "Angry/Tilted" mindset is what allows us to grow past and come off of tilt quickly.
Basically I try to think about the situations logically when they occur, and I like to talk out loud(even when I'm alone) and explain the situation. Understanding that this tilted person, is not who we normally are and isn't going to help our situation in any way is the best way to coax ourselves back into our equilibrium. I know this may sound weird to some people but it really has helped me on my poker journey, while I do still get angry from time-to-time I am able to control myself better using this mindset.
I hope this helped a bit, i have been a winning player online for a while now, and this was one of the biggest realizations of my whole career, thanks for your post!!!
V
VictorOd
Legend
Loyaler
Probably I reached a new level recently and win more than usual. I raised my self-appraisal and ignore tilt. And sometimes when something wrong happens I force myself to not feel anything just because I know that did everything right.
Adi8877
Visionary
Silver Level
Still working on it, ignore tilt is something what is still not working. Best way for me, keep my account balance low, on the minimum, making lot of withdrawal and deposits, but the transaction costs still much less than the loss what i am able to lose in tilt or bad beat phase.
A
Arbas33
Rising Star
Silver Level
I think that everyone has to figure it out and I don't want to give any advice, because how everything in poker depends on how you properly evaluate yourself and others
F
Fida
Rock Star
Silver Level
Hello
I appreciate you taking the time to write this. It does help, thank you!
I have to say I used to be result-oriented and get tilted whenever I lost a hand when I was a huge favorite to win. But lately, I try to look at the situation logically, putting myself in villain's shoes by asking myself if I would have made the call/raise in his place. If he made a reasonable play, no reason to tilt.
I still struggle to control my emotions though when some fish calls all the streets with bottom pair and hits his trips on the river lol. I still have to learn how to react better to such situation. And that's where your tilt control tips will come in handy. Thanks again
Evan Jarvis
Legend
Platinum Level
Ask and ye shall receive!!!
Why you go on tilt...
How to never go on tilt again...
The latter part requires a bit more deep work and self reflection but it's certainly worth it and this is also a great technique to help you in every area of your life
Hope you enjoy the videos!
Evan Jarvis
Legend
Platinum Level
this is a really awesome list, I especially like that they all come from personal experience.
Great post Momo!!!
S
scubed
Visionary
Silver Level
Try meditation. I use an App called Primed Mind that Fedor Holz helps with.
F
Fida
Rock Star
Silver Level
I'll give it a try. Thank you
This is exactly what I needed. Once again, great contents. Thank you!
Last edited by a moderator:
slicheri93
Legend
Bronze Level
Just think logically you will play bad tilting, tilting wont get you anywhere
Just take a breather and maybe just walk away after a badbeat or something
Its part of the game you cant always win and you cant always lose everyhand
If you tilt always then its the best to maybe not play poker since it will affect you a lot
Just take a breather and maybe just walk away after a badbeat or something
Its part of the game you cant always win and you cant always lose everyhand
If you tilt always then its the best to maybe not play poker since it will affect you a lot
eetenor
Legend
Loyaler
The books The Mental Game of Poker V1-2 by Jared Tendler are worth every penny they will help you to develop strategy for tilt