The One Handed Tilt Monster!

You are playing a single table “sit and go” (SNG) and are finally delt a pair of kings in the big blind. You perk up as you haven’t seen a good hand in an hour. You make a normal raise and are called by several players. Low and behold, you hit the third king on the flop to make your set. Alarms and fireworks are going off in your head as you anticipate winning a big pot and getting back into contention.

Not wanting to scare off your prey you put in a modest raise and are called. On the turn a second heart hits so you increase the size of your bet modestly. One of your opponents folds but the other calls. On the river, a third heart hits and it’s an ace. Horrors! Now what? You have already been adding the chips mentally to your stack. An ace or a heart will have you beaten.

The adrenaline and testosterone are flowing. Your trips couldn’t be beaten, could they? Your opponent makes a big raise and without thinking you quickly re-raise all-in. “the One Handed Tilt Monster” has struck again!

Of course, your opponent had the card that he just couldn’t have and you are eliminated from the tournament.

Sounds too familiar doesn’t it? Hours of solid play ruined by a rash call or all-ins move. So, how do you avoid this?

First of all, make a large raise on the turn and punish your opponent with unfavorable odds when a scare card hits. This one move can stop the problem from arising as your opponent may not chase his draw. Second, never call large raises without stopping to consider the ramifications of your call. Count to ten if you need to and think the situation through.
Third, determine what hands your opponent could have by reading the exposed cards. Fourth, consider how your opponent has been playing and whether his actions fit his pattern of play. Fifth, would you still be viable in the tournament if you lost? Sixth, avoid calling large raises and re-raises without the probable best hand. Lastly, follow your instincts.

Poker is not an exact science, sometimes you will lose. You will, however, win more than your share by using these guidelines.

You won’t need to consider all these parameters each time. Pausing to consider the situation may be all that you need. Arm yourself with this “thought armor” next time “The One Handed Tilt Monster” rears his ugly head.

Good luck at the table,

Hare_Trigger

For a first time article, i like i like. Very informative and true, good job. Although i must add, any ace on the river wont have you beat since 3 of a kind beats a pair, you would just be worried of the flush

Also he gets to have a pic in his sig, no fair

....and thank you for spotting the mistake in my article. This has been a gaping hole in my game for some time and writing this article and refining it to make it readable has been very helpful. I started playing better right after posting it, taking my own advise.
I hope it has been helpful to some of you too!
Thanks,

Hare_trigger