Dealing with tilt

#1 June 3rd, 2019, 8:48 PM

I know the great game we all love to play has a lot of ups and downs built into it and I think I've came a long way from how badly I used to tilt when I was younger but I still have troubles after losing a few hands in quick succession that I'm pretty far ahead in.

I feel that as I've started to take poker more seriously this is something that can seriously limit my progression in the game as my tilt has caused several shorter than planned or the not uncommon happenings of me just spewing when I try and play while I'm on tilt.

What are some of the ways you deal with tilt? I feel like walking away when I start to feel it happening is smart and obvious but I'd like to develop the discipline to be able to play while when things aren't going my way.

#2 June 3rd, 2019, 9:37 PM

Over time, you stop tilting. But for this you need to play a lot of hands. And when your square moves straight flush, you will have nothing to surprise.

Of course, it is important to be disciplined and stick to bankroll management, as well as to pre-determine for yourself stop-loss.

It also helps me that sometimes I get incredible luck too. Perhaps the study of statistics will help.

#3 June 3rd, 2019, 9:54 PM

With knowledge that in the moment of the bad beat, you are in a hot bubble, step outside yourself and calm down. Remind that this session will naturally be superseded into newer playtime and fresh results.

#4 June 4th, 2019, 2:21 PM

Even though only playing short time, I can tell the more I play the less I tilt. It is like you have seen these situations before, you now you just take the calculated risk. Also, I immediately think about how long to make back a loss instead of how much. That way I think of only losing my time, not money. And I like spending time playing poker anyway Dealing with tilt

#5 June 4th, 2019, 2:35 PM

when i playing freerolls, tilt states appear more often at the beginning or middle of the competition. when you are sitting at the final table, no tilt is involved. the answer is in concentration and understanding that you already have something to lose. the task for all players and beginners especially is the maximum concentration i think

#6 June 4th, 2019, 2:37 PM

You need to watch your game. Do an analysis of your actions. See how successful players play and you will decrease the number of tilt.

#7 June 4th, 2019, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by EarnDAStack

I know the great game we all love to play has a lot of ups and downs built into it and I think I've came a long way from how badly I used to tilt when I was younger but I still have troubles after losing a few hands in quick succession that I'm pretty far ahead in.

I feel that as I've started to take poker more seriously this is something that can seriously limit my progression in the game as my tilt has caused several shorter than planned or the not uncommon happenings of me just spewing when I try and play while I'm on tilt.

What are some of the ways you deal with tilt? I feel like walking away when I start to feel it happening is smart and obvious but I'd like to develop the discipline to be able to play while when things aren't going my way.

This may help.
How to Deal with Bad Beats

#8 June 4th, 2019, 3:10 PM

Nothing works for me. Thankfully, no matter how angry I get, after analyzing my hands post meltdown/tilt/anger it shows no change in how I would of played the hands that followed. I sometimes miss a few hands following something really idiotic that cost me chips/money, as I leave the room for a while and contemplate things, but I can live with that.

#9 June 4th, 2019, 6:34 PM

I think it is a matter of how in control of your emotions you are, but everyone has his/her limits. As you have said, just walk away when it happens before you regret not doing so.

#10 June 4th, 2019, 6:55 PM

Hey
It is harsh when that happens.
But I think one must just take a deep breath and move on.

I have seen table chip leaders going out in a jiffy. Maybe back to back suck outs and it�s all over.

But it also happens that from your last BB you win a few in successive hands and your up and running.

No cruise control here.

Either you suck out or luck out... Dealing with tilt

#11 June 4th, 2019, 6:56 PM

Take a break, 5-10 minutes for TV or other thing when this happen and return. Is very very Boring but part of the game. Dealing with tilt

#12 June 11th, 2019, 3:40 AM

I was p[laying a gnt $3000 and was in tenth place at level 15 end of late reg and people where going nuts. going all in with crazy hands and betting wildly when they had decent stakes. Watching this and i wasn't getting any hands to play put me on tilt. I played two hands and was out. I had almost 50,000 in chips but tilt got me. not sure why i let this put me on tilt i was doing so good which will also helps to put me on tilt when i see other players going crazy and hitting hands they have no business play like 92 suited and flopping a flush. these are the things that set me on tilt. wanting to play and watching others play badly and winning and i sit there with nothing to play. I don't want to go on tilt makes me angry because i knew i was going to to do it but was hoping i wouldn't. I am a good player but i have a tilt problem. I think it comes from watching vlogs and tv shows that only show the good hands and not how long they sat before getting a hand. I know your not going to play many hands every hour maybe a few good hand man maybe 5-10 at most playing online. If i can overcome my tilt which i will i will be a good player and will win money but not until i beat titl

#13 June 12th, 2019, 8:56 PM

Originally Posted by qRock

Over time, you stop tilting. But for this you need to play a lot of hands. And when your square moves straight flush, you will have nothing to surprise.

Of course, it is important to be disciplined and stick to bankroll management, as well as to pre-determine for yourself stop-loss.

It also helps me that sometimes I get incredible luck too. Perhaps the study of statistics will help.

Yeah I think doing more studying than I have been doing would help me in these types of situations to be honest.

Originally Posted by Serbianbeauty

Even though only playing short time, I can tell the more I play the less I tilt. It is like you have seen these situations before, you now you just take the calculated risk. Also, I immediately think about how long to make back a loss instead of how much. That way I think of only losing my time, not money. And I like spending time playing poker anyway Dealing with tilt

I think that's a really good way of thinking about it! I'll try and keep this in mind more as I'm playing. I enjoy playing the game and the ups and downs are part of it.. Sometimes it's just frustrating when you have lots of bad beats back to back on top of the mistakes I make as an improving player. Sometimes it feels like I'm losing years of my life!! Haha

Originally Posted by redmast

You need to watch your game. Do an analysis of your actions. See how successful players play and you will decrease the number of tilt.

I think putting in some time working on my game and doing homework would help out. Thanks for your advice!

#14 June 12th, 2019, 9:32 PM

I think that the most of players thinks that they will get rich in couple minutes.... so they got tilted when they lose some money and then they just want to take it back.

Because of that it`s usual to put some day goals, thinking in the worse and the best situation.

Sometimes u just are unlucky that day, and there are people saying that poker it`s only strategy game, but I don`t agree... That`s nice if u have no luck, and u play with an excellent strategy. But if u have the excellent strategy and u r with bad luck nothing good is gonna happen.

bad luck is different than no luck, do u know what i mean?

#15 June 12th, 2019, 9:43 PM

Try to drink some water or punch sth, then calm down afterwards. At least that helps me. Even better is if you do a break and do sth completly else.

#16 June 13th, 2019, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Schrubbler

Try to drink some water or punch sth, then calm down afterwards. At least that helps me. Even better is if you do a break and do sth completly else.

I think drinking more water is something I need to work on while I'm playing poker. I usually drink energy drinks and not water. I think it contributes to some of my mistakes as I get longer into the session

#17 June 13th, 2019, 1:25 AM

Just stop playing whatever way is easiest. Bathroom, smoke, etc. Best to go outside and breathe some fresh air. If you can't calm down, quit.

Originally Posted by EarnDAStack

I know the great game we all love to play has a lot of ups and downs built into it and I think I've came a long way from how badly I used to tilt when I was younger but I still have troubles after losing a few hands in quick succession that I'm pretty far ahead in.

I feel that as I've started to take poker more seriously this is something that can seriously limit my progression in the game as my tilt has caused several shorter than planned or the not uncommon happenings of me just spewing when I try and play while I'm on tilt.

What are some of the ways you deal with tilt? I feel like walking away when I start to feel it happening is smart and obvious but I'd like to develop the discipline to be able to play while when things aren't going my way.

#18 June 13th, 2019, 2:52 AM

Originally Posted by EarnDAStack

I know the great game we all love to play has a lot of ups and downs built into it and I think I've came a long way from how badly I used to tilt when I was younger but I still have troubles after losing a few hands in quick succession that I'm pretty far ahead in.

I feel that as I've started to take poker more seriously this is something that can seriously limit my progression in the game as my tilt has caused several shorter than planned or the not uncommon happenings of me just spewing when I try and play while I'm on tilt.

What are some of the ways you deal with tilt? I feel like walking away when I start to feel it happening is smart and obvious but I'd like to develop the discipline to be able to play while when things aren't going my way.

You got some good suggestions in this thread, sometimes you can't help but steam. If it's a tourney and you're getting beat after beat, fold a bunch of hands (unless they're premium) and chill out and try to regroup. If it's a cash game it's easier because you can take a break or quit. If you keep rebuying because you're angry quit go do anything in nature or a hobby you're into or watch a movie you've been wanting to see. Also it could help making a note of where you're tilting to work on the specifics. The more you play the more you can laugh off something like runner runner quads, instead of beating yourself up over variance,
Good luck!

#19 September 15th, 2019, 2:03 PM

In a perfect world Anytime I raise heavy my opponents fold. That means I win 100%. What tilts me are the ones that make a snap call thinking they are ahead but is actually way behind and getting lucky in the next peel. I respect the guys that think a while before laying down or make a crying call knowing they are behind but know they have a few outs.
Losing a big pot to a donkey really gets me on tilt and I can’t help but to target these players.

Edit. Now that I vented. I realize that sick suck outs happen all the time. And I purposely avoid playing many hands at the beginning of a tournament and let the suckouts happen. Good players can become bad after a unlucky Suckout and play like a maniac While bad players will always be bad

#20 September 16th, 2019, 3:54 PM

You can deal with tilt on a short range but with time it will accumulate in you and accumulated tilt will break you. The problems of tilt aren't bad beats etc. the real problems are logic problems on the subconscious. If you want to deal with tilt you have to work a lot with your subconscious to find out logic problems and fix it. Other psychological techniques will have only temporary effects.

#21 September 16th, 2019, 6:36 PM

Program tilt breaker.
Change regular tables to zoom tables.
Do not play heads up games.

#22 September 16th, 2019, 7:21 PM

When I'm on tilt, I stop play poker and start study more about poker.
Sometimes I prefer forget about poker and see a movie or play videogame.

#23 September 18th, 2019, 4:27 AM

Originally Posted by maxi_j

Program tilt breaker.
Change regular tables to zoom tables.
Do not play heads up games.

I've never heard of tilt breaker before!! Thanks for sharing it with me!! Dealing with tilt

#24 September 19th, 2019, 2:34 AM

Naturally, this subject comes up often (and I commented about tilt in a similar thread a few days ago).

However, there are a couple of good points made above and one I implement. You really benefit by making note of the good luck you receive, the bad beats you therefore inflict on people.

And by this I genuinely mean make a note...a pen and paper by the computer to jot down hands where you sucked out. I always thought I appreciated good luck but found it happened with frequency, more than I initially thought. Then when you feel the tilt rising you have a list at hand to refer to and hopefully chill at least a little.

Yesterday was frustrating for me, I went out on the bubble (yes, the actual bubble) of the final tourney I was in, to a moron with a big stack trying to steal every pre-cash blind with absurd raises. I had AQ suited in the BB when he put me all in...with J 10 off. I did not improve and he hit a ten on the flop.

I was furious. So, next, a correct decision, call it a day. Second good decision, quickly check my list of fortunate hands and remind myself I had also inflicted some 'unfair' damage that day also. Didn't erase the pain so to speak but it does distance the anger from the tilt. Its healthy to be angry - that anger can make you more focused and determined. It just has to be separated from the decision making process!

#25 September 19th, 2019, 4:08 AM

Originally Posted by DS3

Naturally, this subject comes up often (and I commented about tilt in a similar thread a few days ago).

However, there are a couple of good points made above and one I implement. You really benefit by making note of the good luck you receive, the bad beats you therefore inflict on people.

And by this I genuinely mean make a note...a pen and paper by the computer to jot down hands where you sucked out. I always thought I appreciated good luck but found it happened with frequency, more than I initially thought. Then when you feel the tilt rising you have a list at hand to refer to and hopefully chill at least a little.

Yesterday was frustrating for me, I went out on the bubble (yes, the actual bubble) of the final tourney I was in, to a moron with a big stack trying to steal every pre-cash blind with absurd raises. I had AQ suited in the BB when he put me all in...with J 10 off. I did not improve and he hit a ten on the flop.

I was furious. So, next, a correct decision, call it a day. Second good decision, quickly check my list of fortunate hands and remind myself I had also inflicted some 'unfair' damage that day also. Didn't erase the pain so to speak but it does distance the anger from the tilt. Its healthy to be angry - that anger can make you more focused and determined. It just has to be separated from the decision making process!

You made a lot of good points here. The most important thing is that this is a fun game that we all enjoy. Like I said in the other post about tilt, you have to realize that you made the correct decision and went in with the best of it. If you feel tilted and stressed, walk away and take a break. Go for a walk, pet your dog, eat a good meal. Do anything to make yourself happy and get out of the funk.

Taking notes is a great way to help guide yourself through the craziness.

And you're definitely going to have the people that talk a ton at the table and criticize your play to the point where it may make you angry. Just got to realize that they must feel so bad about their own play that they have to blame others.

Just gotta keep your head up and roll with the swings and punches.

#26 September 29th, 2019, 12:11 AM

Personally, I just got busted out of a 30,000 ACR tourney. Two hands back to back. First hand, I had KK on the bb and called an all-in from the button for roughly half of my stack. He shows Q7h. Flop gives me KA3 with one heart and he hits runner runner hearts. VERY NEXT HAND, I am dealt AA and the same guy shoves with AQo and flops a Q and hits another one on the river. I dang near threw my computer across the room lol. My first thought was to come here and write it out and honestly, it has helped to calm me down. I think just being able to share my frustration helps alleviate the tiltmeter. It was still painful because we were approaching the bubble, maybe ten spots out. Definitely made me question whether or not it was rigged, but I just needed to vent and remember my good spots. Not sure if I would do anything different in these spots because I feel like I made pretty standard plays. The only alternative would be to play ridiculously nitty just to get in the money buuuuttttttt who does that? Am I wrong? Thoughts and opinions? Dealing with tilt

#27 September 29th, 2019, 2:19 AM

Man it really, really, sucks when a guy sucks out and you bust. I try to think, "I'm glad he is in here." So I can get paid other times.
I watch the streamers. They take these bad beats pretty darn well (except for lex getting busted from wcoop main last year). I assume it gets easier the longer you have been playing.

#28 September 29th, 2019, 2:37 AM

Originally Posted by EarnDAStack

I know the great game we all love to play has a lot of ups and downs built into it and I think I've came a long way from how badly I used to tilt when I was younger but I still have troubles after losing a few hands in quick succession that I'm pretty far ahead in.

I feel that as I've started to take poker more seriously this is something that can seriously limit my progression in the game as my tilt has caused several shorter than planned or the not uncommon happenings of me just spewing when I try and play while I'm on tilt.

What are some of the ways you deal with tilt? I feel like walking away when I start to feel it happening is smart and obvious but I'd like to develop the discipline to be able to play while when things aren't going my way.

The first message that transpired from your post was that you really enjoy playing poker. Because of that, when the thought of "maybe it's time to quit" pops into your head, it's definitely time to quit, you are already past the point where quitting can still be postponed. That's how the brain works when you do things that you like, not only poker, but anything pleasurable and addictive. So don't try to fight it, just move on to other things, that's always another day for poker. You play poker for fun and for money, when you are on tilt you lose money and have no fun. Compensate for the time you take off when becoming aware of tilt by staying longer when things are going well for you at the table.

#29 October 1st, 2019, 10:38 PM

Thanks for posting!

I think the two best ways to deal with tilt is one, talking about it with someone, a friend, coach, whoever. Secondly, is to practice being aware of it and finding the best ways for you to relax when it does happen.

Lots of people have suggested some really good ways to relax and take your mind off of what happened. The things you should focus on is one, to be aware of how you're feeling and to try and calm your emotions. Walking, deep breathing, meditation, a hot shower, anything that you can do to calm down first is good. Next, you can try to be aware of why you think you're tilting. Generally all tilt can be traced back to some sort of illogical behaviour pattern. Identify this and either question it yourself or again go to a friend or coach and question your illogical behavior, don't judge it, accept that it is there, just question it. Next you can decide how you would like to react instead, as in what you think an appropriate reaction should be.

I think tilt will always happen and its difficult to control our behaviours. But what you can control is the speed in which you calm yourself and the amount of situations that make you tilt. The more you work on the less that will occur. Think about it as in right now you have lots of reasons to tilt, if you work on all of them they will all go away. But as you live your life you will be affected by other things which will again cause you to tilt. Regular work on these will cause you to tilt less and have a better experience at the tables.

#30 November 2nd, 2019, 1:38 PM

Again I was tilting today. The only cure really is to avoid playing poker or play as little hands as possible. But what happens is that I start thinking about this hand or that hand that I wanted to play but decided against it and starting following the board. What helps me not get tilted is that once I muck the hand, I don’t follow the what if’s I played this hand. A borderline hand I normally don’t play early I will play in position. Also need stronger than normal hand to play in early position. Cause really I don’t make much in the pot in early position as oppose to later position in later betting streets

#31 November 2nd, 2019, 4:07 PM

In my case, everything is very simple. For me, poker is a hobby and I only play for my own pleasure. So I always try to just make the right decisions and play the right poker, without any negative emotions. I think this is the best way to prevent tilt.

#32 November 3rd, 2019, 4:55 PM

have a very short memory on bad beats get back on the horse asap... if have to take a walk do that etc.... I don't tilt really but also do not play above my means so im playing cause i love to play.... being a person who hates losing hard at times especially if know your playing perfectly imo..... but you just got to say yep thats poker keep getting in good and doing right decisions and trust the process

#33 December 27th, 2020, 1:31 AM

Today in the monthly 1k freeroll for Brazilians my notebook suddenly turns off. When I manage to turn it back on and come back to the table I arrived with 3 BB's and obviously the pair doesn't hold against two higher cards that hit a pair on the river. Impossible not to be angry ...

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Dealing with tilt

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