TILT - We are our own worst enemy

Open question; how do you guys/girls tackle TILT? Are you able to recognize it before it's too late?

For me I used to TILT all the time and not even knowing that I was on TILT. Like a lot of other people I would just blame it on bad luck and keep playing even when my emotions clearly clouded my judgement.

I finally learned how to recognize me going into tilt when I was playing Hearthstone (great card game by the way) and today I can control it better by either taking a break and do something else or count to 10 while breathing heavily letting fresh oxygen circulate while calming down the emotional rollercoaster that tilt can give you.

Meditation and yoga has definitely helped me as well.

I used to play CS GO a lot couple of years back, its a very tilt inducing game as your team mates can make really stupid mistakes and cost you the round. Early on in the game I used to erupt when something silly happens, but thanks to how often it happens I quickly learned to be in control of my emotions and realize I make mistakes too.

I don't really tilt in poker but there are still those emotional all-in's occasionally that I am trying to control when I really dont think my opponent has anything then turns out to have the nuts.

forest_leaves said:

I used to play CS GO a lot couple of years back, its a very tilt inducing game as your team mates can make really stupid mistakes and cost you the round. Early on in the game I used to erupt when something silly happens, but thanks to how often it happens I quickly learned to be in control of my emotions and realize I make mistakes too.

I don't really tilt in poker but there are still those emotional all-in's occasionally that I am trying to control when I really dont think my opponent has anything then turns out to have the nuts.

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That brings back memories of when I played CS as well. I'm talking about CS the classic game, 1.4 to 1.6 I broke a few keyboards and mouses back then raging after getting killed in some lucky or weird way haha.

Nowadays I can feel the physical effects of when the tilt starts to happen to me so it's quite easy for me to take a step back either literally or just in my mind to clear and refocus.

I've learned the ups and downs of Tilt back in the good ol days of FTP.

Usually now I will just take a break from poker for a few days or maybe a short period of time to collect myself.


It was def hard for me as a new player to escape the act of tilting but the more I played I would recognize when it was happening.

I'd lick my wounds and just play another day.

:ciao:Goodluck at the Tables!

I don't tilt "hard" like I used to, but I do find myself after playing, saying to myself that I wasn't playing my best game. So I was tilting a little but not enough to recognize while playing. When this happens it is good to take a break

I advise you to do some physical activity. When I realize that I have my nerves altered I run and see that after that my emotional state stabilizes.

I during the game if you feel the tilt coming ,I picked up a pack of seeds .It helps me .

I don't often go into tilt, but do venture into shock when I experience a series of 1-4 outs beating my 80% + winners on the turn. It makes you feel like the online game is less that random. But i still play.
Regarding tilt, if a player strikes at me more that once in a limited time of play with "bad beats", I tend to concentrated on him/her for one hand and bet as if any two will win on my part. I do manage to hold my tilt to one hand. Then back to playing the table.

I prefer to stop playing.generally I watch a movie or a good serie to decompresser.when we play below his A-game, we must stop playing.This rule may seem obvious, but it is not respected by number of players.

deyvsonflp said:

I advise you to do some physical activity. When I realize that I have my nerves altered I run and see that after that my emotional state stabilizes.

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This def helps. But it's kinda hard to go for a run if you're tilted in a MTT or a SNG. If playing online you can always take a few sec and do jumping jacks, push ups or any activity that gets the blood running. That and breathing exercises that you can learn by meditating or doing yoga has def helped me out of some sticky tilt situations.

But I honestly learned about tilt first when I was climbing the ranked ladder in hearthstone with the goal of reaching legendary rank. I finally succeeded after realizing that the only thing that held me back was me tilting.

I used to full tilt but then realised that all that negative energy was destroying my game. Poker is a game full of players who will play completely against statistics, it was the ones short stacked who jammed terrible hands that used to get me but then i realised why...any 2 live cards was their methodology lol.
These days..i make a cup of tea and read my mate Zorbas posts - that makes me chuckle and puts me in a good mood.

Tunnelrat said:

This def helps. But it's kinda hard to go for a run if you're tilted in a MTT or a SNG. If playing online you can always take a few sec and do jumping jacks, push ups or any activity that gets the blood running. That and breathing exercises that you can learn by meditating or doing yoga has def helped me out of some sticky tilt situations.

But I honestly learned about tilt first when I was climbing the ranked ladder in hearthstone with the goal of reaching legendary rank. I finally succeeded after realizing that the only thing that held me back was me tilting.

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With regard to intervals, what do you think of including some functional training?

This facilitates the circulation of blood in the body.Using the break to perform functional training, do you believe it helps stabilize the emotional back to the grin??:rock:

Tunnelrat said:

This def helps. But it's kinda hard to go for a run if you're tilted in a MTT or a SNG. If playing online you can always take a few sec and do jumping jacks, push ups or any activity that gets the blood running. That and breathing exercises that you can learn by meditating or doing yoga has def helped me out of some sticky tilt situations.

But I honestly learned about tilt first when I was climbing the ranked ladder in hearthstone with the goal of reaching legendary rank. I finally succeeded after realizing that the only thing that held me back was me tilting.

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pirateglenn said:

I used to full tilt but then realised that all that negative energy was destroying my game. Poker is a game full of players who will play completely against statistics, it was the ones short stacked who jammed terrible hands that used to get me but then i realised why...any 2 live cards was their methodology lol.
These days..i make a cup of tea and read my mate Zorbas posts - that makes me chuckle and puts me in a good mood.

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What'is the Zorbas posts?
Do you have a link?

Tunnelrat said:

Open question; how do you guys/girls tackle TILT? Are you able to recognize it before it's too late?

For me I used to TILT all the time and not even knowing that I was on TILT. Like a lot of other people I would just blame it on bad luck and keep playing even when my emotions clearly clouded my judgement.

I finally learned how to recognize me going into tilt when I was playing Hearthstone (great card game by the way) and today I can control it better by either taking a break and do something else or count to 10 while breathing heavily letting fresh oxygen circulate while calming down the emotional rollercoaster that tilt can give you.


Meditation and yoga has definitely helped me as well.

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I tilt often and usually catch it when its to late.....

I suggest you practicing sports such as football,volleyball,bicycling etc...

Well, always try to look on the bright side, breathe slowly and deeply when this situation happens and above all, pay attention to your expiration rate and inspiration. This will help you to keep calm.

sometimes breaks don't help what's dealt out to you...

Pablo22 said:

I don't tilt "hard" like I used to, but I do find myself after playing, saying to myself that I wasn't playing my best game. So I was tilting a little but not enough to recognize while playing. When this happens it is good to take a break

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"tilting" has multiple dimensions to it...for instance I find myself getting "frustrated" quite often in ACR sit and go tournies...crazy people betting crazily and playing ANY combinations of cards in ANY position, etc. Pretty much proves the theory of "bots" and "fillers" and such being put into these tournies. NO ONE bets like that "normally" I understand that there is "free" money involved and I understand all of the "variances" which come into play which people speak of often. But I think it's kay to "vent it off" sometimes at the tables and tell people how stupid they are. It helps me to stay calm because I KNOW for certain they have no clue of how to play "real person" poker...they are just willy nilly makin' stupid bets because they are playing with free money sometimes, or they are "paid reps"...anyone who thinks there AREN'T things I speak of happening in online poker sites?>>>>You're completely delusional and there is no reasoning with people who think that way. Happy Holidays.

I am starting to reconize tilt early. It can make you go bust in a second after 6 hours solid play. What I didnt do is give others credit for their own tilt. Players I know to be good solid players, even the greats can go on tilt, and youre like Wait What!? DId they just play that. I have also learned to judge them for their present game. I just get up and walk around and usually 10 min later Im good to go. I really enjoyed this thread and everyones advice towards tilt.

I believe we have to seek self-knowledge.In this way we will learn why we tilt instead of learning to control it.As I said, the best attack is the best defense. hahahaha anticipating our thoughts before some physical record.

it is very hard, but I find mediation regularly keeps me generally calmer. And learn to accept that you never deserve to win anything - there is always random chance involved in this game.

m0t22 said:

I believe we have to seek self-knowledge.In this way we will learn why we tilt instead of learning to control it.As I said, the best attack is the best defense. hahahaha anticipating our thoughts before some physical record.

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Well, when I say control it I don't mean taking control over TILT, even if you try tilt will always win over you if you keep playing. But you can control it by taking the correct action as soon as you find yourself in that emotional rollercoaster. Here's a good question you can ask yourself if you feel frustrated, angry or upset when at a poker table.

Let's say you are UTG and you are dealt a marginal hand. Instantly you want to play it because you've had a really bad beat all night long and you are sick and tired of this downswing that is going on. Now ask yourself "would I play this hand in my normal mental state?"

Just by asking yourself (your ego) that question you will trigger a rational thought process and depending on your starting hand range most likely the answer is going to be no. So, you fold.

I've used this quite a lot recently when I haven't been able to get away from the tournament or the table while experiencing the full swing of the TILT-rollercoaster.
Just ask yourself "would I [input action] this hand if I wasn't tilting?"

My opinion

The only way I can seem to handle tilt is play it out. The percentages are all lining up agaist you and the forces just make it look like its tilt. When in reality your do for a spiraling loss. There really is nothing you can do until the percentages go into your favor again. There is one thing you can do to cut your losses. Lose in freerolls and win the big money. The cards don't really care how much you bet.

m0t22 said:

What'is the Zorbas posts?
Do you have a link?

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Be careful what you wish for, you may need a box of tissues.

:five:

Zorba said:

Be careful what you wish for, you may need a box of tissues.

:five:

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I know it was joking.

but I still do not understand about it:icon_joke

Zorba said:

Be careful what you wish for , you may need a box of tissues.

:five:

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What is this? Can you explain?