How do you deal with tournament tilting?

Lheticus

Lheticus

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On the subject of tilting, even if you're not egregiously tilting, but just feeling that you are not playing winning poker, I've heard one piece of extremely good advice on that: walk away. Unfortunately, that advice is inherently impossible to follow in tournaments. So, does anyone have another thing or two I could do to deal with tilting?
 
zEric7x

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That is hard. I would say maybe sit out a orbit but that might not be a good option during the mid stages/late stages.

I guess I would say just try to remember to make as many good decisions as possible.
 
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waterboy73

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May I ask what it is that tends to tilt you? Is it other players "bad play"? Is it chat at the table? Is it a bad decision you make, that leads to more (possibly many?) Is it a bad beat you take? Etc. I when I feel I'm tilting, or not playing good poker (in a MTT), I tend to try to tighten up. Also I will ask myself, "what is it that is making me feels this way?" This usually helps me get my head on straight again, and regain focus. As I see it, when someone tilts, they generally completely lose focus. It's that loss in focus that leads to bad plays/calls. I personally, am really driven by pride, so I also like to take quick look at a picture of something/someone that motivates me. As a reminder to myself to "pull it together!"
 
Lheticus

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May I ask what it is that tends to tilt you? Is it other players "bad play"? Is it chat at the table? Is it a bad decision you make, that leads to more (possibly many?) Is it a bad beat you take? Etc. I when I feel I'm tilting, or not playing good poker (in a MTT), I tend to try to tighten up. Also I will ask myself, "what is it that is making me feels this way?" This usually helps me get my head on straight again, and regain focus. As I see it, when someone tilts, they generally completely lose focus. It's that loss in focus that leads to bad plays/calls. I personally, am really driven by pride, so I also like to take quick look at a picture of something/someone that motivates me. As a reminder to myself to "pull it together!"

Fortunately, I have indeed given that very question quite a bit of thought, and I've honed in on what I think is at least the vast majority of reasons.

Reason #1: I get sucked out on. The more unlikely the suckout, the worse the tilt. I pretty much never tilt from my own bad play--bad play is the effect, not the cause, because I feel that if I'm going to lose, it had in fact better be from me sucking, not the other guy getting lucky. I guess my reasoning for that is if I lose due to my own incompetence, at least it's something I can work on for next time--something I have some modicum of control over. Being in a losing position with absolutely nothing I can do about it is something that unlocks a rare flavor of fury in me. Winning due to sheer luck can even produce a similar, though diluted effect.

Reason #2: Physical discomfort. If I don't feel good, like if I'm having stomach trouble or something, I don't play good. Once again, this is effortless to avoid if I'm not playing an MTT that starts on a schedule--but unfortunately, that's most of what I can manage to play.

Reason #3: Desire to not be doing this anymore and to go do something else. This, by far, is my most common tilt-inducing problem, in fact I've even brought it up in another thread I started shortly after joining this forum. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get much meaningful advice on this particular problem there, probably because I can't seem to nail down specific reasons I begin to feel this way. Indeed, there seems to be no end to things that distract me from poker and my desire to play it even as I do just that. I suppose, to put it another way, you could call me easily distracted. (This tends to be exacerbated when at least 2 or more people at my player start running out their time banks in a single hand)

So...any further insights by you or anyone else will be most welcome.
 
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On #1 just work on the logic and math of the situation , suck out are a fact of life and math .If you are 80% to win you also have to endure the 2 times out of 10 you get sucked out on---just life.
I try to talk out loud to myself when it is possible as it seems to bring better logic than thoughts running wild and emotion.

On #2 this seems an easier fix as you know how you feel physically ,if you are sick/upset etc. don't play if you are not up to it .

On #3 maybe you are more of a single table SNG type of player, if the long duration is a drag to you pick a game more suited to your mindset.

I used to make post it notes with advice to myself before and during tournaments and put them on my screen it seemed to help me focus as well as giving me something productive to the game at hand . Might help your focus on a long haul MTT.
Hope something here is helpful.
 
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I know a lot about getting sucked out on. Once I had quads against a flush draw and we were all in. The board came QQ3 with two hearts. My opponents had 5h4h and hit 6h 2h on the river late in a tournament near the final table bubble. But it happens. Sometimes you will suck out on them and you'll get some bad streaks. But other times you'll get incredibly good streaks and you will suck out.

How about trying games that are fast paced or games that you like playing. That could fix your desire. Maybe try playing when you want to. That should help.

As for physical discomfort, try to get a chair/table that feels better and more comfortable for you instead of maybe sitting on a stool. Think of it like your office and try to arrange everything so you can get things done as well as possible.
 
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work your emotions and learn to shake it off if you have to sit out every time something goes wrong or your pissed off you don't learn to actually deal with it just be honest with yourself about how you feel and minimize its' power over you
 
Arjonius

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What do you do in RL situations where you have to exercise more self-control than usual? Can you transfer or adapt any of these to help when playing poker?
 
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Just sit out for a bit, take a small break and think about your game plan a follow that. That's just what i do, hope it helps
 
Lheticus

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What do you do in RL situations where you have to exercise more self-control than usual? Can you transfer or adapt any of these to help when playing poker?

For an answer:

Just sit out for a bit, take a small break and think about your game plan a follow that. That's just what i do, hope it helps

Basically what he said. If my self-control becomes strained, I GTFO wherever possible. This was actually a huge issue in school--until college, I had completely nowhere to GTFO to. It...made life interesting.
 
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I often tilt to the point where I consider myself already out of the tournament, so I end up going all-in until someone calls and I either double or I'm out. I've found myself trying to refrain from doing so by basically folding every hand, since luck is against me. Just playing the bb spot and hoping to see a free flop, basically buying time. Even walking away from the computer, or laptop in my case, and just coming back to fold...then getting into something else to take your mind off of the poker.
 
wanderingthehall

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1 - I would just tighten up the hands your playing. I wouldn't sit out completely and not play anything, but tightening up gives you a chance to calm down without missing out on really good opportunities, or getting stupid chasing losses.

2 - It's easy to not play if you don't feel well unless this comes up randomly. If so, the advice for 3 will be the same for 2.

3 - Play cash games instead of MTTs. It sounds like the way your brain works is that when you're done you're done and that's it. If you're playing cash you can end your session and move on. Since this is your most frequent problem, accept this and develop those cash game skills.
 
Grossberger

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Fortunately, I have indeed given that very question quite a bit of thought, and I've honed in on what I think is at least the vast majority of reasons.

Reason #1: I get sucked out on. The more unlikely the suckout, the worse the tilt. I pretty much never tilt from my own bad play--bad play is the effect, not the cause, because I feel that if I'm going to lose, it had in fact better be from me sucking, not the other guy getting lucky. I guess my reasoning for that is if I lose due to my own incompetence, at least it's something I can work on for next time--something I have some modicum of control over. Being in a losing position with absolutely nothing I can do about it is something that unlocks a rare flavor of fury in me. Winning due to sheer luck can even produce a similar, though diluted effect.

Reason #2: Physical discomfort. If I don't feel good, like if I'm having stomach trouble or something, I don't play good. Once again, this is effortless to avoid if I'm not playing an MTT that starts on a schedule--but unfortunately, that's most of what I can manage to play.

Reason #3: Desire to not be doing this anymore and to go do something else. This, by far, is my most common tilt-inducing problem, in fact I've even brought it up in another thread I started shortly after joining this forum. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get much meaningful advice on this particular problem there, probably because I can't seem to nail down specific reasons I begin to feel this way. Indeed, there seems to be no end to things that distract me from poker and my desire to play it even as I do just that. I suppose, to put it another way, you could call me easily distracted. (This tends to be exacerbated when at least 2 or more people at my player start running out their time banks in a single hand)

So...any further insights by you or anyone else will be most welcome.

I very very very rarely tilt. The reason is I realize that it's poker and suckouts happen. You have to remember you could get your money in with the best hand and your opponent has 1 out and gets there, guess what it sucks he ot there but he did have that 1 out and as long as there is an out they have a chance.

The other thing I remember is that I have made bad calls and sucked out just the same, and if anyone tells you they have not made a bad call and sucked out they are full of shit. I also remember it's their money they can choose to play their cards any way they choose, and that if they choose to make bad calls it will catch up with them and I just hope it catches up with them against me.
 
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Best piece of advice I can honestly give you is to re-wire your thought process

you need to view the situation in a different way. Its just one game there will be many more.
every loss is a valuable lesson its a blessing learn from it

and most of all have fun its a game dont get emotionally attached treat it like a game of pool or like money has no value and play without fear
 
Lheticus

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Best piece of advice I can honestly give you is to re-wire your thought process

you need to view the situation in a different way. Its just one game there will be many more.
every loss is a valuable lesson its a blessing learn from it

and most of all have fun its a game dont get emotionally attached treat it like a game of pool or like money has no value and play without fear

My biggest issue is actually the opposite of emotional attachment--I get so detached that I don't worry about making good plays any more because I'd rather be doing something else. I wouldn't ask you to read the whole thread at this point, but I'd like you to read post #4 at least--and that goes for anyone else who wants to answer this question.
 
Jacki Burkhart

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I've read the whole thread. you seem to tilt for much different reasons than I do.

I'm not very tility, bad beats and suckouts don't bother me too much.

The thing that tilts me beyond belief is when I play a hand terribly. I have a hard time getting back to the moment and keeping up with the current action...I keep replaying the bad hand in my head...thinking of ways I could have played it different, better etc...constantly coming up with new ways to avoid the bad outcome...so much so that I'm not really "in" the tournament anymore for a while.

What helps me, is to quickly memorize the details, promise myself I'll write up the hand later and analyze it later (usually I bring those hands here to air all my dirty laundry to you nice folks!) and then put it out of my mind and just through self discipline I won't let myself think about that hand anymore.

For you....it sounds like you just lose interest or get distracted. for that, I'd say you should just try to play MTTs that really interest you...don't play too many of them. Make it an occasion that you look forward to...maybe just play once a week or whatever amount will keep you "looking forward" to playing. then in the mean time play cash or STTs where the time invested is minimal.
 
eidikos

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i am weak in this part of the game and i need help too.i cant understand the calls some "players" make in some situations
 
itsmebobd

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On the subject of tilting, even if you're not egregiously tilting, but just feeling that you are not playing winning poker, I've heard one piece of extremely good advice on that: walk away. Unfortunately, that advice is inherently impossible to follow in tournaments. So, does anyone have another thing or two I could do to deal with tilting?

What tilts you? I like to make sure I have positive music on. I have a playlist called "Positive Vibrations" I play when im playing. Not so loud I cant hear at the table, but loud enough I can drown everyone out if someones getting on my nerves.
 
hugomito

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sit out and take a time to think about all around, and get the head back
 
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neverendingh

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i am weak in this part of the game and i need help too.i cant understand the calls some "players" make in some situations

You don't have to understand the calls they make, you have to exploit them as soon as you have a hand and if you have position on them then that's even better.
Trying to understand a certain players moves can be valuable if those moves are good, but if they're bad just forget about them. (or learn from those mistakes if you haven't already done them yourself :) )
 
Katyushka4

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On the subject of tilting, even if you're not egregiously tilting, but just feeling that you are not playing winning poker, I've heard one piece of extremely good advice on that: walk away. Unfortunately, that advice is inherently impossible to follow in tournaments. So, does anyone have another thing or two I could do to deal with tilting?

Take yourself to the computer desk for any of the above. This food will help you to improve the robots brain, especially memory:
caffeine, fish (especially marine), spinach, clams, walnuts, dark chocolate (not milk, but with cocoa butter at least 50%), mint, and can be in the form of mint chewing gum, thanks to even smell improves care and activates memory, berries - Jamie Gold (won the most money in the Main Event wsop) usually sits at the table with a bowl of blueberries.
 
JustDestined

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Seems as if I can apply some of this to my problem which isn't exactly tilting. One of my problems is I will get into a run where I'm running really well, hitting everything and will loosen my play up to the point of making bad decisions at times.
 
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