Poker Articles

When talking to poker players about the biggest leaks in their poker game, one thing will usually show up at the top of the list- tilt.  Tilt is by far the most detrimental way poker players give up their edge and is usually the main reason for many uncalled for – EV situations.  The mind settings and actions caused by tilt can be the root cause for many negative situations in poker - from subtle mistakes to a massive breakdown of an entire bankroll.  While many players admit they recognize tilt as a major leak in their games - what are they actually doing about it?

Like most poker players, I have had my fair share of encounters with my not-so-likable friend tilt.  No one likes a losing session and when it seems like the same person keeps getting lucky and eventually knocks you out of a tourney; it’s natural to react very negatively.  The actual problem is not being upset about your “bad luck” but the actions you take while you’re in a tilted state of mind.  Most players immediately sign up for the next tournament or jump into the nearest cash game and start 4-betting like crazy, all while throwing the nearest objects and yelling profusely at their screen.  Well, at least that’s what I’ve heard people do and is obviously not from my past own experiences ;) Anyways, it’s easy to see why tilting is not the most positive situation to be in - especially when there is a lot money on the line!

While it can be funny to hear bad beat stories of people throwing their computers into the pool, kicking their cats through a glass window, or blasting a wireless mouse at their nagging friend; doesn’t there have to be a better way to managing tilt?  Luckily there are some ways for saving a hopeless computer or an unsuspecting cat’s life during a major tilting episode.  (Although your friend might still deserve that wireless mouse sandwich after a really bad beat, right?)

Everyone has heard and tried some basic ways of dealing with tilt like taking a break or doing a self-exclusion, but that doesn’t help solve the root cause of tilt nor does it help you take the right steps to actually managing your tilt.  When you just sweep your tilt problem under the rug, it will easily come back and hurt you time and time again.  After reading the best-selling book, A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle, I’ve learned to apply some techniques, from my interpretation of the book, to almost entirely eliminate my tilt before it starts.

One major aspect of the book is about recognizing what is causing you any pain (tilt), and then to completely focus on the present moment to eliminate that negative feeling.  It might be a little tricky to explain, but basically if you understand exactly what is causing your pain in that exact  moment, you are on your way to eliminating that negative feeling  by not letting the pain take you over.  Eckhart Tolle explains this as recognizing your “pain body” which is how you “awake” yourself from your “ego” to overcome it.

Eckhart also explains how pain (tilt) is rooted by your own ego.  Relating to poker, the ego is the part of your inner body that blocks any rational decision making and is what “forces” you to keep playing when you are experiencing the pain of tilt.  For some it might be hard to know when you are experiencing your “pain body” or when your ego has taken over, but for others it can be quite clear.  For instance, I can now pinpoint almost exactly when my ego has kicked in and have been learning to manage my tilt a lot better.  When all of a sudden I snap and get really upset about something, I try and take a step back and concentrate on what is actually happening right at that time.  This helps calm me down and bring me back to reality - which stops my ego from stepping in and controlling my emotions.  From a poker standpoint, what I am doing is recognizing my tilt and my pain body as the same thing.  By realizing that tilt is just my ego taking over, I can easily take the necessary steps to eliminating it. 

While it would almost be impossible to eliminate your ego overnight, it becomes easier to deal over time as long as you truly make a conscious effort to recognize the negativity your ego causes and always stay in the present moment.  At closing, I’ll end with some questions you should ask yourself when you’re playing poker and things aren’t going well.  Really think about your answers and you’ll be on your way to better managing your tilt.

1. Will a bad beat affect my future actions or is it a thing of the past?
 

2. Have I recently given a bad beat to another player and when?

3. Since I lost my last 5 coin-flips should I definitely win my next one?

4. If I let my ego and emotions control my play, will it be better for me?

5. If poker is about making good long-term decisions, should I focus on short-term results?