On Tilt

Going  On Tilt is when a player begins to play erratically. Usually when stressed and tired. Going 'On Tilt' a player will no longer calculate Pot Odds properly and make rash and wild judgements. The expression come from Pin Ball machines which go On Tilt when bumped by a frustrated player and shuts down. Some Professional gamblers will watch for a Las Vegas tourist going On Tilt before joining that table to make a killing. To win at Poker you must be logical. For example you have JK of diamonds, and the flop is  K9A all spades and everyone is betting you must be able to realise that there is no point trying to hold out for an extra King when someone almost certainly will get the flush, if you had gone On Tilt however you would just keep betting.

Poker can be a dehumanising pass-time in that those who allow their emotions to dominate their thinking are soon preyed upon by the coolest thinking and most calculating players at the table. Once people begin to become irrational they will lose more and get into a vicious cycle until all their stack is sat in front of the other players.

Players will go On Tilt after a bad beat or following a frustrating period in which they just don't seem to be able to win a game. Sometimes players will have a minor wobble after winning a few games and become over optimistic in their play.

I recently went On Tilt following a tough break. My hole cards were AK and the flop was AK3 giving me Two Pairs. My bet was called. The Turn card was a 9. Again my bet was called. The River card was an 8. I bet again but this time he raised. Thinking that he may have either a pair of Kings or Aces I called instead of raising. It turned out that his hole cards were a pair of 9's and that he had called me all the way to the River and then got lucky with a Three of a Kind. I was not a happy chappy for the next few hands.

Inevitably you will go On Tilt from time to time but you must get it under control quickly to minimise the damage. The easiest way is to take a break to freshen up. Alternatively think of all the times that you have won against the odds and laid a Bad Beat on someone else. Perhaps despite having the worst hand you hit a  backdoor flush on the turn or the river and won a monster pot. Imagine how good you felt and how you went on to win big that day, whatever you do you must get out of that miserable emotional state and quickly. While it persists you are at risk of further losses.

Most online poker players will vent their frustration at an unlistening computer monitor because no one can see and they think it doesn't matter. They are however developing a bad habit that may be very difficult to break should they move on to 'Live Poker' games. It will also perpetuate your poor play rather than helping to abate it.

So if you sense yourself going On Tilt stop and think positive thoughts and break the cycle.