Tilt is one of those funny things derived from human nature that adds a bitter sweet twist to the game of poker. Most of us have experienced its effects and know how determental it can be to a sound poker game, so why do we do it? I want to put out there that “tilt” in large part is just another skill in the game of poker that each of us must work towards mastering similar to pot odds or basic starting hands. From a purely mathematical standpoint, tilt should never be a factor in a poker game. You know the odds, percentages and chances, so a so-called “bad beat” should be dismissed as an unlikely occurence that is not supposed to happen very often. If only it were that simple….

One of the biggest problems with tilt and poker is that the nature of the game is both highly competitive and emotional. Poker players have a very personal relationship with the game and their moods, attitudes and actions are all intrinsically tied to the outcomes of the hands they play. This creates major conflicts in our minds when things don’t seem to go our way. Another major contributor stems from what I like to call the “poker pro complex”. As the description alludes to, the “poker pro complex” deals with a blindness that alot of players seem to buy into which is that they are naturally better and smarter than all of their opponents and that there decisions which are “always” correct, should never fail. This is perhaps the biggest motivator behind tilt and is a serious danger to any players game as it is a weakness that can easily be exploited.

The bottom line is that tilting costs you money at the tables and you want to do everything in your power as a smart poker player to avoid its repercussions. There are several popular methods that professionals and amateurs employ to help them cope with the inevitable side effects of tilt that we all experience from time to time:

Playing Within Your Bankroll: While this is one of the most obvious suggestions, it is overlooked by many players. Over-extending your bankroll is a sure way down the road to tilt for several reasons. You want to ensure that you can cover those times when your correct decision doesn’t pay off and to do this you need to have some padding and security in your bankroll. To do this, you should always play within your bankroll and never move up limits until you are comfortable and have amassed proper funding to do so. Opinions vary greatly but the general consensus is that you should have 10 buy-ins for whatever limit you choose at a minimum to make sure you can handle the natural swings of the game.

Focus: This is another very important step in avoiding tilt and improving as a player. Paying attention to the actions of your opponents helps you figure out what they are about and why they do the things they do. This can help you figure out what they might have or be drawing at throughout the game and may assist you in making decisions. Remember, if you don’t pay attention then you are the only one to blame.

Music: Many players find that listening to music while playing helps calm them down throughout their play as well as the times when they encounter a bad beat. The rhythm and soothing of music can help to alleviate the pressure and frustration associated with the game and is a great outlet for tilt.

In closing, tilt is a very complex issue within the game of poker and isn’t going away. It is up to you as a poker player to decide whether or not you want to take a critical look at your game and decide how you can minimize the amount of time you spend on tilt. I reccommend you do it; you will learn alot about yourself and in the end you will become a more profitable player.

Note: Since this article is about tilt, please write some comments about your horrible beats so that we can share in our anger together
Here is the worst beat I have ever experienced:

Pokerstars ($500 Sit N Go)

Hand #1

Me:
Other Idiot:

I raise to $120 in chips in 4th position (Blinds 15-30)
Other Idiot immediately goes all in
I call eagerly anticipating my double up

Flop:

I don’t even want to post the rest of this hand, but you get the picture I lost. I am not still on tilt i swear:)