Poker Tilt

Most of us know that when you shove a pinball a bit too hard, the machine 'tilts'. You then lose your turn, or the game! In poker, a mental condition called 'tilt' operates much the same way.

When your emotions start shoving your logic machine a bit too hard, you are said to be 'on tilt'. Typically, you commence to lose your buy-in, or worse, your bankroll. We have all witnessed, and (sad to admit) personally experienced some of the more extreme, unpleasant examples.

There are also lesser degrees of tilt. Small concerns that break our concentration just enough to throw our game off. And, there is creeping tilt. It begins unnoticeable, incubates for awhile, then slowly grows into a monster.

Tilt is like a disease without a cure, but with an important difference. Even though its potential is always with us, we can willfully control this demon. We can never entirely rid ourselves, since the emotions that cause tilt are part of our mental hard wiring.

Willful control begins with self monitoring.

This might be the easiest part. We start simply by 'thinking about what we are thinking'. Remember how you felt and what you were thinking, the last time you played really great poker? It is important to remember those thoughts and feelings. They will become your 'standard' for comparison. Try to mimic them whenever you play. Then learn to notice whenever you are straying from your 'standard'.

Here is an illustration. When you are playing your best, you might characterize yourself as being calm, cool and collected. A regular 007. Nothing deters you from your mission. You are also focused, disciplined and patient.

Now, enter a little fatigue, a distraction, an unpleasantness, or an irritation. And, your thoughts begin to stray from your 'standard'. Your focus, discipline and patience start to unravel. Your mind is soon full of thoughts about getting back to even. Or, getting even with the donkey that just rivered an inside straight to beat your pocket rockets. You watch helplessly as the harder you shove your agenda, the deeper you slide into the abyss. You are spiraling out of emotional control. This is being 'on tilt', the perfect emotional storm.