tilt problems
 

I am having major tilt problems, I had played well and built a bankroll, only to tilt off 50% of it a few days ago. I played some solid poker the past few days, got it back up to where it was and a few bad beats and off I go again, and I tilted off 75% of what i had. Feeling pretty down now, don't know if there is any answer but others experiences or advice would be most helpful.

Re: tilt problems
 

Take a break. Let your BR rest for a few days.

Re: tilt problems
 

"What's measured gets managed"
Trying scoring yourself 1-5 after every hand on how you feel at that point:
5 - great, playing very well
4 - good, playing well
3 - soso, could be better or unsure of how well I'm playing
2 - not good, making minor mistakes
1 - bad, definitely irritated with my play or major mistakes
This is a means to measure your emotional state and through that process, to manage it. For example you might decide to immediately take a 10 minute break if you ever score yourself 1 on a hand. Don't sit down again until you feel that you can start over fresh and solid.

Re: tilt problems
 

Id have to say that this is one of the posts where I see the most sarcastic responses, when really it is one of the best posts, to help somebodys game.

I have had a major tilt problem in the beginning of my play. A couple months ago I decided enough is enough. I set rules for my self and I am sticking to them. I mainly play HU poker, and I have some strict goals I set for my self.

1.) If I am playing a guy, I never let the rake take over, where If i bust the guy I break even, I make sure he has enough so I am profiting.
2.) If I ever lose 50BB to one player I take a 30 min break or so.
3.) If somebody hits a massive suckout, and I am more pissed then ever I will try my hardest not to tilt my money off.
4.) If I take 1 person busto for 100BB I will take a break, and I will comeback so I am not act cocky and bluff away my money.


There are a few rules, but easy to follow. As I said I play HU alot, and there are many HUGE swings. You just have to set goals and stick to them.

Re: tilt problems
 

Number 4 there is pretty big for me, my big tilting sessions usually begin as winning sessions, then when i feel as if I'm deep stacked I end up making loser calls. Honestly I expected some sarcastic replies, nice to see helpful ones. Appreciate it.

Re: tilt problems
 

I don't think there's any miracle fix for tilting, it happens to everyone. It just takes discipline to keep focused on making the correct play and not worrying about the results. If i ever find myself getting angry at suckouts, or playing looser after a big win. Then I take a break and come back when I know I can focus on making the right decisions.

Re: tilt problems
 

I'm certainly on a break right now. Played in one game, OOP player with 78o sucked out a str8 on my raised AQ. Played a 2nd game, had A9, a 9 the highest card on the board. Person before me limps in PF, bets 175 post-flop, I call, turn is X, he goes all-in, I think, putting him on face cards against a low board, then call. He turns JJ. A 3rd game I have AK, the board is A-J-7-J-7. Person goes all in. She has a 72o for a FH.
I think I'll stay away for a while.

Re: tilt problems
 

YOGA,

this isn't a joke, I have played many years and I devote my success to yoga. Poker itslef can make people tense winning or loosing, you need to stay level headed to have a chance.

Re: tilt problems
 

One more thing, your tilting for due to mental problems, dont take it the wrong way. Unless you really change something it is unlikely that you will change

Re: tilt problems
 

"IS DUE"

Re: tilt problems
 

Changes that I have had to make b/c of a very serious tilt problem of my own is when, where and what games I play now.
When- never in the morning and I try and quit after a few hours play
Where- I try to play in the other bedroom where it is quiet and my wife can't bother me and where there is no tv at
Games- no more NL Triple Draw and on micro PLO and NLO8. but most importantly is that I have switched almost completely to limit H/L games b/c I can be involved in so many more hands since I'm an action jucky and want to see the vast % of hands that are dealt to me. Plus there are so many really really bad players at H/L games that I can easily rebuild my roll....only to loose it back in the NL & PL games after tilt. Its a very long process that I am still figuring out but I don't steam nearly as bad as I used to with these changes...

I really have considered trying yoga and my wife has some dvds around the house, think that is my next step. Also there are some books about poker and the art of war that have a few good pointers in them

Re: tilt problems
 

I actually managed to quit tonight when I felt it starting to kick in after a bad beat and came out ahead for the night. As trivial as this sounds I printed off a poker tracker graph showing the results of my last few nights of tilt and it served as a visual reminder throughout the session and helped me keep my head in the game. A lot of people seem to advise exercise between sessions which is something I will have to try.

Re: tilt problems
 

Take a break when you realize you are starting to tilt, even if it is just a few minutes. ( I am gulity myself of tilting recently [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )Read some posts to get your head back in the game. Review the plays you just made with your pokertracker and think about what you could have done differently.

Most importantly, do something which relaxes you for at least 5-10 minutes and then go back in the game. My choice is to find a good song.

Re: tilt problems
 

I generally find that more i play and learn about poker the less i tilt. i used to get so pissed after bad beats and wold try to stack the donk who i sucked out too. you need to block out all results and only concentrate on the hand your playing.

Re: tilt problems
 

I think it's also important for tilt-avoidance to both 1) have a sufficiently large bankroll for the game and 2) practice focussing on taking a long term view rather than a per-session win/loss amount. Many people tilt/chase because they don't want to stop the session losing on the session, but in reality session end-points are irrelevant to long-term results and they are just an accounting convenience.

For example if you have a bankroll of $5,000 you might very comfortably play 10c/20c NL. As you consider your wins and losses, mentally track your total bankroll change instead of your win/loss for the day or session.

For example, if you lose $25, think of it as only going down a tiny half a percent from $5,000 to $4,975, which is easily recoverable over the long run. Try not to view it as a "total loss" of your whole stack that session which needs to be recovered now. It doesn't need to be and it shouldn't be forced. You should be able to lose at least 5 buy-ins during a bad session without it seriously affecting either your long-term view, your confidence or your bankroll.

I've known quite a few reasonably good players who've been playing poker their whole lives control tilt by simply shifting to a less negative EV game (like roulette or dice)when they simply cannot leave the casino losing.

To avoid tilt completely you have to become completely comfortable with loss.

Re: tilt problems
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm certainly on a break right now. Played in one game, OOP player with 78o sucked out a str8 on my raised AQ. Played a 2nd game, had A9, a 9 the highest card on the board. Person before me limps in PF, bets 175 post-flop, I call, turn is X, he goes all-in, I think, putting him on face cards against a low board, then call. He turns JJ. A 3rd game I have AK, the board is A-J-7-J-7. Person goes all in. She has a 72o for a FH.
I think I'll stay away for a while.

[/ QUOTE ]

JJT, it sounds like your willing to call all in with top pair. Get this sillyness out of your game. The average hand is about 2 pair. 1 pair isn't a hand, it's a prayer. I make most of my moderate to large pots against guys with AA, KK preflop or hit a big top pair after the flop and think they have the boss hand. I'll call them preflop with small cards every time if the chip stacks are correct and the situation is right.

Dave

Re: tilt problems
 

When you start loosing to suckouts, whatever and feel that your tilting, shut down all tables and do something else. Physical activity is best. Restart your session with a clear mind or you'll end up tilting the rest of your cash away.

Re: tilt problems
 

Seriously, the best remedy is to really know the game of poker. I know that this sounds way too simplistic, but hear me out.

If you're playing within your bankroll, where you can handle some variance, and you're playing properly, mathematically speaking, then you are playing a solid game. Reminding yourself of that fact seriously does wonders.

I used to get super pissed off when I would 4BB raise my AKs, only to have a caller suck out on me with a 4-flush or something ridiculous like that. That is, until I learned that for nearly all of my bad beats, I'd gotten my money in ahead. Statistically, I was supposed to win all of the hands I'd lost in this fashion; meaning, I played as per the objective of the game of poker. I made good plays.

I realized that in the long term, that karma (or the odds, pick one) would play in my favour- and I was right.

This was my 'point of enlightenment'. It isn't about what you concretely win now- it's all about what you win in the long term.

Just keep getting your cash in ahead, and you're golden. Don't let it bug you.

Re: tilt problems
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am having major tilt problems, I had played well and built a bankroll, only to tilt off 50% of it a few days ago. I played some solid poker the past few days, got it back up to where it was and a few bad beats and off I go again, and I tilted off 75% of what i had. Feeling pretty down now, don't know if there is any answer but others experiences or advice would be most helpful.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can totally relate to this. Its definitely something that i need to improve on if i even want to consider playing more poker. It seems like i'll play perfect poker, get aa cracked by some goof and panic and move up stakes when i should go down. It always ends the same way about 5 hrs later, im sitting going wtf were you thinking. You turned a thirty dollar downswing to a 200 downswing. And then i start over again with a much smaller br.

Re: tilt problems
 

Take a break and when you come back drop down a level or two for a session. It's great for the confidence.

Re: tilt problems
 

One of my MAJOR leaks. As the saying goes, misery loves company! I also spew chips when ahead, cash, tournaments, whatever.
One thing I'll suggest and will try myself: Try leaving the game when your stack is high, even if you've only been playing a little bit. Of course easier for cash games than tourney games. This may be a technique to discipline yourself better.

In tournaments, depending on the blind levels, try getting up from the seat for 3-4 hands.

I welcome any suggestions for plugging this Major leak.

Re: tilt problems
 

I've been pondering this myself for a number of reasons. I don't know much about it, but it seems it would help me relax, stay calm, and would definitely help relieve some of the stiffness and tightness in my body.

Re: tilt problems
 

I looked through my notes from June that outlined all my major leaks. Surprise, Surprise, I still have the same leaks.
You are absolutely right, in that it is a mental problem!! I know what my mistakes are, but I keep making them.
I'm imposing a break from the game until I figure out how to address the problems.

Re: tilt problems
 

[ QUOTE ]
you need to block out all results and only concentrate on the hand your playing.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is either a very correct statement or flawed with weakness.
Correct - if you play each hand as a separate entity, in and of itself, you address the issue of spewing off chips when you have an advantage.

Flawed - Knowing how your opponents have played previous hands should affect how you play your hand.

Conclusion: Fix your leaks by concentrating on playing one hand at a time. When leak is fixed and sealed, then start taking into account opponents.

Does this make sense?

Re: tilt problems
 

The problem by OP though is NOT playing properly and NOT playing a sound game. I don't mind when I play really well, but lose. I do mind losing though when I play poorly.

Re: tilt problems
 

[ QUOTE ]
The problem by OP though is NOT playing properly and NOT playing a sound game. I don't mind when I play really well, but lose. I do mind losing though when I play poorly.

[/ QUOTE ]


Yea your right, after bad beats I make decisions I would normally not make and make ill-advised bluffs and general rash decisions.

Recently I have been playing shorter sessions, 30mins - 40mins then taking 5-10 minute breaks and coming back. It keeps me refreshed and I forget/get over those personal grudges I get with people who I feel make poor decisions and suck out against me.

I am not sure what ye think about shorter sessions and what negative affects this may have on my game and long-term profit.