There are many components of an expert poker player. One thinks of card sense, logical thinking, not being averse to risk, etc, but by far the most often considered aspect is the quality of psychological endurance.

The term “tilt” is one just about everyone has heard of and refers to a change of course in the game – a downturn. Tilt represents a specifically poker-related mental and emotional state, one where the player is irrationally influenced into making moves he never would have made in his normal play. Quite often, in this tilted condition, the player begins a sudden phase of loose-aggressive play or can turn into an unmanageable maniac, or many other weird undesirable deviations from his usual method of play. At times, fear is behind the tilt and the player becomes tight-passive. Whatever the tilt origination, the player is headed down the road to defeat.

One can save money and psyche by averting the disastrous tilt rather than attempting to struggle against it once it has you under its spell. An in-depth knowledge of poker is helpful. An understanding of distance and dispersion in poker will make it easier to get through the rough patches. Also, a general awareness of what mathematical statistics and probability theory laws are can give you a more realistic view of poker and many other aspects of life.

Even a simple comprehension of statistics will help you to realize that specific combinations do not always result in specific results of success, e.g., AQs in combination come with a 68% chance of success which can result in a loss of one out of every three deals.

It would be nice if knowledge alone was all that was needed – not so. Of course you are aware that bad things can occur but you don’t dwell on the negative. Even so, when they do happen, that extraordinarily lucky, but obvious beginner, can drive you up the wall and very shortly put you into full tilt mode and you are off on a tangent. Even if you recognize the tilt, you are too far gone at this point to control it.

That is, too far gone for now, but besides poker knowledge, there is something else that can come to your rescue and keep you from the tilt, and that is a deep insight into what triggers you personally into one – those hot buttons that when pushed, push you over the brink.

You must have a clear idea of an event to gain any control over it. You must be able to recognize such an event coming on before it hits and brings out the demons in you. Do not go with falling blindly under the spell of the tilt, observe yourself prior to, during and after the event and this insight will help you avoid the sensation of impending doom and can be more easily dealt with.

Pragmatism is what you are after here. When you feel a tilt coming on, you will be able to recognize the signs and be far more capable of controlling it, if not being able to completely avoid it.

The author of this article plays online poker and gets Rakeback at Fat Bet Poker where they offer the highest Fat Bet Rakeback.

categories: poker,card games,tilt,games,gambling,psychology,self control,recreation,entertainment,hobby,hobbies,fun,sport