Tilt: The Enemy of Your Progress 🎯
Tilt is one of the most famous psychological traps that poker players face. It is a condition in which emotions override reason, leading to hasty decisions and a deterioration in the quality of play. To be successful in poker, it is crucial to be able to recognise the signs of tilt and deal with it effectively. In this article we will delve into the depths of tilt and learn how to deal with it using Jared Tendler's methods from his book ‘Mind Games’.
What is a tilt? 🤯
Tilt occurs when you lose control of your emotions in response to negative situations at the poker table. It manifests itself through anger, frustration or even despair. Any player can fall into this trap, regardless of skill level. The main problem with tilt is that you start making decisions based on emotion rather than logic.
Tendler divides tilt into several types:
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Classic tilt: anger at losing a hand, especially when you've been ‘run over’.
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Tilt of injustice: the feeling that the game is ‘unfair’ to you.
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Winning tilt: overconfidence after a win that leads to reckless play.
Why is tilt dangerous for you? ⚠️
When you tilt, you stop seeing the game objectively. You may underestimate the strength of your opponents' hands or overestimate your chances of success. In moments of tilt, many players start to play more aggressively or, on the contrary, too cautiously, which reduces their chances of success.
Example: Imagine you get run over by a phish on the river with pocket twos against your nat flush. You get pissed off, and on the next hand you go all-in with a questionable hand in an attempt to get a quick win. This is a classic example of how emotions can make your game worse.
Causes of tilt 💥
Tilt is the result of accumulated emotions and wrong attitudes. Here are some common causes:
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Expectation of constant wins: If you believe that you must always win against weaker players, every failure will throw you off balance.
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Illusion of Control: Many players tend to overestimate their control over the outcome of a game, forgetting the role of chance and variance.
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Injustice: When you feel like the game is constantly going against you, it causes anger and a desire to ‘prove yourself’.
How to handle tilt? 🛠
To defeat tilt, you need to gain a deeper understanding of its causes and use practical strategies to combat it. Tendler suggests several important steps:
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Identify the source of the tilt: Write down the moments when you lose control. This will allow you to recognise whether it is moves, losses from chips, or just a bad session that is causing the tilt.
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Reconsider your expectations: Expectations that you should always win create emotional pressure. Accept the fact that variance is part of the game and even the best players can lose.
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Develop a reaction plan: In moments of tilt, you need to switch to a premeditated strategy. For example, if you start to get angry, take deep breaths immediately or take a short break.
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Practice Emotional Control: Like any skill, controlling your emotions takes practice. The more often you become aware of your emotions in real time and work on controlling them, the faster you can beat tilt.
Практическое задание для борьбы с тильтом 🧠
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Write down the last 3 situations when you experienced tilt at the poker table. What exactly happened? What emotions did you feel?
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Analyse each situation: Why did you fall into a tilt? Was it due to expectations, an overestimation of control, or a feeling of unfairness?
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Create an action plan: How can you change your reaction in the future? How will you manage your emotions if it happens again?
Conclusion 📉
Tilt is a problem that every poker player faces, but it can be controlled. Using Jared Tendler's strategies, you can not only deal with tilt, but turn it into your strength. Continue to develop emotional resilience and your poker results are sure to improve.
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