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Preventing Tilt

A good start to preventing tilt is getting into the right playing mindset. Make sure you’re in a comfortable place when you play. Not too comfortable, though. A place that encourages work. No television, no video games, no distractions. Think of poker as your job- you need a place to do your job, so make one.

Get rid of all outside distractions. If you have a dog, close your office door. If you have a wife, divorce her. Okay, don’t do that. But tell anyone who might need you during your poker time to save it for later- you’re working.

Above all, be happy and confident going into your session. This sounds cheesy, but it helps. Revisit the section above on depression if you need more convincing.

Have a proper bankroll. When you aren’t worrying about money, you will play better. When you are worrying about money, you’ll play like it. Remember, the goal of poker is not necessarily to make money- it is to induce your opponents to waste it by making mistakes. You need to be able to afford to let your opponents screw up, without having to worry about refinancing your house.

Know the math. As I like to say, “don’t play poker- play math.” Seriously. Think about it. Poker as we know it in popular culture is a gambling game, played with cards. In my opinion, people who perceive the game that way will always play like gamblers. Think about the game as a series of mathematical decisions you need to make. On every street, you want to mathematically outsmart your opponent. Think of any situation in which you accomplish this to be a success, even if you lose money in the short term. You’ll make money long-term when the money is a secondary priority.

If all else fails… STOP PLAYING.

If you can’t seem to shake your tilt, just stop playing. There is nothing wrong with quitting a session. Poker will always be there, but your bankroll might not be if you make bad judgments. As soon as you sense yourself making poor decisions, stand up and quit. Play again tomorrow.

If you find you’re constantly making bad decisions, losing lots of money, and continuing to do so even though it’s affecting your life- get help. There are a wealth of resources available to you that will assist you in overcoming your gambling addiction. One of which is Gamblers Anonymous. As the name suggests, it’s anonymous, which can ease the apprehension you may have about admitting your problem. If you think you’ve got one, seeking help will be the best step you could ever take.

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