Understanding Tilt
by Dougie Goguen | Dec 27 2011
Let's say you're the absolute best poker player in the world, a seemingly-unbeatable juggernaut who's said to take on all comers and walk away with more money in your bankroll than what you started off with. What nobody knows (or wants to acknowledge) is that you still have losing days at the table, just like everyone else.
So, what's your secret? How do you make sure you stay ahead of the game? You quit when you're losing.
Play free online poker at Bodog today!Knowing when to say you've had enough and walk away from the tables for a day or two will do wonders for your bankroll and table image. Sure, there will always be a few people who say you should play until you're out of money, but the difference between a profitable player and the rest of the pack is knowing when enough is enough. So, how do you know when to quit?
If you're playing limit poker, it's wise to hang up your chips for the day if you've had a swing of 40 bets or more either way, really, Forty big bets at limit poker is a lot of money, especially if you're playing in longhanded games and having swings of this size can really start to wear on you, emotionally and psychologically.
The only reason to break the 40-big-bet rule is if the game you are in is really good. (And if you've lost 40 big bets in the course of a session, it's not a really good game.)
It's more than just money, though: you should quit because you are tilting or tired and run the risk of making stupid decisions.
Everyone talks about "tilting," but what are some of the signs that show you're entering into dangerous territory? Here are three things that I think are common to poker players who are looking into the abyss.
1. You always think your opponents are bluffing. Logically, this is impossible and just proof that you've grown paranoid.
2. You really want to break even for the day, and then you'll be done. You won't. Just let it go.
3. You want to get back into the action as soon as possible. We all do, but you're not going to play well at all, no matter how refreshed you think you are.
Get more bang for your bankroll buck with Bodog's online poker tournaments.Don't through good money after bad when you play poker - good bankroll management helps you absorb the losses that variance inflicts upon you.
Trying to "break even" during a problem session isn't necessary - just quit and come back to the cards once they've warmed back up.
Understanding how and why tilt happens and doing your level best to minimize its impact is one of the things that will define a profitable player from the rest of the pack.
