Jeff Stanzel

Going on tilt is a dangerous animal. It can cost you a session’s profits in one hand. Being able to control your emotions is one characteristic that separates a good poker from a great player. How many times have you told yourself that you are going to play a well disciplined poker game, only to find yourself on tilt two hours into the session. No one sits down at the poker table with the intention of going on tilt, but it happens. Something during the session happens to put us on tilt. 

It takes a patient, well disciplined player to avoid going on tilt. Some players have a natural patient , well disciplined personality. Others, have to learn this.  To become a long term winner you should remember the following facts of poker before sitting down at the poker table;

               - you will not get good cards all the time

               - you will get run down and will suffer bad beats

               - you will have losing sessions

               - you will have losing streaks

               - certain players will get on your nerves from time to time

               - poker is just a game

The sooner you accept these realities of poker and learn to deal with them, the easier it will be for you to remain composed, maintaining your discipline.

How many times have you gone to play poker after a bad day at work or late at night after having a few beers? If your answer is once, it is once too many. When you sit down to play poker you have to be in the right frame of mind. Not doing so, is like playing with fire. Sooner or later you will get burnt.

Your mind should be clear, allowing you to concentrate and focus, therefore keeping you disciplined. If you are not naturally patient, maintaining your patience can sometimes be work. Why not give yourself the best odds to remain patient, do not play poker if;

          -you are in a bad mood

          -you have had a bad day

          -you are tired or not feeling well

          -you want to relax because you feel irritable

          -your bankroll is not sufficient

          -you have already been drinking

          -you plan to only play a few hands

I don’t care how great a professional athlete is,  if they are undisciplined taking unnecessary penalties, their team’s chance of winning is greatly diminished. The same thing occurs in poker. No matter how good of a poker player you are, if you keep going on tilt, you will not be a long term winning player. Try  implementing the above tips the next time you play poker. Remember, avoid tilt at all costs, your bankroll will thank-you.

Jeff Stanzel

Justin Baxter Enterprises