***In Chapter 2 of this guide, I discussed ways to alleviate the negative effects of tilt. This installment’s objective is to look at one of the less obvious manifestations of tilt and discuss how to recognize and counter-act this problem. ***
In season two of GSN’s High Stakes Poker, Daniel Negreanu hits a tough run of cards and goes on tilt. He exhibits a few of the stereotypical signs of tilt such as playing looser and more aggressively. He does a decent job of attempting to control it. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to stop one of the more subtle aspects from rearing its ugly head. Daniel began to try TOO hard.
Unfortunately, this happens to players when they chose to battle their emotions and continue to try to play good poker on tilt. They try too hard to win and end up beating themselves. For instance, a poker player might flop a set but the flop is all hearts and call when he is check-raised all-in because there is no way his set is second best AGAIN. Perhaps, a person has been playing more aggressively yet with control. However when someone stands up to him with a re-raise, the player thinks the person is just taking advantage of his aggressiveness. He may push or call all in with the poor reasoning of “He probably just thinks I’m bluffing and is trying to catch me in one.” Of course, the other guy turns over a big over pair and doubles up. Then there is the flipside. Players may play more passively to make sure they don’t get out drawn again. They are trying so hard to save money on another possible bad beat that they are creating opportunities for their opponents to correctly draw out on them.
The best way to counteract this is to stop playing. Take a break for an hour, a day, a week or whatever it takes. However not everyone has that luxury. Some have an addiction that needs satisfying. Others have bills to pay. Still others have an opportunity that forces them to play because it won’t be available if they wait a day or a week. Often it is a combination of these and other compounding factors. These players try to play their best and hope the poker gods cut them some slack. That’s not all that can be done. Players can do things like listen to relaxing music. This will help them calm down and remain focused.
However, if one has to play, the best advice is a little unorthodox. Instead of trying so hard to play well, try less. If you are playing online, multi-table while browsing articles on the web or talking on aim. If you are at a casino or a home game, pay more attention to the game on the TV or strike up a conversation with your neighbor. Just take it easy, play the cards instead of the player for a while, and distract yourself. It’s not maximum EV poker but neither is playing on tilt. If you do things like this to take some of your attention away from the game, you are less likely to imagine your opponents are trying to bluff you every hand or you are better able to lay down that flush draw. You’ll let the game come to you and that’s the easiest way to win at poker. It’s not always the best way, but it’s the easiest. Play tight and aggressive. Fold when you think you are behind and bet when you think you are ahead. And most importantly, don’t try so hard. Have some fun and the tilting will be over before you realize it.
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