Psychology and emotions are a true reflection of who we are and are a vital part of being human. In any walk of life, emotions can have a negative and a positive impact on our lives and the decisions we make. Whether you’re playing poker or playing sports, your emotions can drastically change both how you feel and the decisions you make.
When playing high-stakes games such as poker, you have to ensure you are able to keep control of your emotions and keep yourself calm. Poker is a game of skill and calmness, and the ability to handle your emotions in difficult situations is key to becoming a world-class player.
But what happens when you’re not able to control your emotions and lose that calmness that’s so important? That’s called Tilt, it’s where you lose focus and can’t keep calm under pressure, resulting in poor decision-making and possible loss of the game. In this article we’ll be taking a look into the psychology of tilt, how it comes on, and strategies you can use to prevent it.
Have you ever been playing a game and you are on a losing streak, and you think I’ll just play till I win? But the longer it goes on the more frustrated you become, and it feels like you are stuck in a never-ending loop. That’s essentially what tilt is, it’s where you become frustrated or angry during a game, resulting in poor decisions that you otherwise wouldn’t make if you were in a calm state of mind.
Tilt will normally take place in situations such as a high-stakes game and things aren’t going your way or if you have lost a few games in a row. What you will find is players trying to claw back these losses by going above and beyond to recover their position.
When feeling this pressure players may do the following:
Increase their bets
If you’re on a losing streak, players may think a win is just around the corner and therefore keep increasing their bets to make up for the losses they’ve just had. This can get out of hand quite quickly as once you start increasing your bets each time, it can quickly add up to a substantial amount of money.
Making risky plays
Poker is a game of skill, and one of those skills is remaining calm and patient. What players experiencing tilt will do is go bigger on these plays, making moves that would be otherwise considered risky. Whilst there is a potential for these to pay off, it’s more than likely they won’t and you’ll end up going out early.
Making rash decisions
Instead of deciding to take a break as you are on a losing streak, you decide to continue playing and push through the losses. We all know taking a break when things are getting frustrating is key to keeping a cool head, but when you are experiencing tilt, this sometimes doesn’t come into your thoughts, and your head becomes clouded with frustration leading to bad rash decisions.
Realising you may be experiencing tilt
If you see yourself experiencing the above, or someone you know, it may be a sign they’re experiencing tilt. The first hurdle is recognizing it and then getting the right support to move past it. Here are just some ways in which you can stop or prevent tilt from happening.
Take regular time outs
Set time limits on your gaming sessions. Regardless if you’re on a winning streak, set a limit on the time or the amount of games you can play in one sitting. That way, even if you’re on a losing streak, you know to stop after that amount of games. This can be key to preventing tilt as you already have something in place to prevent it from gaining traction.
Take breaks
If you find yourself getting frustrated or angry whilst playing, it’s a clear sign to take a breath, step away from the game, and spend some time away from the screen. By doing this, even for five minutes, just breaks that cycle and allows you to return to normal focus. Once you return, you’ll be in a much clearer headspace and have the best opportunity to give the next game your all.
Poker is ultimately a game made for enjoyment and fun, however, sometimes it can get the better of us and take over. If this happens it can lead to a significant impact on life and finances so it’s important to understand the risks involved. By following some of the above steps and tips, you can spot or even better prevent tilt from taking place, ensuring you remain safe whilst playing and giving you the best possible chance to succeed.
