I can bet that you have heard the term TILT if you have been around the game of poker for some time. In a nutshell, being on TILT means that you are no longer thinking clearly or that something occurred at the table that has upset you. A few things that could set someone on TILT are :
1. Taking a Bad Beat – Getting your cash in the pot with the best hand only to be outdrawn by a weaker hand
2. Being shown a Bluff – Sometimes after you fold your opponent will show his terrible hand which can get you upset
3. Drunk Players at the Poker Table – Although it’s fun to play against people when they have been drinking as they tend to make errors, listening to them yap away is enough to upset anyone
4. Trash Talker at the Table – Some use this tactic to throw you off your game. They constantly berate you at the table hoping to get an edge and make you do something stupid to lose all of your chips. (I’m really not a big fan of this approach, but it is effective for some)
These are just a few examples of things that can put you TILT. If for any reason you find yourself TILTING it’s best to take a break and walk away from the table. Poker is a game of incomplete information where we try to make the correct decisions. If you’re not thinking correctly and making bad decisions then you stand a good chance to lose a lot of money. If you want to have long term poker success then being in the critical “Poker State of Mind” is very important. Here are some other examples of things to avoid:
1. Avoid playing if you are Tired
2. Don’t play if you are drinking or have been drinking
3. Avoid watching TV while playing
4. If you are surfing the web or answering emails, you really shouldn’t be playing
It can sometimes feel like forever waiting for hands to play so we tend to do other things. If you find yourself getting bored and looking for things to do, my suggestion would be to play a few tables at the same time if you are playing on line. By playing more than 1 table it increases you chances of playing more hands and reducing the possibilities of getting bored. You should probably quit for the day if you find your mind drifting or thinking of other things. Don’t worry, there will always be a game waiting for you tomorrow.
If you want to learn more about being a Winning Poker Player, go ahead and grab a FREE copy of my special poker report: “Poker Secrets – 5 Mistakes to Avoid Even Before You Sit Down at The Table” by visiting http://www.virtualpokercoaching.com