Tilt is a concept most poker players are aware of, but the effect it actually has on their bottom line is realized by few. When you lose your composure at the poker table due to a bad beat or two, this is called Tilt. When another player gets under your skin it can happen, causing you to make plays that you wouldn’t normally make. These plays not only can cost money but sometimes a lot of money. At a casino or card room, if you lose control, thankfully it’s only at one table at a time, so you can maybe calm down and regain your composure after a few hands. When playing six to eight tables at once online, what then?

Faster dealing and multi-tabling are a couple of advantages when playing online. It is possible to play ten or twenty times the amount of hands that you could using live play. When you’re playing your best this is a great way to make money, but it can cost you a fortune when you’re on tilt. In a live game, if it takes you ten minutes to calm down you will generally tilt for three or four hands. Sixty or more hands can be seen in ten minutes when playing online. Chances are if you are tilting for sixty hands you will make more mistakes and lose more money. Instead of gradually calming down when this happens poker players tend to become more agitated causing them to lose more money. The cycle is hard to stop once it starts because losing more money will cause you to stay on tilt or become worse and so on. How can these situations be identified?

Some degree of tilt is probably experienced when a normally tight solid player begins playing fast and loose. The number of hands lost in a row is another thing to look for. You may not realize you’re on tilt, but if you are spewing chips, you better do something fast to calm down and stop the bleeding.

Taking a walk, as easy as it sounds, or taking a ten minute break, can help you regain your composure. The problem is, if you stand up every time you lose a big hand you’ll spend more time walking than playing poker. Tightening up and paying close attention to your game is a more realistic solution. Talking to yourself, as crazy as it may sound, may help plays make more sense after losing a big pot. If you ask yourself, “Does it make sense to raise with Ace Four Suited under the gun?”, and your answer is no, then you should probably fold. You can also fold a few borderline plays that you may otherwise take a chance with. You may be surprised at how many mistakes you can save yourself from just by talking to yourself.

The answer to tilt is different for everyone. The common solution is that you need to do whatever works to calm you down and get back on your A game. If you’re multi-tabling, you need to do it quick or your bankroll will take a serious hit.

The author of this article plays poker online and receives Rakeback at Absolute Poker. He is also a contributer at Rakeback Solution.

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