Poker is one of the most popular and fun games in the world. No other activity brings so many diverse and distant people together. Whether you prefer cash play, tournaments, Hold ‘Em, Omaha, PLO8, or anything else, it’s easy to spend hours at the tables playing. And with so much instructional information available these days, if you want to get serious about your game and take it to the next level, accomplishing that has never been easier.
However, even the most skilled players still have weaknesses. And one of the most common pitfalls for players of any level is the dreaded tilt. We all know that feeling. You catch a bad beat when you have your opponent wrapped up, only for them to pull a miracle out on the turn or river. Afterward, that rush of heat starts from the top of your head and goes all the way down. It’s maddening.
However, whether you play on the WPT app or live, it’s a regular part of the game, and the best players know how to deal with it, compartmentalize it, and move on. To help you do that, here are 4 tips to help avoid a steamer:
1. Be aware of your limits and weaknesses.
Only you know what gets under your skin at the table. Maybe it’s when a loose player who gambles a lot beats you two or three times in a row. Perhaps it’s people who do a lot of smack-talking when they play. Maybe it’s a dead card. Whatever it is, you must be honest with yourself and recognize that you are in a situation that might tilt you.
2. Continually expand your knowledge of the game.
One of the ways to avoid tilt is to avoid making mistakes. By constantly growing your game, you will be better equipped to deal with any situation and make the correct decisions when necessary. However, if you continue to stay at the same level, you will also continue to make the same mistakes.
3. Understand pot odds, implied odds, and probabilities.
Something every good player should know is the difference between a bad beat and a reasonable beat. This is due to not understanding odds and percentages. For example, in Omaha and PLO8, there are many instances where the best hand after the flop is not the mathematical favorite to win.
4. Take a break from the game.
Ultimately, if tilt has set in, the best thing you can do is call it quits for a little while. This is especially easy on the WPT app because once you have cooled off, you can get right back to the action!
Playing on the WPT app is more relaxing than live play.
A lot of people don’t realize this, but online play can be much less stressful than live play for many reasons. One is that you can mute the chat of obnoxious players. That alone can save you a lot of frustration.
Additionally, since you play so many more hands per hour (as well as the fact that you can play multiple tables), you are much less likely to be card dead for as long. Regardless, the most important thing is to apply the aforementioned techniques if you want to eliminate tilting from your game.