Texas Holdem Poker

Texas Holdem Poker is an emotional game, with a lot of momentum swings and tough decisions to be made. Tilt is when you get those negative feelings, like you can’t do anything right. You try playing tight and can’t pick up any cards, when you play loose and keep getting called down. Tilt is unavoidable, its going to happen and how you deal with it will determine how good of a player you are. I look at tilt as if the table is tilting away from you, no matter what you do the chips in front of you keep sliding to the other side of the table. To be a productive Texas Holdem poker player, you need to master the art of controlling your emotions. A lot of players don’t handle tilt well, or don’t recognize the symptoms. Its different whether your playing in side action or tournaments, in cash games you can get up and walk away and take a breather. When playing in a tournament a lot of the times you have to play threw the bad moments and figure out a way to control your feelings. There are many different forms of tilt and can be different for every player, I will try and help you learn how to deal with some of the forms.

The Cards – If you are a tight or solid player, the cards you are dealt can put you on tilt. If you sit back and wait for big hands, but they don’t come all players will get frustrated. When the cards effect you, the game begins to get one dimensional. Two things can happen you never get that big hand and end up pushing with lesser cards or you get a good hand and over play it. If you are a tight player the best thing you can do is be patient, don’t change your strategy and stay with the game plan. If you have been sitting at a table for along time picking up no cards and then you get an Ace – 10 unsuited, it might look very good to you, but be careful. Don’t over play the hand, just because it is the best hand you have seen in awhile. If you do eventually get the hand you have been waiting for pocket aces, remember that they can lose. You have your aces, but the community cards are 9h – 10d – 8h – 6h – Kc, there is a good chance they got busted and if you make a dumb play you will go on serious tilt. If you are “card dead” the best thing to do is stay patient and stick with your game plan. If this becomes a problem and you can’t control your emotions in a cash game, call it a day and go home.

The Player - Well this one is common and all good players have come across it, probably often. Your at a table with a player who is not very good and they seem to catch on you every time, and they are counting your money. Its important to remember that the best player doesn’t always win. The worst thing you can do when playing Texas Holdem is chase your money. Chasing your money is when you are down and change your game plan to get that money back. You will run into people that you don’t like at poker tables, people who will play bad, break rules and run there mouth. Do not let these people get under your skin, that is exactly what they want. Annoyance or irritations can force you into making bad decisions and lose money. In tournaments you will have no choice who you play with, but in side action don’t play with people who you don’t like. The best thing to do is ignore a player and never ever chase your money.

The Draw - We have all had these nights, when you get a good draw on every hand and can’t hit. You get suited cards and connectors and have 12 – 13 outs every hand, but can’t make anything, and consistently lose to second or third pair. For me this is the worst, you will lose money with out seemingly putting up a fight. Money will disappear from in front of you and you won’t even realize where it all went. When you feel “draw tilt”, once again be patient, probabilities say you will hit your draws sooner or later. If you play a lot of hands pre flop, you will run into this problem, you play small connecters to pick up draws and if your not making the hands you will lose money. If you continue to lose money on draws change your style raise more pre flop to set up bluffs or fold some of those connectors. If you start folding and tightening up I bet you will see draws hit the cards you would have been playing, and that will make the tilt worse.

Rules of tilt, never chase your money, never let another Online Poker player get in your head and control your emotions. Yes I know this is easier said then done, but remember it is just a game and there will be better days. If you can’t get your emotions under control, stop playing. If you are in a tournament, take a break get away from the table, go get a drink or something to eat and take your mind off the game. You need to realize the symptoms of tilt and they are unique to every player. Another thing you need to know is the signs that your competitors are going on tilt. Take advantage of players on tilt and control your own emotions and you will be a successful Texas Holdem player. Texas Holdem is an easy game, its all about control and momentum. Controlling your emotions is key and if you master it your game will go to the next level.