Beware of going on “tilt” - Live To Fight Another Day!

The biggest fear of an online poker player is going on tilt, this means they are at their worst or most vulnerable in the game. Usually they will find themselves playing a lot of hands which they don't need to and end up losing most of them. They will place bad bets on poor hands and place high bets on mediocre hands. Obviously discernible bluffs are made out of desperation and all round bad decisions are made which they would not usually make and it is very hard to get out of tilt once you’re on it.

A player is like an addict when on tilt because you never want to admit it and continue to play until you lose your entire stack. You should never play when you are tired because your judgment is impacted and this can lead to tilt. Should you start feeling tired or sleepy you should stop playing and rest so when you come back you will be able to play in a better frame of mind. This cause of tilt is actually one you can control before it goes haywire.

Another cause of tilt is temper. Don’t let negative comments made to you by other players get under your skin, this will only result in you making costly mistakes. A lot of poker players will do this to make an opponent lose track of his game, making it easier for them to win. I’ve been through this and it’s so much easier to ignore them when you’re playing online poker. It is felt online poker players are less likely to go on tilt but the reverse is actually true. When you play a bad hand you will feel there are a thousand eyes on you when in reality there are none. Always and I repeat always turn off "online chat". Do not read what others are saying or chatting about and do not give them a chance to harass you and put you on tilt.

Should you be in a cycle where you are getting bad cards or making bad bets that you wouldn’t normally make then heed this as an early warning of tilt. You should try to stay calm in this situation because the more annoyed you get the faster you will be thrust into tilt. If you find yourself in this crucial moment then be responsible enough to walk away. Chances are that even if you stay and get a better hand you may already be off your game and it won’t make a difference.

Try to concentrate and stay focused on the poker game and what you are doing. The more distracted you get the more mistakes will be made, putting you closer to tilt. Having a bad day is yet another cause of tilt. You shouldn’t play if you’ve had a bad day. That should become a poker motto. If you are losing focus in a game, take a little walk. Relax your mind so you can regain your concentration, then come back and join the game refreshed. A lot of players go on tilt after they have lost a really big hand when they were sure they were going to win. Another tilt situation is where a player bluffs on a rubbish hand and another slightly better rubbish hand calls you and you lose.

All of these are sure warning signs of going on tilt, so beware. Bottom line is if you’re having a bad day, you should walk away you can always play poker another day.

Sarah Harrigan is the author and owner of http://www.choosinganonlinecasino.com . You can visit her website for strategies and tips for winning at an online casino plus a host of other useful online casino resources from reviews to do's and dont's when gambling online.