How to avoid tilting - good session preparations

Have you ever had a feeling that everything goes wrong, worse players just keep beating you and you are losing tons of chips, even if you play well? Does it make you a bit angry or frustrated? That feeling is called Tilt in poker and it happens for everyone. The difference between a pro and a random player is that pro's tilt doesn't last for long and they know how to handle it (ofc, Phil Hellmuth is an exception). I gathered here some hints to avoid tilting.

But first, why are we tilting? There could be plenty of reasons. One of the most common type of tilt starts when someone takes the pot, even if he was a big underdog. Maybe you had 80 % against him, but he managed to flop a hand that beats you. Or river is the one card that makes you lose the pot. Sometimes you are just tired and bored and you start to hit the pot button all the time, losing a big pile of chips. Tilting makes you play a lot worse than you would play otherwise. It is because strong emotions usually take a place in your working memory, which processes everything you do. When you have these strong emotions, you are not making good decisions as you don't use your whole knowledge of poke. In fact, you might even be in a gamble mode due to your tilt and you know that you shouldn't play that way. You just don't care.

Good ways to avoid tilt:

1. Good session preparations

One should always be ready to play poker. You have to take up a determinated state of mind to play your best poker. You are not going to play just for fun (it's a part of game, though), but you are there to make profit. If you are a random player who plays only for enjoy, you won't last for long. When you start your session it's also important that you are calm enough. As stated, strong emotions cause you play your B-Game or worse, so it's not a good idea. One shouldn't play poker when he is tired either, coz then you are not using your whole capacity.

2. Set your goals

One should always set up goals for their game. Both short- and long-term goals help you to play more solid and to play according to your plans. It makes you more motivated for playing and then you are less likelier to go on tilt.

3. Know WHY you tilted

It happens for everyone, but next time when you have a feeling that you are going to tilt, take a piece of paper and mark it up. Then stop playing for now. After that you should think of why you tilted. Was it a donk who just hit their 1-outer, or did you do something wrong? Anyway, if you know why you tilted, you are probably able to avoid the same spot next time. Understanding and processing own faults helps you to become a player who can control their tilt

There's plenty of more to come but that will be a task that I'll perform later. With these small guidelines you can already get started.

When downswing strikes...

..Then the best way to beat it is to add more volume!

Cash control - perfect example of what not to do

Well well well.. Started my day bad by playing 2-3 tables, and when I didn't hit, I started to make some extreme moves on those Speed tables - Didn't work, as you can see. I was sth like 4 BIN down, and the advise here would be: shut your poker App and F*** off. Jerk off, if you will. This time I made a different choice (which could have ended up pretty bad): I started to play nitty, and used 5-6 tables there. It's perfect example of how not to play. When your down, you quit, and try again tomorrow. This way you usually sign your death assignment, and will regret it tomorrow.

Anyway.. I managed to survive, this time. I even made some winnings today (not much, though). I noticed that playing on speed tables means, that you can't bluff that lot. 1 str maybe, 2 str for semibluff, but with air.. No more than 1 str, never. There's so many stations and maniacs etc, and the worst thing is that you can't make that much reads on them to adjust your play.

ABC poker - that's the key in games there.

Today's gaming... Got my redline on control, meaning that my Non-SD winnings have improved!

When to c-bet?

C-bet? What is it? It is continuation bet, a simple bet, which follows your open raise pre-flop

When to c-bet?


If we only look what the board looks like, you should nearly always fire your c-bet. On a flop, where's A, K, Q, J, draws... Well, c-bet is usually working. By cbetting you can actually make your opponent to fold, but, on the contrary, you can also add some value for your hand (you hit a top pair, aces, and of course, want your opponent to call. That's why you cbet, even if you don't hit.)

Cbetting is easy, but the MOST important question is, when not to c-bet:


- On a multiway pot
You openraise, and there's 2 more players joining the pot. You miss the flop. Don't bet, even if your opponents check. You can make your bet only, if you hit something (top-pair, nut-flush draw, open end straight draw etc.), or if your opponents always fold on a bet without hand.

- Against calling stations
These guys love to play their hands to the end. Whenever you miss the flop, you shouldn't increase the pot, coz they won't fold. Just stay passive and hope for a hit. Of course, if you hit, you can bet 3 streets.


-Against maniacs
You can't cbet with air against them. They will raise you flop or turn, with any two, and then you're in trouble. Add value only with a hit, and let them to give their stack for you!

-On a drawy board (w/o hand)
Flop is 3 hearts, you opponent just called your opening. IF you don't have any hearts there (and your opponent is a thinking player), don't put any money to the pot. If you had sth like Kh there, then you could make one bet.

Less you lose, more you spare part. I

This is one of the biggest truth in poker that isn't that visible for a random player on poker: Every saved penny is worth a dollar in the future. Why? Coz you will lose little by little your dimes on poker, if you don't concentrate on your game. It's not that bad on micro levels, but when playing against better opponents and trying to gain edge against them it is a lot more important. Here's my tips for you to make yourself lose less and win more:

1. Be patient!

Probably the most common problem among new players. When you're not dealt good hands for a while, you start to play with some trash (and some times out of position, OOP!), which makes you to lose more money in the long run. For instance, you play 72 hands on a table. You haven't have any good hands and only stole some money on late position. You have A7o on a loose table, and you decide to make the open raise on MP1 (Full Table). Someone after you 3-bets. What can you do with that hand? Fold it.

So wait for your moment and take advantage of your weak opponents. Steal the blinds, make the cbet.. And you'll do fine. Besides, when you finally manage to hit your good hand, your opponents won't believe you as easily as they would if you had played only 1/72 hands, right?

2. Don't be sleepy

Well.. When your tired or drunk, you shouldn't play at all. You can't play your "A-game", can't make the right reads and usually you're impatient too. So avoid playing in this state. You might win once with a lucky hit, but losing 4 times for that isn't good enough. So be sharp.

Same goes when you're quite energetic, but a bit bored with playing poker. There's the place for a break, and after that you can multitable for a while.

This serie will go on one tip at a time, so here's the opening two. More will come soon!

How to play monster hands

Here's my first poker video. It doesn't tell you much, but quite a lot about good hands.. :)