Players and psychology
Tilt in poker
Definition
An emotional state, such as anger or frustration, that makes a player take worse decisions than usual.
Tilt usually follows a bad beat, a long downswing or a mistake. Tilting players play too many hands, chase draws and bluff too much, so their losses grow quickly.
Common remedies are stop-loss limits, regular breaks, playing at stakes that do not stress your bankroll and leaving the table as soon as you notice tilt.
Related terms
- DownswingA losing stretch, sometimes long, that is caused by variance rather than by playing badly.
- Bad beatLosing a hand that was a big favourite to win, usually when the opponent hits a long-shot card.
- BankrollThe money set aside specifically for playing poker, separate from the money you need for living.
- ManiacAn extremely loose and aggressive player who bets and raises with almost any hand.