Tilt (Part II)

Tilt (Part II)1

An emotional response is always there for a reason, it's just a consequence of the structure that lies beneath it. To miss an emotional response as some random flash is the same as throwing away important information. There is no such thing as a simple tilt. Underneath it there are always certain values, desires or beliefs to which the tilt is only a response, only a symptom. If you want to learn how to manage the tilt, you first need to understand the emotional structures and motivations behind it.

So, there is one problem with the term "tilt", with the way we are used to using the term. We have defined tilt as an emotion that affects our game in a negative way, but we know that the range of emotions is very wide. Two players may say they have a problem with it and at the same time they may have nothing in common when talking about emotions, triggers or behaviour. One player may be flipping because he feels he will never win a flip, while the other may be flipping because he is tired, or has been playing too long, or his ex-wife has messed with his mind. So saying "I flipped today" does not at all describe why and in what way it happened. In fact, the very word 'tilt' gives us permission not even to investigate the reasons behind it. When someone says that they tilt, we don't ask "Come on, why did it happen? What exactly was the emotion you felt? How did the tilt affect your play at the table?"

Of course, poker players vigorously discuss their strategic mistakes: 'I 3-bet too much and tried to win too many pots.' Or " I kept calling his river shoves even when he was clearly playing nitty-gritty," but you'll never hear a player tell someone "I called because I felt like I deserved to win, so I decided to fold the big pots and increase the variance as I moved on."

This shouldn't come as a big surprise, especially as poker culture inhibits emotion and
an expression of vulnerability. Because of its hyper-masculine shell, it leaves no room for emotional self-knowledge. And while poker strategy has evolved tremendously over the last five years, the rigid tone and exchange of ideas has meant that widespread emotional skills training has not followed suit.

There is an implicit sense of taboo when talking openly about one's vulnerability to tilt. Although
we are quick to admit strategic mistakes, we prefer to just laugh at the tilt. Tilt (Part II2)We will joke about our inattention to friends and rage at our mistakes in solitude.

Emotional skills are trained in the same way as strategic skills. And they take time, discipline and, above all, a strong commitment to honestly see yourself and your mistakes.

Bringing all types of tilt under one roof. Jared Tendler, author of The Mental Game of Poker, lists six main types of tilt: injustice tilt, can't-lose tilt, error tilt, entitlement tilt, revenge tilt, despair tilt. These are targeted categories, but ultimately, tilt covers the whole spectrum and there is no one-size-fits-all generalised classification system. Each player has their own emotional profile, beliefs and values.

What's more, there is no single, universal answer to the question "why do people tilt?". Each player does it for a specific reason, specific to his or her own emotional triggers. Whether it is to vent a grudge, to escape an injustice, or to maintain egoistic homeostasis, we all tilt for our own reasons and in our own way. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, so each of us must try to understand our own emotional construction.

Now let's imagine that you are already playing a session and you realise that you have started to tilt, what can you do to calm your tilt? Well, the best thing would be to stop playing. However, since you are already tilt'ing, this will probably be pointless advice.

One of the most useful techniques to reduce tilt is breath control. There are hundreds of different breathing techniques, no matter which one you choose. If you don't know any, just do the following - when you realise you are tilt, first lean back in your chair. This will open your diaphragm and help your lower back. Relax your body as much as possible. Then close your eyes and start breathing deeply and slowly. As you breathe like this, try to scan your body with your inner gaze, thinking "Come on, what am I feeling? What is the feeling of tilt in my body? Where do I feel it? How do I feel it?" As you breathe in this way, objectively explore what inner feelings are you experiencing? Continue until you feel calm, relaxed and aware of how your body feels.

Tilt (Part II)This calm scanning of your body will quell many emotions. It is very possible that the mind may even decide to take a break from the game. But even so, if you continue to play, you will become more self-centred, calm and aware.

There are many ways to help with tilt: mantras you can chant to yourself, pre-session rituals, breaks, visualisation, mindfulness, etc. The list could be endless and everyone will find a tool that works for them,

However, most people find it difficult to cope with the problem of tilt by themselves. It's not impossible, and many players naturally get better at it over time, but the vast majority of those who try to get better at it naturally just don't succeed because tilt is the hardest part of the game to affect.

When someone is a complete monkey tilt'er, it's usually obvious even to them. Therefore, such people, if they hit rock bottom enough times, they always seek help. They know they are monkey tilt'ers. But for many players, a tilt is like a bear sleeping in the background. They never know when it will wake up and bite them again. Since this bear is mostly asleep, they don't feel that it is a big problem. In fact, most poker players would be more successful if they tilt constantly, but in small 'doses', then they are constantly dealing with their emotional weaknesses.

Finding a coach is, of course, the best solution to tilt problems. However, if the problems are very serious and have many negative consequences in your life, then it may be best to meet with a psychologist or other qualified therapist. Although a coach can help you understand your motivations, build a tilt profile, help you cope with tilt and help you develop better habits, it is only one step from tilt to gambling. If you can't tell exactly where you are, it's better to talk to a qualified professional.

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