Rec and Sports

Are You in the Right “Poker State of Mind”?

If you have been around poker for some time or even if you are new to the game, you have probably heard the word TILT. In a nutshell, being on TILT means that you are no longer thinking clearly or that something occurred at the table that has upset you. A few things that could set someone on TILT are :

1.       Taking a Bad Beat  – Getting your cash in the pot with the best hand only to be outdrawn by a  weaker hand

2.       Being shown a Bluff – Sometimes after you fold your opponent will show his terrible hand which can get you upset

3.       Drunk Players at the Table – Although it’s fun to play against people when they have been drinking as they tend to make errors, listening to them yap away is enough to upset anyone

4.       Trash Talker at the Table – This is a tactic some players use to get under your skin. They constantly berate you at the table hoping to get an edge and make you do something stupid to lose all of your chips. (I’m really not a big fan of this approach, but it is effective for some)

These are just a few examples of things that can put you TILT. At any point that you don’t feel like you are making good decisions then it’s probably for the best that you take a break. Poker is a game of incomplete information where we try to make the correct decisions. If you’re not thinking correctly and making bad decisions then you stand a good chance to lose a lot of money. If you want to have long term poker success then being in the critical “Poker State of Mind” is crucial. Here are some other examples of things to avoid:

1.       Avoid playing if you are Tired

2.       Don’t play if you are drinking or have been drinking

3.       Avoid watching TV while playing

4.       Don’t  answer emails or surf the web

I know sometimes poker can be long in between hands to play so we tend to do other things. If you find yourself getting bored and looking for things to do, my suggestion would be to play a few tables at the same time if you are playing on line. By playing more than one table it increases you chances of playing more hands and eliminating the possibilities of getting bored. If you find yourself not focussing and lacking concentration then you should probably take a break. There will always be another game tomorrow so there is no need to worry.

If you are interested in learning more about being a Winning Poker Player, go ahead and grab a FREE copy of my special poker report: “Poker Secrets – 5 Mistakes to Avoid Even Before You Sit Down at The Table” by visiting http://www.virtualpokercoaching.com