Tilt is when emotions — usually frustration or anger — make you play worse poker than you normally would. The name comes from pinball machines, which stop working when tilted. Almost every player tilts sometimes; the best players notice it and stop.
Common types of tilt
- Bad-beat tilt: after losing a big pot as a favorite.
- Revenge tilt: trying to win it back from one player.
- Losing tilt: chasing losses to get back to even.
- Winning tilt: playing loosely after a big win because you feel invincible.
- Boredom or fatigue tilt: playing hands just to stay busy, or late at night when tired.
Warning signs
- Playing more hands than usual, or calling when you would normally fold.
- Moving up in stakes to win losses back.
- Replaying a bad beat in your head during the next hands.
- Feeling physically tense, rushed or angry.
How to stop tilt
- Set a stop-loss before you play, such as three buy-ins, and leave when you hit it.
- Take a short break after a big pot, win or lose.
- Judge decisions, not results. A bad beat means you got your money in good.
- Understand variance. The variance simulator shows how long losing stretches can be even for winning players.
- Track your sessions. In the free poker tracker, add a note on your mood and compare results over time. Many players find their worst sessions all follow the same pattern.
More terms in the poker glossary.
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