A winning poker player needs a lot of patience. He must be able to wait patiently until a playable hand is deal to him-considering all the factors involved in hand selection. (This is made easier using the Hold'em Algorithm as described in my Hold'em or Fold'em? booklet.) But there is another aspect that we rarely consider: Patience also can help you avoid going on tilt.
Recently I had the pleasure to hear a great speech on tilt presented by a lovely young lady named Aniko Kaiser. She was the featured speaker at the weekly Normandie Casino Poker Discussion Group, a wonderful service for those of us who want to become more skilled.
Aniko came well-prepared. Tilt means losing control of your ability to play your best "A" game. Aniko pointed out that there can be many different causes of tilt. Most common is losing with a great hand to a real long-shot who should have folded before the turn. Or you might go on tilt when you make a poor decision (no one is perfect). On occasion, an opponent will taunt you in an effort to put you on tilt. Going in with strong hands, only to lose hand after hand, can tilt the best of us. Typical emotions are frustration and anger. You may lose confidence in your poker skills. In all cases, the result is the same: The on-tilt player makes more mistakes and plays poorly, perhaps irrationally. He loses even more money than before.
Patience is Essential. Recognizing this, a smart player will consciously take steps to avoid going on tilt. Take a break, go for a walk. I suggest that exercising patience may be the best way to avoid going on tilt. Staying power is the key. Be determined not to surrender to your emotions. Realize that luck is a big factor in the game of poker, but in the long run, skill will always come out ahead. An essential part of that skill is having patience- the ability to bite your lips and wait. Endure. Sooner or later the tide will turn and the Poker Gods will smile on you once more. Sometimes it rains; sometimes the skies are blue ...
After Aniko's talk, with her lesson well in mind, I went into a $3-$6 game that was underway. After winning a few hands early on, the cards went cold for me-very cold. Whenever I was dealt a decent starting hand, the board always failed to cooperate, while my opponents seemed to be catching all the cards they needed. Pocket aces cracked can be frustrating! Starting with A-Q suited, and getting a flop with two kings and none of your suit, makes you wonder.
Recalling Aniko's advice to avoid going on tilt (you're never too old to learn), I waited patiently. My turn would come. Meanwhile, I carefully observed how my opponents played their hands. That reduced the stress of anxiety, and helped me to be patient. Then, suddenly the sun broke through the clouds: I had a series of good starting hands, and each one connected with the board. In no time at all, I had recouped my losses and was well ahead. Silently, I congratulated myself for not going on tilt. It would have been so easy to fall into that trap. My confidence was restored. Thanks to Aniko's teachings and my ability to be patient, I was able to go home a big winner for that session.
So, readers, what's your opinion?
