One of the most common challenges bettors face is handling emotions in the face of adversity. When people experience unexpected losses, it can lead to many people acting impulsively to chase their losses which can wreak havoc on bankrolls.
This concept is known as ‘tilt’. Tilt is a state of mind where anger or frustration clouds your judgment. It’s a human reaction and may not be unique to the gaming world. However, in betting, tilt can turn a bad day into a catastrophic one if it’s left to run riot.
The term ‘tilt’ originated in the poker world, where players suffering bad beats would act irrationally, throwing them off their so-called ‘A-game’. Since then the term has been adopted across the gaming landscape to describe any loss of emotional control.
The six types of tilt
Tilt can be experienced in various guises. So much so that some believe there are six types of tilt to consider. In fact, you may be surprised to find that tilt can occur when you win at the poker tables, as well as lose unexpectedly. That’s the view of Bahman Zarghami, a mindset and performance coach that’s worked closely with many serious poker players for more than seven years to acknowledge and overcome tilt. Tilt not only influences a player’s emotions but it can also negatively impact on their focus, win rate and the length of the sessions they play. Mastering one’s mind is vital to avoid falling into a continuous tilt cycle which can have lasting effects on your poker bankroll. Below are the six most common forms of tilt for poker players to consider, according to Zarghami.
- Classic Tilt
The most standard form of tilt, classic tilt rears its ugly head after a specific unforeseen loss on a home win banker selection or if a poor decision leads to more reckless behaviour. - Revenge Tilt
If you ever feel wronged by a perceived injustice, this is known as revenge tilt. It’s a feeling of anger empowering you to get even on something or someone. - Entitlement Tilt
If you believed that you deserved to win a bet due to your skill or previous success, this can entitlement tilt. This occurs when your outcomes don’t align with your expectations. - Injustice Tilt
This is a similar type of tilt to revenge tilt, but on a broader scale. It stems from feeling like it’s you against the universe and that the game is ‘rigged’ against you. - Desperation Tilt
If you’ve suffered prolonged losses, desperation tilt may creep in, resulting in you betting impulsively in an attempt to retrieve funds. However, this can often lead to bigger losses. - Winner’s Tilt
This is a very different type of tilt. You can experience tilt even when you win. A big win can create a sense of overconfidence, leading to reckless decision-making.
Popular strategies for shrugging off tilt
Knowing you’re tilted and dealing with it are two different things. Below, we’ll explore some of the coping mechanisms to manage and overcome tilt and regain a sense of control.
The simplest strategy of all is to step away as soon as you’ve had a tilting experience. If you have a bad beat or a wager goes against you, cease all forms of gaming for the rest of the day. Clear your head and reset yourself emotionally to go again another day.
Another important approach to overcome tilt is to see losses as part and parcel of the process. Variance will happen in any walk of life. There is a role of luck in betting and gaming, with even the most watertight of strategies failing to guarantee wins. Viewing unexpected losses as temporary blips rather than the end of the world is the best mindset to adopt.
This ties in nicely with focusing your efforts on the long game. Any type of betting or gaming is a marathon, not a sprint. When you put your betting into this context, short-term losses don’t seem so important. Just trust your processes, stay disciplined and wait for the next opportunity to present itself.
Another effective way of learning what triggers your tilt is to keep a diary. Log your betting history and keep a record of each session. This may provide invaluable patterns or insights into potential causes of your tilt.
It doesn’t matter what area your expertise may be, setbacks will happen. It’s how you react and learn from them is how you refine your strategy and develop greater emotional resilience. If you’re serious about your gaming or betting, take tilt seriously. It can be a drain and a huge negative to your bottom line if you let it run rampant.