Article on Tilt (Extracted Post)

Below is a very interesting article I came across browsing the net:

Link of original site: Freezeout Player http://www.freezeoutplayer.com/wht-tilt-is-your-enemy.html

To poker players (even traders) I think you've heard this over & over before but I think it still serves as a very good reminder for us because in the field of trading and poker (even athletes), mindset and psychological factor plays such an important role. I recommend reading because I think the concept also applies not only the poker players, but even to traders. Markets are so random (at times) and we should always factor in losses along the way, as long as we focus doing the 'right' thing, we will succeed over the long run!

Enjoy.

"Overcoming Tilt and Your State of Mind.

Have you ever gone on tilt ? I don’t think there is a person I’ve talked to that hasn’t at one time or another. There are a number of things that may happen that make you go on tilt, and some even have to do with poker ! Let me explain.

I hate getting sucked out on. I hate hitting trips after a rainbow flop, I bet and there is a raise all in. I call and a weak player hits runner runner for a flush. I HATE it but it is something you just have to take because it happens from time to time. That’s poker and that’s what makes it such an interesting game to play. You can make all the correct plays and still lose!

What I try to do to combat going on tilt is train myself to think about the suck out and believe that I made a correct call and more often then not I will win given the same circumstances. That’s why there are percentages for any given hand to win. Even a hand that’s favored 90% of the time will lose 10% of the time. So you must hang on to that belief that you made the correct move and just got unlucky. Then you have to put it behind you and move on.

I know what your thinking, easier said than done.

You're right, it is, but you must find a way to do this otherwise you could lose a lot of money. When you do this you might even discover you made an incorrect play so you can change your thinking the next time a similar situation comes your way. You also have to look at your long term results and not just this one hand.

Thinking about your long term results will put this one suck out into perspective. If your long term results are not good then perhaps other areas of your game need some analysis. The point I am trying to make is that you have to be able to take an unlucky hand and move on.

Some other things that have nothing to do with poker can affect your game and even put you on tilt before the game has started. These factors you have direct control over and can eliminate so as to not affect your game. If you’ve had a fight with your wife/husband, if you’ve had a bad day at work, if you have a headache or are feeling under the weather you should not be looking to start playing a poker tournament online. These are just a few of the many non poker factors that can have an influence on how you play. I think to play consistently well over a period of time you have to play with what I call a good ‘poker mindset’ going in. I think this gives you a better opportunity to win.

Your state of mind is very important when sitting down to play a mtt.

As said above many things in the world around you can effect your mindset before playing a tournament. To me the trick is if those factors affect you too much perhaps a break from poker for that evening is in order. Maybe a longer brake is in order, only you know for sure. Something else I try to do is to sit in front of the computer 10 minutes before the tournament I signed up for starts and close my eyes and just think of how I’m going to start this tournament, what strategy will I use, making good decisions and so forth. Just get into a ‘poker’ mindset. Its like a little quiet time before the tournament gets going. This is the mental part of the game. Look at any sports stars. I’ve seen interview after interview where the athlete says “much of what I do is mental, if I believe I can win I’m half way there”.

Anything you can do to increase your chances of making good decisions at the poker table is worth while doing. Different players do different things to prepare for a tournament. Figure out what your ‘thing’ is and do it. Having a good poker mindset going into a tournament gives you a better opportunity to make those good decisions therefore increasing your chances to win. If you can come up with a good way to avoid going on tilt and eliminate outside distractions then you have achieved a good ‘poker state of mind’! "

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Black.

LWPS Qualifier & Gambling

First night hitting the (online) table after 3 weeks of rest. Took part in a Regional Tourney for a seat to Leisure World Poker Series cruise end of this month, the one I just took part in July. I re-bought once, and during the break time didn't know how to rebuy. I was clicking all over the table including my own avatar until I realized it should be same as cash games.

So I click the dealer chips and saw the add-on button for another 5000 chips and click it but was too late for 0.000001 seconds. So everyone except me and the other guy in a full final table re-bought, and both of us were shortest stack. I was out quickly and couldn't rebuy anymore. Got fucked by Dad for playing poker and he ask me to quit before I get super addicted like my cousin (who had won a few thousand US dollars in cash games & tourneys), who play number of hands a day equivalent to the number of hands I play past one year.

So as all the poker players always face, how can I explain poker is not exactly like the games u play in casinos? I told him its a gambling but it is against other players instead of dealer (who's odds are way up against u). U should noe it is hard to explain that to anyone, in addition to the fact that I haven't been profiting in this poker arena (a question he prompted).

I tilted the moment he screwed me and I haven't even sat down and seen more than 20 hands. Not sure how I shall proceed from here, oh well let's see.

Black.

Most Stupid Heads-Up Match Ever (Rant)

Played about 150 hands. Basically this guy (I really wish to name him but forget it), is a tight-passive opponent. First one I ever encountered. Here's his style. He doesn't call u when he did not hit, NEITHER does he raise you when he has the NUTS. Weird? I accept this type of player but not losing to him. Why? Here is how the match goes:

Both started off with 1,500 chips.

I played my way to 2,500 vs 500.
All-in, A4 vs 88. He won.

2,000 vs 1,000. We grinded abit and all-in again.
67s vs JQ. Ok fine here he won.

I was down a few flips to about 800 chips vs 2,200 but I slowly grind my way up and avoided flips. Because this guy can only beat me thru' flips. But sadly, to end an opponent you need to flip somehow.

So I fought my way to about 1,800 vs 1,200 again. We flip again K9s vs A8 and rivered an ace so he won.

So I'm left with 600 vs 2,400. I rem the last hand being A9 vs 77. Well, board missed.. so fucking beautifully. I fought so hard for so long for so many hands and it seemed like PokerStars pre-programmed the match for him to win. Well fuck it man.

I am on serious tilt right now. Its worst than a curse I'm going through. It seems like its not about losing now, its about how I fucking lose all these. Never felt worst losing a heads-up match.

Not sure when I will post next because everything has been bust out. So take care and good luck everyone.

My First Poker Tournament - LIVE

Delayed for a week before i actually blogged on this. Last Sat, 23 July 2011 marks another start of my poker life. I have been playing online poker and home games with friends n family, but never against strangers. It was held at Leisure World cruise, called the Leisure World Poker Series. My friend asked me to go together and I did.

We were pretty nervous about the whole thing. 

Anyway, i rem i was saying i started this poker thing becuz i believe it is a game of skill, instead of a game of chance. I know ppl hear the word poker itself will categorize it with those games u see in the casino. But no, one basic reason y is in those game of pure luck like baccarat or sic bo, u cant choose to purposely lose. 

I packed my stuff quickly n packed like i was gng to genting lol. I left my pokerstars.net cap at home though cuz i dont wan to be seen like a fanboy there. But i was wrong. The people ther were more "enthu". They wore, pose and play like those poker pros u see on youtube. Very interesting. There were even team who made their own jackets with slogan.

Arriving at the ferry terminal, i was surprised to see so many youngster our age. i think people there wants to be famous. Fame, power n money. Who dont wan when what we sees r only the good side of it?? I just wan to see how far i can go in this arena. Im a sucker for success stories, and i wan to be part of it.

We went there in a slow journey probably becuz we were eager. I was a little scared seeing the shaky boat. But quickly adjusted to it and realised how i missed those times in the navy riding against the waves.

Finally, we hopped on the leisure world cruise n left our stuff in the cabin n never see it until 12 hours later. It was bigger than i expected, but not something i wanna bath in or date at. We left quickly to register for our freeroll. Top 3 gets a seat to the main event (which we were there for) FREE!

I play badly n nervously during the freeroll. It was a good warm up. I threw a lot of cards away. I was scared getting kicked out n played super tight. I won only one pot n slowly got eat up by the blinds with A4 diamonds vs KJ. Got a chance there. But flop came x x K, turn K, n river can kiss-my-ass-already.

We went on the grab cheap beers on the deck, free food n cup noodles, before registering for the main event. It was so coincidence that my friend was sitting right nxt to me in the main event. We try not to get in each others’ way but to our surprise, the one n only Singaporean Team Pokerstars Pro Bryan Huang sat at our table. We knoe we were gonna have a tough first few levels.

I played tight but managed to grab a few pots here n there. Until the last hand b4 the first break, i guess it was my highlight of the trip. I was dealt KK – cowboys. I wasted no time and raised about 4 bb pre-flop. An indian guy called. Bryan re-raised all-in, he was short stack that moment. I re-raised all-in too hoping the indian guy would call also. He folded though.

Bryan turned over KJ to my delight, i showed my KK.

Flop came x x J. Nevermind i was still leading.

Turn came another J!! Wtf!! N becuz it was last hand before the break ther were many onlookers. I was speechless.

River came another clubs, and i made a king-high flush, busting Bryan out.

I was happy enuff to sit along playing against our national one n only team pokerstars pro, let alone busting him out. Thanks to that river luck. Well, a pro is a pro, he rebuy again n played all the way to money-finishes at 12th position.

I survived my way to number 25th, out of 95 players. I was happy enough. I think i played better than my usual self. It was about 7 hours. Adding on cash game later, i played a straight 11th hours of poker. I was tired as my cash games even called a wrong bet, which costs my whole stacked. I stopped at there n went to sleep.

I was tempted to play some roulette on the way to cabin but resisted. Promised mum i wouldnt touch those already, i told her poker is different from gambling so i won't touch. I doubt she understands what i meant, but poker IS gAmbling. But it is skill-oriented than luck alone. If not, why the champion no.1 who busted me out in the main event could won twice n have consistent result?

Was kinda creepy slping alone in the cabin. I read online some say haunted, even mum said so oh well. Anyway, ther was nth to do. So i slept a straight six hours after lying down damn long. Next day was simply gng home n talking abt stuff. This was reAlly a great exposure. Although it was soooo expensive.

I had a one week break from poker therafter.

I hope to see some results from my poker soon. But i still played like shit today. Anyway,if i could find a good salary degree job nw to focus on i might put these on a hiatus n focus on my job. Unless time permits. Realistically speaking, how to make living out of these? I would if i could hahaha.

Anyway fuck casinos. After busto out in genting resort world playing sic bo, i had enuff. I had enuff of being fooled by these randomness. I told myself never to bet in the casino again. There r no success stories in casino except for the casinos themselves.