anomaly16

Recognising the tilt monster

I was enjoying playing cash a couple of weeks ago and doing pretty well then something changed... I could feel an urge within myself to not believe people. I found it almost impossible to lay down a hand when I knew I was beat, wanting to make hero calls when I shouldn't. I was able to recognise the feelings without throwing away too much money but it has resulted in a number of short abandonned sessions and almost no cash hands played in the last few days.

Facing the tilt monster

Trying to understand the reasons for feelings of tilt is a tricky business - there are so many factors that tangle themselves around your A-game. Some life/work tilt has definitely affected me recently. I'd love to be able to quit my job and take up poker professionally, but I find myself stuck in a vicious circle - I'm not good enough yet to quit, yet the restrictions a 9-5 job put on your ability to study, get in volume, play at the best times can make it feel impossible. Table /seat selection seemed to become harder at my usual playing times for 100NL. Good 50NL tables were easy to find, but it seems a waste of time when I'm over-rolled for it and am getting good 100NL coaching. I didn't have a great start to the month in my first session, and as stupidily results-orientated as it is there is something for me about that first session and getting off to a good start.

Dealing with the tilt monster

I've been playing a few donkaments when I've not been at the cash tables in the hope that I can shift the feelings of tilt and satisfy my urges to call down light without losing a whole stack. I think its slowly starting to work and I feel a greater clarity coming into my decisions.

Rather than jump straight back into 100NL I think I'm going to play 50NL for the rest of the month. It should allow me to table/seat select well, limit any losses if my tilt is still in evidence, and I hope bring back some confidence that the tilt monster has beaten out of me.