Why do people get mad at their money?

[BugSplatt]

I must admit I don't quite understand "tilt." While I will be the first to admit it pisses me off when someone chases me to the river with botom pair or a gut shot and catches, I have never turned around and used something like that as an excuse to add to my woes by spilling off a bunch more chips. So, yes, I get mad - really mad sometimes - but not at my money. I don't find a reason to play mediocre hands in some desperate attempt to get even.

If anything, I may play a little too tight after a few bad beats. I know all the mathmeticians out there say that each hand has no correlation to the hands that follow, but some days ....... well, I guess I would call it a "reverse rush." Instead of everything going exactly right, everything goes exactly wrong. When it is the latter, I play tighter, and sometimes maybe I fold hands in late position that are playable.

I bring this all up because this morning I was playing in a game and one player in particular, was playing very, very well - until he had his pocket aces cracked by a very loose player who chased him to the river with a Q8 in his hand, caught an 8 on the flop and another on the river. After this happened, all the correct play by the loser of this hand was thrown out the window, and before long he was stuck for a lot more money playing almost every hand that came his way.

I don't get it.

Bug

[thomastem]

[ QUOTE ]


If anything, I may play a little too tight after a few bad beats.

Bug

[/ QUOTE ]

Playing too tight is a form of Tilt as well as while on a winning streak "playing the rush" is.

Tilt means that circumstances effect your play in an unprofitable way. So if you play less hands than you should from bad beats you are on tilt and losing money in the long run from it.

So why are you getting angry at your money by not investing in profitable hands?

[RiverMel]

Oops. What tt said.

[dogmeat]

Thomas, I don't always agree with your posts, but this one is IMHO right on the money! Nice.

Dogmeat [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

[BugSplatt]

Okay, interesting point; however, it is rare that I muck -say - a KJ in late position and come to regret that decision when I have decided to tighten the reigns because things have not been going well. I don't like KJ at the best of times, and while I of course play it, it's funny how that hand can get you into some unwanted difficulties. So, yes, your definition of tilt in my situation is completely accurate, but I still have a difficult time believing tightening up is costing me more money than playing every hand after a bad beat. We have all had rushes, and when things are going well, not only are you hitting more than your fair share of hands, but most of your opponents begin to fear your every move. Again, I say, reverse to that is when you are not hitting, your opponents know it, and they are playing back at you. I think, for the most part, I do play a tight aggressive game, but there are times when - if we are to use your definition - I play weak/tight. And I would rather play weak tight any day than piss away a bunch more chips because one bad beat turned me into a maniac. If I get that mad, I hope I would have the common sense to leave the game and do battle another time.

[Alobar]

I agree with what you are sayin in part. People go on tilt and piss away chips, this equals lost money due soley to tilt. But money not won is the same as money lost in poker. So folding a +EV hand because of tilt, is still losing money. Its not as bad as pissing away chips in frustration, but its still pissing away income because of your emotional state, i.e. tilt.

[scotnt73]

just the fact that you say you "tighten up"implies that you are playing differently because you arent hitting. this is tilt. the sooner you recognize this the better. its better than playing everyhand for a raise but you are still choosing to play less than your best because you arent hitting.

[thomastem]

Bugsplatt,

So what you are saying is that your form of tilt or leak is less bad than another form of tilt or leak.

So then you get mad at your money but it is less mad than some? Does this make it ok?

My underlying point is that your post is a form of bragging or bravado. You are putting down a weakness some players have to make your own weakness or leak seem less bad.

How can this behavior be constructive or ever improve your game?

[BugSplatt]

Post Extras:

Firstly, thank you all for your responses to my post. It has certainly opened my eyes to a much broader definition of the word "tilt." However, "bragging and bravado" were not the two things that came to mind when I posted this. I am a slightly better (and I do mean slightly) than break-even player. I have nothing to brag about. And I do understand your point(s).

And, yes, I am putting down a weakness some players have, I admit it, so shoot me. When a Q 10 becomes a raisable hand under the gun because you have just suffered a bad beat, or you cap a pot with the same hand when you would have folded it two minutes prior to suffering a bad beat, that is, to me (the break even player) a far greater drain on your bank roll than mucking a potentially playable hand. And I am not using the word "potentially" loosely here. We all have our definitions of "playable" don't we? Some players find any two suited cards playable, others will find a reason to play an 8 6 off suit in early position, some will play any two face cards or a small pair, even others will defend their blinds regardless of what they have or the action that has taken place before them.

I think everyone that has responded to my post is aware of the detrimental effects playing like a maniac can have. Either you have experienced it yourself (and given the responses, I find that unlikely) or have witnessed it from someone else. Also, I believe you all appreciate that the biggest chip spillers are maniacs. Don't tell me you don't try and get in on a loose cannon's game. They build nice pots. To that I will say this: if I am going to build a big pot I will do so because I think I have a better chance of winning it than you or any other player does, not because I am so mad about having my AA run over by a Q8 that I have lost complete control of what I constitute to be a good starting hand in a given situation. Does tightening up mean I am going to limp in with big starting hands? Of course not. I hate limping in. I have always tried to live by two things when playing holdem. Firstly, I want to be the hammer, not the nail - if I can't raise or re-raise going into the hand, I am probably better off mucking. Secondly, it is not the hands you play where you make money; more often, it is the ones you stay away from where the true profit lies. Apparently, to some of you, I am wrong in that mindset - fair enough. But if you want to talk about "bragging and bravado" I offer you this:

I am good enough to know that I am not yet good enough.

Thanks,

Bug

[RiverMel]

[ QUOTE ]
sometimes maybe I fold hands in late position that are playable

[/ QUOTE ]

So, you're admitting to making a -EV play because of past bad luck. Sounds an awful lot like tilting to me.