Playing On Tilt

Playing On Tilt
By Rich Wilens

What is tilt? Tilt is when you play bad cards when your luck is running bad. Tilt is when you get a bad beat. You're on tilt when you fight with your wife/girlfriend/long-time companion and play. For some of us, we play on tilt when we don't take our medication. Catching my drift, senores and senoritas? Well, I have learned the hard way, playing on tilt.

I had a perfect day at the tables. I did not win a hand all day long. It started at Fort McDowell. Sunday morning I am playing in the Terminator tournament. I play three hands: A-Qs, 7-7, and K-10s. Bottom Line: I got beat and $300 in tournament chips are gone.

I hate it when the dealer screams, PLAYER OUT. 1st out. and it's me?Jeez, Louise.

Fine, I'll show them. I move to play live at the 4-8 table. Did not win a hand. $150 later stick a fork in this game, I am going to eat. I love the Chinese food at the Fort. I ordered Mongolian beef and I got chop suey. Then I was overcharged. I should have gone home and gone back to sleep. Tilt is setting in. Ok, back to the day.

Casino Arizona was next. 6-12 limit. First hand I lost the flop was 10-J-Q. I had the 8-9s in the button. Big Blind had the A-K. Next hand I played A-A cracked to a set of 3's. 3rd hand I played with a set of 5's. Runner-Runner flush. That's it. I am playing anything. I catch Laura's hand, 6-9 unsuited. BOOM. The flop is 6-K-9. Turn is a 4, river is an 8. I have two pair. I go all in like I had the nuts. 5-7 in the big blind. Straight.

Time to go. A perfect day. 0 for 12. I hate this game. Moral of the story: don't play when you're on tilt. Take a check-up from the neck up. Walk away. Wash your hands and face. The smart move is quit for the session. Poker is for the long run. But, if you are on tilt, come find me at my table.