Dealing With The Tilt of Others

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Last episode, I gave you a few tips on how to avoid the nuclear meltdown that is tilt at the poker table. Now that you know how to avoid your own tilt, let’s talk about what to do (or not do) when another player (or more) goes on tilt at your table.

Poker is a predatory game; when other players make bad decisions, you, the smart, winning player, profit. So, when players at your table go on tilt (which by definition involves bad decisions), you need to capitalize. All of the tips that follow are applicable to both brick-and-mortar and online poker games, unless otherwise specified.

How Do I Recognize Tilt in Others?

Well, as a smart, winning player, you’ve already noticed the starting hands, betting habits, and general demeanor of the other players at your table, right? You need to recognize when any or all of these things has changed. Has a player been limping into every hand, then, after losing a big pot, raised the last two hands? Has a total rock all of a sudden started calling two bets cold from early position? Has a very aggressive player strangely gone into a shell, folding where he or she used to be raising or even capping it? These are all possible signs of tilt. Obviously, you need to use appropriate tactics depending on the type of tilt the player is displaying, and whether or not there are other players to contend with in the hand; these are strategic issues that will be addressed in other tips on this site. Just look for changes in behavior that show inconsistencies with the player’s earlier style.

Should I Do Everything I Can To Keep The Player On Tilt?

You’re gonna do whatever allows you to win money and still sleep at night, but we don’t think you should antagonize or needle tilted players, for one simple reason: it’s just bad manners. You can capitalize on a player’s poor decisions without being a complete dickhead. That said, I see nothing wrong with lending a sympathetic ear: “Yeah, I know how you feel, I had a full house beaten by runner-runner quads last week!” But intentional mocking of a player, name-calling, or questioning the marital status of a player’s parents are all out of line. Play nice, dammit! Remember, a happy table is a profitable table.

What Do I Do If A Player On Tilt Starts Attacking Me Verbally?

I find that, whether the attack is verbal or in an online chat-box, the temptation to snipe back, or worse yet, to educate the player, are great, and are to be strongly avoided. Example: You’re on the button with 7-8 suited, and limp behind four other limpers (it’s actually not a bad raising spot, but that’s a tip for another day). You flop a pair, and an open-ended straight draw, raise the flop, call the turn (getting proper pot odds the whole way, of course), and raise the river when you miss your straight but make a backdoor flush instead. The guy whose set of jacks you just crushed goes mental: “How can you chase all the way with that crap?!” he sputters (or types). Rather than point out to him that you had a straight draw and a pair on the flop, just say “It’s my lucky hand” or “I know, I got lucky that time”. Or even the ever-popular “I just had a feeling.” (While not really intended to do so, these comments may indeed tilt the player even further; use them wisely, not maliciously.) Why alert him or her to the fact that you’re a solid player who actually thinks about the game? (See Don’t Tap On The Aquarium soon to be published in this space.) If the attacks continue and make you uncomfortable, then leaving the table is the simplest way to resolve the situation; one positive side effect is that it may keep you from going on tilt.

In summary, the best way to handle another player’s tilt is by taking his chips. But play nice; leave the name-calling and needling to the chumps.

By Mike McManus (aka North Shore Mike) a poker player, and customer support manager for online card room Full Tilt Poker.com.