Even the best poker players lose it sometimes. They suffer one too many bad beats, or get coolered, and presto, they start making sub-optimal decisions. For the most part, the top pros recognize this quickly and find ways to calm down. Are you one of these level-headed players? Or do you find yourself slamming down your mouse every time you lose a hand playing online poker? If you fall into the latter category, you might be suffering from poker tilt. Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Poker can be a cruel game sometimes; it can also be an incredible game where you’re winning every hand and it seems like you can do no wrong. That’s yet another way you can wind up going on tilt, by growing too optimistic about your situation. Striking the right balance is key if you want to play your best. What Is Tilt in Poker? There’s been some debate when it comes to defining exactly what is tilt in poker. Some say that tilt is anything that prevents you from playing optimally – but that’s more like identifying the sources of tilt. Instead, think about tilt as a loss of control. Any action you take requires a set of cognitive processes known as executive functions. These functions include controls on attention and inhibition; when something interferes with these controls, your behavior changes, and it’s usually for the worse. Examples of Being on Tilt The classic case of going on tilt is when you can’t stop