Steaming In Poker

Steaming is not new in poker players. Even professionals are susceptible to this behavior. This is an area which requires mental discipline and self control. If you feel yourself getting hot, you are probably steaming, and it is time to take a break from the game until you can compose yourself. Steaming only results in bad play and is not recommended.

When someone is frustrated due to the result of a hand they might steam. This is where emotions overcome logic. Once steamed, players are well-advised to leave the table and return when emotions have subsided. When away from the table, players are advised to take time to refresh themselves, eat and drink (non-alcoholic) if necessary, and take a break outside in the fresh air.  Here is a typical cause of steaming:

He’s wife runway with his best friend, his home was repossessed, do you think that person can play  better poker? They can’t give good decisions on every hand because their minds are over crowded with personal and emotional problems, that can distract them.

No one is immune from steaming. Even disciplined poker players are prone to this kind of behavior. Bad things that happened in our lives can affect the way we think and will have an influenced in our decision making.

You can’t stop steaming. It gets worst if they are a lot of agents that can cause it. The best thing to do is to get up from the poker table and relax yourself into somewhere quiet. Just come back if your issues had already been solved. Here is an example of a poker tilt:

You find yourself betting all in, at the first hand of the game because you have a very superior card. However, one of your opponents manage to catch a miracle card in the end. You ended up losing the hand you thought you’d win and you’re so frustrated. You’re asking yourself, why did it have to happened that way. Then on the second hand, you possess a lousy set of cards. And surprisingly you played it! And you lose! And now you’re neglecting the move that you make. And you’re so angry at yourself for doing that stupid, uncalled action.

But the story did not end there. After the first two hands, you got several hands in your pocket. You thought you are playing really well. You forgot what happened earlier in the game. Then, a bad beat throws you at the wall. You think about the first hand that evening, then the lousy hand that you played and this bad beat.. then you think about your overdue credit card debt, your rapt with law enforcement a night before..and memories keep flooding back..all of them not good and you got angrier each minute..

And then an hour or two after, you’ll find yourself selling your precious ring to buy chips in the hope getting back what you lose..but you end up getting a very very poor hand with an all in bet..