I got sent a question from Mary, who is a new online poker player.

She asked what does on “tilt” mean?  And, “Why is their a poker room called “Full Tilt”?

The “Poker Guide” will try his best to answer these questions.

Well Mary there is a good explanation on Wikipedia, they say it is when a poker player is in a state of mental confusion or frustration and then they don’t play to their potential.  Its when a player just loses it and cant focus on their poker game.  A “blow-up”, a sudden rush of blood to the head, call it whatever you want, but in poker its on “tilt”!

It happens to all poker players at some stage.  Some people are better at controlling their emotions than others.  The best thing to do when it happens to you – poker guide tip – is to take a break, take a deep breath, get a grip of yourself and calm down so that you can think clearly.  Because its not going to help your game, if you are so mad that you can’t think straight.

Be very aware of other players “winding you up” trying to get you to go on “tilt”, so that they can take advantage of you whilst you are not concentrating fully on your game.

Here are some fantastic examples of the “King of Tilt”, who other than Phil “Poker Brat” Helmuth.  I can think of no better person to demonstrate to you the meaning of “tilt”…

Not a lot of poker is played, but it makes very good entertainment….

Now we have Phil on Poker After Dark, there’s more poker in this one and Phil does a whole lot of talking, the editor has his work cut-out editing out all the swearing!

And then he goes way out of line on the big stage of last year’s World Series of Poker.

Another poker guide tip is to use “tilt” to your advantage, by getting other players on “tilt”.  Its not really polite to do this, but if there is someone who deserves to be on “tilt” then go for it.  There are subtle ways of putting people on “tilt” and it is probably better to be more subtle about it.

Of course, if you are online then you don’t have to deal with that persons rage, face to face, so you might be a bit braver.

I hope this helps to explain the term on “tilt”, Mary.  As for Full Tilt, I think they just thought it was a good name for their site.