Losing due to emotions, how to improve?

nickdurk · Mar 26, 2026

I love playing hold em but I’m keep losing because of my emotions, any tips?

dannystanks · Mar 26, 2026

Welcome to CC! You have to get control of your emotions. That is the only thing in poker you can control.

hutzpaf · Mar 26, 2026

EGO must be left out at the poker tables..

Dushka · Mar 26, 2026

To be honest, I haven't learned to control my emotions either, so I guess the more tournaments I play, the better.

Noodeloo · Mar 26, 2026

I dont think you keep losing because of your emotions. Its not how poker works, thats how you work. Emotionally. understand your emotions better and others perceived emotions to gain an edge on yourself

WhiskeyFix · Mar 26, 2026

Listen to some relaxing music - blues, jazz, instrumentals, something easy listening can help.

Try to really understand your position at the table & other players at it.

Adjust and adapt to the table.

Try to have some water on hand & remind yourself it's just a game and to play your best.

You can't cash or win every tournament. There is a luck component involved.

Best wishes on your play & emotions improving at the table

nelomec · Mar 26, 2026

nickdurk said:
I love playing hold em but I’m keep losing because of my emotions, any tips?

I also lose sometimes because of my emotions. There are games where I've noticed I could have won if it weren't for my haste and racing emotions. I'm trying to improve that by following the rhythm of the tournament or the table I'm playing at. For some people, I think listening to music calms them down and helps improve concentration.

Vallet · Mar 27, 2026

Emotions are our worst enemy. Not only in poker, but often in real life. Other people can use our feelings to manipulate us. I would advise you to take a closer look at the behavior of professionals at the poker table. Especially those who know how to make a stone face. There are also books about emotion management or music.

SOLO22 · Apr 22, 2026

First, analyze the losing hands and also the winning ones, accepting the decision even if it's wrong, correcting and studying everything you need to improve.

Coolcassv9. · Apr 22, 2026

In my case, I think it's something I've improved over the years. At first, when I was dealt AK, KK, or big hands, I'd go all-in recklessly. Obviously, sometimes I won, but when I didn't get paid or lost the hand, I'd get desperate. My point is to understand that in this game, most of the time you're going to lose, but you'll get results eventually. Only time will tell how long it will take.

Spielkind · Apr 22, 2026

try to listen relax music--learn about emotions..be patient

noprob · Apr 24, 2026

Hey friend, don't beat yourself up... poker is a total emotional rollercoaster for everyone! The key is shifting from "winning pots" to a "process-oriented" mindset. If you made the right decision based on logic, you "won" the hand, no matter the outcome. Try using a "Reset Mechanism" like taking a deep breath and saying, "Onto the next one." It helps to keep a "Tilt Journal" to spot triggers like bad beats or aggressive opponents. Also, watch your "tilt glass", fatigue and life stress make it overflow much faster. If you find yourself making snap decisions just to "get even," it’s time to take a break. Self-awareness is a muscle; the more you practice observing your emotions, the stronger you'll get. For mastering both the technical and mental sides of the game, I highly recommend OptimusPoker. Their strategies really help bridge the gap between GTO theory and staying calm under fire!

RolandBecke · Apr 24, 2026

I'm not going to tell you to relax because that could lead to a total loss of aggressiveness, and you need to find a balance between discipline and aggressiveness and develop a `smart aggression` edge on your game.

Your bets need to be coherent with each other, you're telling a story on every hand you play, and you gotta be coherent. I recently started using some gto solvers and the one that I'm currently using a lot is the OptimusPoker one, I've come to realize that the discipline starts at pre-flop, you just can't be aggressive with a 60% VPIP, I studied with the OP solver and i saw that tightening my ranges makes my post-flop aggression way more sustainable.

Remember, smart aggression! Keep playing and studying man!

Ketoupitou · Apr 24, 2026

Remember: it is a game. It is supposed to be fun.

SergioV · Apr 25, 2026

nickdurk said:
I love playing hold em but I’m keep losing because of my emotions, any tips?

That’s pretty normal in poker.
Best thing is to stop judging yourself by results in the moment. You’ll lose sometimes even when you play well, so getting emotional just makes it worse.
If you feel tilt coming on, take a short break or just end the session. Also helps a lot to play fewer tables so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Basically: focus on making good decisions, not on what just happened in the last hand.

Uncloggie · Apr 26, 2026

Intense self harm will numb your emotions. Try clothes pegs on your testes for example.

Lodestone · Apr 26, 2026

Emotional regulation is not an on/off switch and training the mind off the table will bring strength to the table too.

Meditation and breath-work are strategies that have stood the test of time for thousands of years. Other somatic practices like humming, chanting or somatic movements can also help rewire the neuropathways we use for regulation.

seiya1989 · Apr 26, 2026

I don't know if I should call it advice. But I would tell you to look for a relaxed environment when you go to play, and to play money that you don't mind losing, something that isn't big enough to bother you if you lose it

MishkaZL · Apr 27, 2026

nickdurk said:
I love playing hold em but I’m keep losing because of my emotions, any tips?

Emotions are a loss. If you are interested in profit, then emotions have no place. Once you understand this, you will immediately start getting good results.

dreamer13 · Apr 27, 2026

Deep breathing helps calm the nervous system and reduce stress levels.It is necessary to strengthen, that is, develop awareness, learn to track growing emotional tension, and strengthen contact with oneself.You equate losing with lowered self-esteem, but these are completely independent things.

KeyPatience · Apr 27, 2026

nickdurk said:
I love playing hold em but I’m keep losing because of my emotions, any tips?

Usually our brain is wired in such a manner that it always wants to chase losses or play poker in a tired state of mind just out of love for this wonderful game!
Either way you’re going to succumb within an hour!
Make sure you listen to your heart in such cases and play only when you’re mentally fit to grind!

stampide · Apr 27, 2026

I think some physical trainings can help you, and maybe meditation!

anasslaaleg · Apr 27, 2026

I love playing Hold’em, but emotions can ruin everything. The key is staying disciplined don’t chase losses, don’t play tilted, and know when to step away. Poker is a long game, and controlling your mindset is just as important as playing good hands.

Matt_Burns88 · Apr 28, 2026

Frustration/anger/jealousy at the poker table often stem from a lack of understanding.

Firstly, you need to recognise that Poker is a game of odds and even when you're a huge favourite, the maths tells you that you are still SUPPOSED to lose sometimes. A lot of people say they understand this and perhaps they do from a theoretical side, but it's much harder to remember those odds in the moment.

Secondly, take the time to study those hands that make you upset and tilted. Review them critically and ask yourself, did you make the right play. If yes, great! Keep doing that same thing and the money will flow to you in the long run. If you didn't make the right play, great! You just discovered a leak in your game that you can fix and improve your game!

Mig32 · Apr 30, 2026

nickdurk said:
I love playing hold em but I’m keep losing because of my emotions, any tips?

I’ve been there — emotions can destroy your game faster than bad cards. What helped me most was recognizing the early signs: playing faster, calling too much, or trying to “win it back.” When I feel that, I stop. Even a short break can reset your mindset.
I also try to focus only on making good decisions, not on winning every hand. Set simple rules for yourself — like quitting after a certain loss or limiting session time. Over time, controlling emotions becomes a skill just like any other in poker.

Losing due to emotions, how to improve?

nickdurk

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dannystanks

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hutzpaf

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Dushka

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nelomec

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