[SteveA]

Well since I bought in for $100 at poker stars, I have been up to $140, and down to $3.50.

I have a really hard time playing disciplined poker. Sometimes I just make stupid plays and I don't understand why. I know when I'm beat, and I think to myself, it would be stupid to do this...and I end up doing what's stupid!

I started playing $5 buy in tourneys, and I thought it may be because I didn't care about losing that little money. So I tried $10, and even $20, but I still caught myself doing stupid things. Why do I do this???

I'm trying to be more disciplined, and I think I have been playing well for the last while, but I've run into some bad beats/suckouts.

How do you all maintain your cool and play disciplined poker?

[SpeakEasy]

1. No emotion. Separate your emotions from the game. Poker is math and reading other players. On line, more math than reads. Live, reads can override math more frequently. Either way, check your emotions at the door. Celebrate after the hand/game is over.

2. Trust your instincts and act on your instincts. If your instincts are failing you, keep practicing until your instincts are right more than they are wrong.

3. Focus on game selection. With practice, you can tell when you are outmatched, and when you are the superior player. Winning money at poker comes from playing and beating the hell out of weak opponents. Glory, but less money, comes from playing and beating strong opponents, because strong opponents don't pay off as much when they are behind.

4. Bring a sufficient bankroll. A "B+" player with a huge bankroll is better than an "A+" player with an undersized bankroll.

5. Practice, practice, practice.

[yeltzen]

I'm the same way in tournaments. I started out playing tournaments online and at my friend's house because that's what was on TV and "cool". Then I realized that I just don't like tournaments at all. They bore the hell out of me and I play undisciplined when I'm bored.

If that's your problem, give limit ring games a try. I used to think they were stupid, but now it's pretty much all I play. If you just don't know much about the game of NL Hold'em, you might want to read a book. You can get Super System pretty cheap any more, and the NL section explains how to play winning tournament poker. If it doesn't sound like it's for you, then try a different type of poker game. I never took poker seriously until I took up 7 Card Stud, so you never know what can happen.

As for coping with tilt... it happens to everyone. I go on tilt all the time (and, believe it or not, I actually do win at poker). We're human. Don't believe any garbage people spout off about how "poker is all about making correct decisions blah blah blah". Screw that. If you're a professional poker player with a bankroll that is in no danger of disappearing, this may be the case. If poker is your job, then you can approach it that way. But for us, we want to win. We don't care about "correct decisions" or whatever. We want to win. Granted, you gotta play solid poker to do it, but don't turn yourself into a poker robot. It's okay to get pissed. It's also okay to take a break.