When a French cargo ship collided with a Norwegian vessel in Canada's Halifax harbor during the winter of 1917, the results were explosive to say the least. The ensuing detonation killed over 2000 people and raised the bar for what sort of damage an uncontrolled explosion can do. Conversely, when the Stardust casino was brought to the ground with a controlled explosion, not only was nobody hurt, but thousands were entertained by the spectacle. This should be a lesson for any player who feels a good old fashioned tantrum coming on.
Players who have gone on tilt not only occasionally make a world class fool of themselves, but also put a big bull's eye on their back. Players at the table lock in on the person who is going emotionally over the edge with the intention of taking advantage of them while they are about as stable Lindsay Lohan as at an open bar. There is a way to turn your own temper tantrum to your advantage.
In many cases perception is reality, and if you go on tilt, people will believe you to be playing at a diminished capacity. This is just part of the psychology of the game. Your opponent's perception can be turned around on them. A bad beat is part of the game, and something that will happen to all of us. Going on tilt in a controlled manner after the river snatches defeat from the jaws of victory will put the target on your back, and someone at the table is going to try to take advantage of you.
The operative words are "controlled manner". This means your behavior is a bit of a feint. Sure, swearing like a drunken sailor will give you some emotional release - but the fact is that you are doing this for show. On the inside, you are still a cool, calm, and collected poker player. When somebody tries to take advantage of you because they perceive you are not at the top of your game at this point in time, you can more effectively play against them because the secret is that you are playing at a higher level than they believe you to be.
This strategy has worked for a number of players, most notably, Phil Hellmuth. A big part of his game is breaking people who come at him because they interpret his tantrum as momentary sign of weakness. And if it works for Phil, it is worth a try.
Good Luck!
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