21 Jan 2026 Intermediate This material is for medium-skilled players bankroll exploit mental game position tilt Celebrate 10 years of Smart Poker Study with four essential poker strategies for 2026. Master tilt control through hand-off-mouse technique, optimize your playing conditions, exploit opponent tendencies using poker's ultimate question, and develop winning habits through study-practice-review cycles. Control tilt by planning responses to frustrating situations. Play only when mentally prepared. Read opponents constantly. Study weekly to improve. Four Pillars of Poker Excellence: Tilt Prevention System - Remove hand from mouse between decisions to stay calm and avoid emotional plays, especially with premium hands like aces Mental Preparation - Read mental game books targeting your specific tilt type; start with the relevant chapter instead of page one Optimal Playing Conditions - Close distractions, hide desktop icons, silence phone, and ensure you're rested before starting sessions Poker's Ultimate Question - Always ask "What are they doing this with?" after every opponent action to make better reads Exploit Player Patterns - Fish showing strength means nuts; sharks showing weakness creates squeeze opportunities Study-Practice-Review Cycle - Study strategy, practice at tables with focus, review tagged hands, then repeat weekly for continuous improvement Drop Stakes for Practice - Practice new moves at lower stakes (5NL vs 25NL) for cheaper experimentation and less pressure
