How Bad is a Bad Beat?
Everyone starts off getting frustrated by bad beats, it’s not a sign of poor play, or bad decisions, but rather just the smaller percentages taking their course. At times I felt like I was being beat up on by lady luck, but now I don’t see bad beats the same at all.
A few months ago I moved my game up a level, and at first it was difficult to see what advantage I had at this table, most of the players were significantly better than those at the lower levels, but now bad beats represent to me my opponent’s weakness. Every time my opponents ‘suck out’ on me, I just think, that guy is a big part of the reason I can beat this game consistently.
The good side of it isn’t hard to see in theory, but it’s difficult to see in reality. When a loose player is playing hands they shouldn’t and missing their Ax suited under the gun, or their small pairs in early positions you may never know. You might pick up on the fact that they played QT out of position, and got out kicked, but other than that most of the hands they would show off as a potential winner will get mucked when they miss their inside straights etc.
Since you don’t get the chance to see those terrible hands often, when they rake a pot just know that they will be in there giving the money back later. When you rake a pot, a few of those chips in your hand are likely not supposed to be there.
I really look at being outdrawn without odds as playing roulette. I don’t gamble, and neither does the casino, but a lot of the players at a poker table will accept odds that are much worse than blackjack or roulette. And its your lucky day, and by playing better than them, you get to be the house. Some days they will hit, and hit, and hit, and you can’t do a damn thing about it, but the rest of the time they will sit, play, lose, and you’ll get your small share along with the rest of the players.
