Something you must learn: poker bad beats are not the end of the world
You spend a lot of time and effort trying to
learn poker. And then the end of the world happens: your AA
gets beaten by a mug who called your raise with 93s and flopped 93K.
You'll be lucky to escape with minor cuts and bruises as you punch, kick and Karate-chop everything in sight. But slow down there!
It's really NOT the end of the world. It's one hand of poker in a lifelong game.
You might start playing poker in your twenties and not give up until your seventies. That's fifty damn years you have to learn poker techniques and make up for the bad beats. One of those essential poker tools is clear thought in times of crisis.
Why don't big pairs always win?
Imagine how boring Texas Holdem would be if the best starting hand always won. What would happen?
Nobody would play any weak starting hands. That means all those losing players who currently call with suited crap, small pairs and straight draw cards would learn poker is a game where the best starting hand always wins. They would stop playing catch-up poker and start fold, fold, folding. Boom -- there goes your value as a winning poker player.
The only big pots would be heads-up confrontations between high pairs. Nobody would chase, because chasing would no longer exist.
It would not be the end of the world, if you think that AA should always win. But it WOULD be the end of poker.
Clear your muddy thought processes
So accept that your high pairs will OFTEN lose. How often? Not as often as they win. In fact, correctly played, AA will beat another random hand two times out of three.
You note I mentioned correctly played. People who learn poker don't always appreciate that 'magic' hands like AA and KK are not invincible.
They need protection to survive all those loose drawing players.
That means, bet, raise and reraise. Drive out the weak hands and make the drawers pay a premium to see the next card.
This is of course easier in no limit Holdem than fixed limit. Ever been tempted to limp with a big pair in the hope that somebody else will raise, only to see everybody call and six players take the flop?
It happens. It may not be the end of the world, but you MUST now tread with caution. Five hands against your AA means you are something like 35-40% likely to win the pot. Good odds six-handed, but NOT invincible.
A good player must learn poker has situations where overpairs should fold. This is where the big pairs are more difficult to play in no limit than limit. In limit, you can potentially find out if you're beaten much more cheaply. In no limit, it might cost your entire stack, so be prepared to fold if you KNOW you're beaten. Remember what curiosity did to the cat!
Remember, you have an entire lifetime to make up for the bad beats. The lessons you must learn, poker disciple, will stand you in good stead for a long time to come.
Sign up to PokerPrayer! and receive our FREE eZine every month. It's packed with special offers and news of the Church!
great poker sites!