Bad Beat Psychology

[michaelkozlowski]

This thread is going to blow your mind. I've read all these "bad beat" posts and I have posted a few myself. Bad beats are part of the game, but lets reverse the mindset for this thread. Let me explain.

Think back to your last GREAT tournament, or sit-n-go. Where you cashed or placed very high, or even won. During the course of that tournament, the MAJORITY of your showdowns were positive. YOU took out quite a few players along the way. The river came nice for YOU. You probably do not even remember one of those early or mid-tournament wins. Perhaps even your late tournament big-chip wins won't stand out as far as WHICH PLAYERS YOU SENT HOME. You won the hand - you were happy and moved on. However, the players you sent home remember those hands as "bad beats" in many circumstances. You know, the small - to -mid stack players goes in with AK or suited high connectors, and your hand beat them which was pre-flop weaker than theirs. They lost and they fumed to YOUR B-S luck. They steamed, saying how fixed online poker was, how the big stack always wins on the river, etc. THE SAME COMMENTS YOU MADE MANY TIMES. However, during this great tournament or sit-n-go, that didn't matter to you since you were winning. YOU TOOK OUT MAYBE 20, MAYBE 30, MAYBE MORE PLAYERS which all could be "bad beats" as they see it. So take those 30 players bad beat eliminations that you caused and instantly, you are ahead of the game. I'm sure you did not have 30 bad beats in one day, let alone one week.

The bad beats stand out, but now consider your last BAD BEAT. You know, you had AA, and a donk with 3 5 unsuited goes all-in and hits 3 5 on the flop to beat you. Classic. And you remamber it and it boils your blood. However, does donk remember this win? Hell no unless it was to win it all and even then after a day or two he will not.

My point is that bad beats stand out, but the number of bad beats YOU dish out as a strong poker player, as a patient poker player far outnumber the bad beats you receive even though they stand out to you at the time. So, continue to play the odds, play smart and do not get too upset with bad beats because you are ahead of the game.

Mike

[rgchan]

Thats a very sound and logical point. This is just a place to let off some steam about your Bad beats. I agree with you. Players say they lose more often with AA than they win with AA. I don,t think so it,s just you remember losing with the AA much more clearly.
RG

[villaridge]

a very nice post, good to see sanity! 5 stars.

I've been on a down swing for the last 2 months. But I blame myself and the cards. You won't find me doing the 15 min. rant on chat for a bad beat. hell, it's poker

[hojediade]

My feelings is that we should probably close the bad beat section.

Just kidding.

I usually don't read and post in this section cause i don't think it could improve any part of my game.
I understand that sometimes people need to share disappointment but i'm not one of those. I suffered bad beats as everybody, but always try to do my best to forget it the quicker i can, which cannot be done while complaining in a post.

[rllngn]

yea i find myself sometimse thinking im going to get a bad beat, and i usually play bad enough to force a beat, usually not bad, but after one i have to calm down and move on and continue to play

[cimapione]

good point... THank you... I'll think about it

[PLAYFUL1]

YAH THERES ALWAYS GONNA BE BAD BEATS... IF YOU PLAY GOOD CARDS AND THEY GET BEATING BY A DONK SUKKING OUT 1 CARD ON THE RIVER .... THAT IS NOT A BAD BEAT... SO JUST MOVE ON... GOOD CARDS AGAINST GOOD CARDS= NOW THAT A BAD BEAT...SO ITS MY OPINION THAT YOUR GOOD CARDS WIN AGAINST BETTER CARDS YOU BECOME THE DONK AND GIVE THE OTHER PLAYERS A BAD BEAT 2 TALK ABOUT

[andy334]

Nah sorry - I just dont agree.

I hit way more bad beats, suck outs, or whatever you want to call them than I ever dish out and I can positively guarantee that I have hit a damn sight more bad beats than 30 a week in the last month.

Then again, thats probably just because I am pants at this game.

[tbdbitl]

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: LEXINGTON, MI

YAH THERES ALWAYS GONNA BE BAD BEATS... IF YOU PLAY GOOD CARDS AND THEY GET BEATING BY A DONK SUKKING OUT 1 CARD ON THE RIVER .... THAT IS NOT A BAD BEAT... SO JUST MOVE ON... GOOD CARDS AGAINST GOOD CARDS= NOW THAT A BAD BEAT...SO ITS MY OPINION THAT YOUR GOOD CARDS WIN AGAINST BETTER CARDS YOU BECOME THE DONK AND GIVE THE OTHER PLAYERS A BAD BEAT 2 TALK ABOUT

Huh? What The? Oh nevermind, I just saw what state you are from--this post makes total sense now.

[pirates831]

good post. good thread.

the more people who realize that you give bad beats and receive them, the less complainers there will be. yes it sucks. but it happens. think about the hand and try to learn from it. don't let it keep you down.