When you have been Dealt a Bad Beat!

[Randy C]

We've all been victims of bad beats...They are going to happen in Poker all the time...so, get used to it. The point of this post isn't to tell you that bad beats will happen, because inevidably they will. Rather, the point of this post is to help you learn "HOW" to recover from them!

Several months ago, I was involved in a hand and was holding pocket 9's and there was only one overcard on the table...a jack. So, nothing really scared me about the community cards. I sat back while my opponent made $50 bets at the pot with no increases whatsoever. The river came and it was a 9...I was like, "YES!" I put out a giant bet thinking that even if my opponent had a J...or even 2 pair...I was safe. I never put him on pocket J's which he ended up having...I lost nearly 2/3rds of my chip stack on that one hand...and I was mad as anything!

For the next several minutes after the hand, I was on tilt in a big way. I couldn't focus on the game and I was just beside myself. I made a decision at that moment that I wouldn't play even a single hand, regardless of what it was for the next ten minutes...And I stuck by that decision watching AKs go by...and AQos...PP 10's...etc...After 10 minutes, I got back into the action with a clear head...my chip stack was only slightly less from being blinded out, but my mind was fresh.

I came back in that tourney to place in the top 5, and I attribute much of the success of that tourney to that single decision to step away and come back with a fresh mind. Sometimes that little time away from the action is EXACTLY what the Doctor ordered and it is sound advice.

Additionally, another player who had seen me rebound from the bad beat complimented me on the ability to not let the emotions from the bad beat affect me adversely. He claimed that it's a mark of a solid player when someone who has been doled out a bad beat can keep his/her composure...I agreed whole-heartedly.

Bad beats are going to happen...That's the very nature of poker. But how you recover from them will make all the difference in the world! Take my advice and give yourself time to cool down from a bad beat and come back a bit later when your mind is better suited to play poker rather than ending up in a peeing contest.

All In,

Randy C -

[Triple B333]

I agree with you wholeheartedly Randy. I do step away from the game and see if my decisions were right. I have lost a bit of cash from monday to now. Bout 45 dollars. Dosent sound like much but it has taken me to nothing on bodog. I havent had to reload but one time since playing on bodog. I feel as though Bodog is getting bad with their set up flops. I have seen so many flops in the last 4 days that would compliment a wide variety of hands. Just dosent seem right to sit and play where the dealer isnt being a true random generator. Maybe I put too much emphasis on our league game as I helped to build it but jeez why shouldnt I. I like our game tuesday night because if i raise i get called by a quality hand. I just feel that calling in the hopes of "getting lucky" is not the way to play the game. Last night woulda been a good game to video tape. I saw so many times someone calling thru with an absolute crap hand and then they would river thier card for a rediculous upset. I realize that bad beats happen but they happen for a reason. You dont see me calling thru in the hopes that i will get lucky. I call thru with a quality hand and a quality draw. I used to play higher stakes so as to get a better game and that helps out tremendously. Guess I just need to play high stakes to get away from the silly stuff. Maybe just leave the goofballs to thier small time winnings and let them play thier junk at the beginner tables. I am going to take a break from bodog for a while so as to revamp my game a bit. I am going to stick to all in and the rest of the sites i play on and let bodog just go away for a few days. I have no money on bodog right now and dont plan on reloading anytime soon. If I do it will be just league game money for the sunday and tuesday game. And even then it will be hard to play as i will have no reason to try to build my bankroll up when the flops are so rediculously staged. I usually can step away for a min and recoup after a bad beat but over and over again all day everyday for a week and then to get hammered in our league game was just a slap in the face. I think that last night there were a few players that just didnt care who won but were playing and betting cause they were bored. I didnt see too many quality calls but saw a lot of bad beats. The time element shows that true enough. Usually we go about three hours but last nights game went off under two. I am at a loss for words Randy. I understand this game completely and have managed to do quite well at making money from bodog but i will not continue to play when the flops dont match any other site in frequency and texture. I play at 7 other sites now and I dont see the set ups over and over again. I see a few which is expected but not nearly the amount of action from bodog. I could understand if i saw it all over the place but come on lets be real here. Bodog is getting old with that stuff. It just makes the money stay on bodog is all. Cause if quality play rules out over all else then I wouldnt complain about it. But at bodog you get rewarded for being dumb. Oh well, water under the bridge. Money gone. Lesson learned. I think my best bet is to take what winnings I have cashed out and run with it. I love the fact that i am a big part of our league but i will not just donate my money for no reason just to play at bodog cause we are already situated there. Burke