Bad Beats are a Badge of Honor

We have all had our chips in the middle over the course of our cash game or poker tournaments when we are the heavy favorite and still lost the hand. That’s exactly where you want to be. Sometimes we get sucked out on when our opponent hits the proverbial one outer to take down a huge pot and eliminate us from the tournament.

It happens to the best of us. No matter how skilled a poker player you are we are all subject to bad beats. The thing about bad beats is that they do not happen to bad players. Bad poker players do not get their chips in the middle with the best hand. On the other hand, good players consistently get their chips in the middle with the best hand and therefore are subject to bad beats.

Therein lies the difference between the two.

Yes, the bad beats do sting especially when you have been grinding for a number of hours building your stack with well timed moves and the like. However, the seasoned poker player does not get upset. He does not rant and rave about how poorly his opponent played his hand. He simply shakes his hand and walks away knowing that he did everything within his power to put himself in position to win the hand. He handles himself with class.

Remember that the next time you take a bad beat at the table. Wear it as a badge of honor as it re-enforces your superior skill because bad beats never happen to bad players.

Good luck at the tables!