Top Set beaten by a lower Set orunexpected Straight or Flush.Pocket Aces cracked by random pocket Kings or worse pre-flop.I know, I‘m having bad beat PTSD flashbacks just describing it! More specifically, here are a few minimum hand combos needed for a true soul-crushing bad beat: But the poker gods laugh as the river produces a miracle card that destroys your prized aces or kings and crushes your soul. You expect to double up and stack your opponent.The other player is on a straight draw, flush draw, or overcards – usually not more than a 15% to 20% underdog.You have the statistical best hand like top set or an overpair, and get all the money in as a huge 85% or higher favorite.

Some classic hallmarks of a bad beat include: Grab a comforting snack and let‘s dive right in! Defining the Heartbreak: What Constitutes a Bad Beat?Īt its core, a bad beat in poker simply refers to when you lose with an exceptionally strong hand against a player who managed to draw an even stronger hand, contrary to the odds. From unlucky math scenarios, to coping with the agony, to benefiting from bad beat jackpots, I‘ll equip you to handle poker‘s inevitable yettotally-not-fun sucker punches. Hey friend! Have you ever been playing poker and felt like you had an unbeatable hand, only to have the deck cruelly betray you in the end? If so, you‘ve experienced one of the most universal – and dreaded – poker occurrences: the 'bad beat.'Īs a longtime poker enthusiast and nerd for data, let me walk you through everything you need to know about bad beats in poker.

Beats what in poker