Poker Bad Hands
Crushing losses in poker tournaments happen to even the greatest of pros, and that includes Daniel Negreanu.
Wild Bill Hickok, aces and eights, and the birth of the dead man’s hand. While the actual composition of the dead man’s hand has undergone some changes over the years, its current manifestation is a two-pair poker hand of black aces and black eights. Once you have seen a player hit runner-runner against a near lock hand, you have seen the most significant bad beat. There is no sense in telling or hearing the same story over and over again. Most people have become adept at ignoring players in the lobby who shake their heads and shout, “You won’t believe what this donkey just did!”. There is, therefore, an under-appreciated skill that is largely tournament-specific: adjusting to the preflop viability of those bad hands. In cash games, blinds who are defending figure to have.
This week, while playing in a GG Poker World Series of Poker event, he was streaming as he got a Queen and a 10 and decided to raise before the flop as “a little bit of a bluff.”
Then, Yuri Dzivielevski called, and that’s when what would be a disastrous hand would unfold.
Right off the bat, Negreanu landed a straight. Dzivielevski bet, and Negreanu simply called, baiting his opponent into continuing the hand. It’s a smart play here given that he’s got a devastatingly good hand.
Out comes the 3 of spades, the second spade on the board along with a Jack. Dzivielevski shoves all-in, and Negreanu calls with his large stack, finding out that his opponent is holding 6-5 of spades for a flush draw.
All Negreanu needs is for a non-spade to come out on the river. But guess what happens?
The answer is below (and WARNING: Some NSFW language ahead!)
Yep, just like Rounders. Brutal all around.
Competition has a way of magnifying emotions. Throw money into the mix and a minor annoyance can become the basis for losing a lot of money. The problem is that the poker boom has brought in many new players who do not know what is acceptable behavior at the table. These players either haven’t had enough time at the poker table to learn the proper skills or have only played online poker where most etiquette issues are resolved by simply turning off the chat feature.
Television has exaggerated poor poker behavior and to many new players, this representation is all they have to emulate. True poker professionals maintain their composure at the table and are able to deal with less experienced players and their annoying habits. This is an acquired skill that takes time and patience to achieve. Once you advance to this level of professional play you will move to higher limit games and find yourself surrounded by more sophisticated players. As you continue climbing the poker ladder, recognize bothersome table manner and make sure that you are not exhibiting annoying habits of your own.
#1 – Wasting Time
Good poker players always consider their hourly rate of return at the poker table. Delays such as taking too long to act and “hollywooding” directly affect their hourly rate. This is especially true in a time-raked game. Interfering with the dealer and constantly forgetting to post blinds and antes also causes annoying delays that cost other players money.
#2 – Playing House
The dealer is responsible for maintaining order and solving problems when a situation arises at the poker table. If the dealer is unable to handle a problem or declare a ruling, he should call the floorperson. At no time should a player feel empowered to spout poker rules or attempt to take control of a situation at the table. It is annoying and often leads to inaccurate information that causes chaos rather than resolution.
Poker Bad Hand
#3 – Poor Sportsmanship
Excessive celebration or screaming and berating players is considered poor sportsmanship regardless of the circumstances. Both extremes are bothersome to opponents at the table and often cause players to leave the game altogether.
#4 – Teaching at the Table
Leave the analysis to Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten. No one wants to hear strategy techniques at the table, least of all an opponent you just beat. Do not explain what the player could have done differently to win or your strategy for winning the hand. Statistical analysis of a hand also falls under the category of “annoying teacher habits,” so leave all mathematical odds to the poker calculators and limit the use of the term, “coin flip”.
#5 – Asking to See a Hand
When a player is called at showdown, he will sometimes immediately muck the hand. That player is conceding the hand. Rules dictate that a player who suspects collusion at this point in the hand may ask to see the players mucked cards. If you do not suspect collusion, it is improper to ask to see the hand. Asking to see the hand in order to interpret the player’s strategy is inappropriate and extremely annoying to the player who has already admitted defeat.
#6 – Telling Bad Beat Stories
Once you have seen a player hit runner-runner against a near lock hand, you have seen the most significant bad beat. There is no sense in telling or hearing the same story over and over again. Most people have become adept at ignoring players in the lobby who shake their heads and shout, “You won’t believe what this donkey just did!” It’s the bad beat stories disguised as casual conversation players find most annoying. This includes openings such as, “Tell me how you would have played this hand,” or “You won’t believe what happened at my last table…”
#7 – Saying, “I Thought You Had Me”, While Raking in the Chips
It takes a lot of moxie to bluff on every betting round when an opponent keeps reluctantly calling. At showdown, after an opponent withstands all the pressure and makes that final crying call, the loss can be heartbreaking. The last comment the bluffer wants to hear after conceding the hand is, “I thought you had me.” This may be the single most annoying phrase used in poker. It can serve only two possible purposes: 1.) to prove that you do not know how to lay down a hand when you think you are beat or 2.) to admit that you are a liar. Which would you rather be?
Bad Hands In Poker
#8 – Hit-and-Runs and Walkers
A player who wins a big pot and immediately cashes in and leaves the table annoys other players who want a chance to win their money back. It is especially bothersome if that same player sneaks to another table and buys in for a lower amount in order to reduce the risk of loss. More irritating than a player who hits-and-runs is a walker. A walker is a player who has chips at the table, yet spends most of his time away from the table. This locks up a seat that an active player could take. This includes players leisurely walking as well as those constantly taking bathroom, smoking and phone breaks. This category also includes players who avoid blinds and the worst offender of all: the player who takes an hour-long dinner break and then picks up his chips immediately upon return.
#9 – Talking or Gesturing While a Hand is in Progress
While action is in progress, it is improper talk or make gestures that affect the outcome of the hand. This includes comments such as, “Oh man, I folded ,” or “The flush got there,” as well as moaning or standing when three suited cards hit the board. Even announcing another player’s chip count, provoking action or saying anything at all on behalf of an active player is inappropriate.
#10 – Saying What They Had After Folding at Showdown
Once the hand is complete, there is simply no reason to announce what cards you folded. If you truly want to show the hand, you should show it to the table prior to mucking. If you do not want to reveal your hand, your mission is accomplished by folding the cards face down; no further explanation is necessary. The only clear motive for stating the hand is to deceive opponents, but this tactic is so obvious that any above-average player will pick up on it and simply become annoyed.
You probably recognize some of these annoying habits and may have others to add to the list. Identification is the first step to removing bad habits from your game. The ability to tolerate and not allow others to alter your game is the second and most important step toward becoming a successful poker player. On a positive note, players with poor poker etiquette are also typically poor players. So while their antics may sometimes delay the game and cost you money, in the long run they are increasing your bankroll.
Poker Hands Bad Beats
As you continue to climb the poker ladder, maintain your composure and be a solid representative of the game so that other players will emulate your style.
Related Articles
By Kelli Mix
Kelli is the author of the 'Game Day Poker Almanac - Official Rules of Poker'. She lives in Carrollton, Georgia, where she is the state director for the Poker Players Alliance.
Poker Bad Beat Hands
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.