Tips on Making a Bad Poker Hand Work

The beauty of poker is the range of skills that the game requires. Poker is therefore known as game of skill, with a general requirement of some luck, which helps. The fact of the matter is that that a round of this game can actually be won despite luck. In other words, it is possible to make the most of a situation where luck has kept her distance, or to put it more plainly, there are at least 5 ways to make a bad poker hand work.

Recognise a Bad Hand

In counselling they say that the first step is to recognise that you have a problem. It is a similar process with poker, because living in a dream world is not going to help. Poker players, the good ones at least, will have a realistic perspective. Not negative, but simply appreciative of the fact that the hand that they have been dealt has very little chance of winning. This is the point where a good player will utilise the strategies he has prepared and planned for. The first way, therefore, of making a bad poker hand work is mentally preparing and selecting the optimal weapon.

Bluffing

A player who has been dealt a bad hand will need to have a specific bluffing strategy prepared, along with some bluffing ability. It is rather important not to over-use the bluff as a tactic. Better players will chose their moment to bluff carefully since the whole concept behind the bluff is to be able to keep your opponents guessing. Knowing how, and when, to bluff is the one aspect of poker that takes practice to perfect. A good bluffer means a good poker player, but involves complete control of your own appearance as well as being able to read your opponents.

Know When to Walk Away

The two characteristics of a good poker player are knowing how to bluff effectively and knowing when to fold. Real quality poker play is more than just winning often, it is equally important to realise when you are defeated before suffering a huge loss. Often enough a player will suffer a bad beat and that is simply a fact of the game. Limiting losses is often just as big a skill.

Do Not Panic and Make Dramatic Changes

Initially, when suffering a bad run, players are inclined to try to power through it. Right on the back of this urge is another reflexive reaction, and that is to completely overhaul your entire game plan. Don’t. The overhaul response may have a seemingly solid logic behind it, that a bad hand should be the opportunity to increase your game’s contrast setting and making more dramatic winning and losing plays. Whereas the logic is right, the full thinking is limited because although a bad run does mean concentrating on gambling habits more, it is often just the plays with smaller edges that should be converted and the inclination is to doubt these, which is bad.

Practice Breeds Luck

In sport the belief that more practice means more luck may be slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it remains a principle that works. Playing bad hands well, or not playing them, as the case may be, should be seen as part of the improvement curve.

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