The Best Ways to Deal With Bad Poker Players

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of playing poker. But there’s also nothing worse than coming up against a bad player at the table. These players make careless mistakes, call bets with no hand, secretly use poker cheating devices, and generally drive everyone else crazy. If you’ve ever played against one of these guys, you know how frustrating it can be. So you may be wondering how you can deal with those situations. To help you with that, read on. We’ll talk about some handy ways to keep your cool against bad poker players.

Understand the Odds

circleOne of the first things you need to do when playing against bad players is to understand the odds. This doesn’t mean memorizing all of the different possible hands and their probability of winning. Instead, it means understanding how often you should expect to win based on the strength of your hand. For example, if you’re holding a pair of aces, you have about a one in three chance of winning the hand. If you’re playing against bad players constantly making mistakes, those odds go up significantly.

Never Make It Personal

Whether you’re playing online or in person, it’s important to remember that poker is just a game. It’s not personal. The player who took all your chips isn’t doing it to spite you. They’re doing it because they want to win the hand. So don’t take it personally when you lose to a bad player. Just keep playing and try to win the next hand.

Use the Rational Part of Your Brain

I usually tell people that the key to winning at poker is to use the rational part of your brain. That’s easier said than done, of course. But it’s worth a try. When you’re angry or upset, you’re not thinking clearly. And that can lead to making bad decisions. People just don’t play their best when they’re emotional. So take a deep breath and try to calm down when you’re feeling frustrated. It’ll help you make better decisions and, as a result, win more hands.

Simply Walk Away If Things Get Out of Hand

finishOf course, I know you know it’s coming. Yes, things can get out of hand, especially if your emotions are running high. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re just too angry to think straight, it’s probably time to take a break. Get up from the table and walk away for a few minutes. Go outside, get some fresh air, and come back when you’ve calmed down. It’s not worth playing if you can’t control your emotions.

Poker is a great game. But it can be frustrating when you’re constantly losing to bad players. Hopefully, these tips will help you deal with those situations better. Remember to keep cool, understand the odds, and never make it personal. If you do those things, you’ll be in good shape.…