Limit Aces Cracked (cash)

BAD BEAT

I was a 95% favorite on the flop but worsened on the turn to 80%. I hate it when I lose to a weak ass flush, especially when I'm killing initially.

Ace On The River (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

It was a coin flip pre-flop, but on the turn, I was just a 7% dog. Although the ace helped me survive, it didn't really do much to help me get much further in the tourney. The blinds were already so high, a small double-up like this still needs a lot of help.

Three Out Split Pot (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I was a 97% favorite to take the entire pot down, but my opponent caught just one of three outs to split the pot with me. This chop was a small disappointment since I had a big stack anyway. In fact, it was large enough to lead me to a 2nd place finish.

Lady Luck Saves Me From Drowning - Twice! (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I donked off my chips to this same guy earlier and was steaming because of it. I didn't want to flip a coin but I felt like I had to with the blinds so big. Lady Luck saved me from drowning this time and I was back in the tourney. I was just a 5% dog on the turn.



Then, later on in the tourney, Lady Luck must have been in love with me because she saved me again on the river. This time, I was a 9% dog on the turn. These hands helped me come in 2nd in the tourney.

Quads Pay Off (cash)

GOOD BEAT

I was dominated, but hit the monster flop. It only got better on the turn and I was lucky my opponent had a boat. I think he would have called an all-in, but I didn't want to be greedy.

Bubble Boy (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I was on the bubble and needed to double up. I thought I had it, but Lady Luck was around the turn and didn't let me by. I was a 91% favorite on the flop.

Re-raising a Check Raise (cash)

BAD PLAY



My opponent had pushed me off a hand earlier and I got sick of it. I decided to make a stand but it was a poor decision that cost me my entire stack. It was a horrible, horrible decision. It might partly have been due to not having played a cash game for awhile and playing in a different (lower) level. No excuses though, just a costly mistake. Remember, in no-limit hold 'em, a simple error can be extremely costly.

Big Stack Domination (tourney)

BAD BEAT

There is definitely something about being the big stack. This big stack had so many chips, he raised nearly every hand. The first hand had him a 9% dog yet he was still able to win. Then on the very next hand, he was the dog pre-flop, but interestingly ended up being the favorite on the flop. Still, I felt like there was something going on especially since the big stack was hitting these kinds of hands the entire time. I know the feeling though because when I was a big stack once, I was doing the same exact thing.

Runner Runner Beats Kings (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I was an 82% favorite on the flop, then a 75% favorite on the turn. I wasn't so upset at this because when I lost, I was dumbfounded and tried to figure out how I lost. Then I just accepted that it was a bad beat. I guess winning a tourney before this one helped lessen the blow.

When You're Lucky, You're Lucky (tourney)

BAD BEAT
And on the opposite side of this, when you're unlucky, you're unlucky. It started with this hand. This same guy gets lucky against pocket kings. He was just a 4% dog on the flop. I should have known better than to mess with him later on.



When I got involved with him, I was a 77% favorite upon catching my straight, but then my opponent got lucky and nearly took me out.



Then, he calls me with a junkie hand later just to finish me off with a gutshot straight. Again, a 75% favorite on the turn.

Trap is Set, But River Runs Dry (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I waited patiently to get into a hand with this guy and I finally got the hand I needed to confront him. It all didn't matter since the river gave him his 20% chance to win.

Roller Coaster with a Bad Ending (tourney)

BAD BEAT

Sure, I was dominated pre-flop, but I was a 75% favorite on the turn. What did I do to you Lady Luck?

Got Away From Aces (tourney)

LAYDOWN

I made a good laydown because I felt something wrong about the bet. As always, trust your instincts.

Stupid Big Stack Loves the River (tourney)

BAD BEAT

As usual, the big stack is dominated but gets lucky on the river.

Super Loose, Super Lucky (tourney)

BAD BEAT

This guy bluffed me in a previous hand so I couldn't wait to catch him again. But Lady Luck is never fair and she gave him a 20% chance to win on the turn.

Trips and Aces (cash)

GOOD BEAT

I get lucky and crack aces while trying to get another player to play into the pot. I should have bet on the turn just to squeeze out some money from the other player, but I was happy to get lucky.

Aces Crushed Again (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I don't think I could have gotten away from this and I think my pre-flop raise was okay. Unfortunately, the big stack called with a suited hand and hit a monster flop. I thought I won on the river when the board paired, but it only gave him a boat.

Big Stack, Runner Runner (tourney)

BAD BEAT

It's always the last hand that is most painful because you know that if you had won it, you'd be back in the tournament with another chance. This one was painful because it was the dreaded big stack and it was a runner runner straight.

River Not Nice (cash)

BAD BEAT

I was hunting this player and finally got the chance to take his money. I was an 89% favorite on the turn, but the river can be mighty brutal.

Call on the River (cash)

GOOD PLAY

Sometimes a hand just doesn't add-up in your mind. When a bet is small enough, I will call just to see if my instincts were right. In this hand, I had a feeling that I had the best hand because my opponent was playing loose. I suspected he would have raised with any ace pre-flop, would have bet with an ace on the flop, and would not have bet the turn if he had an eight.

River Pain (cash)

BAD BEAT

I was an 89% favorite on the turn. I had been waiting most of the session to get involved in a hand with this guy and I finally got my chance. But Lady Luck was not on my side.

Laydown to Place Higher (tourney)

LAYDOWN

Even if you're getting the best pot odds to make a call, sometimes it's a good idea to fold. I think players were getting itchy to end this tournament and decided to just push-in with very questionable hands. The good thing for me is that the biggest stack ended up winning so I moved-up from 7th to 4th without doing anything but folding.

Domination to Revelation (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I got lucky and when you do, so many good things can happen. In this case, I ended up winning the tournament. I was a 27% dog on the flop.

I Crack Aces (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I finally got lucky and crack aces along with two other all-in players. Big hands like this can take you far in a tournament.

Jacks Not Great in Multi-Way Race (tourney)

LAYDOWN

Even though I had great position with a pair of jacks, I decided to limp against a raise since it was so early in the tournament. I'm only a fan of jacks when I know I'll be heads-up, not against multiple players. So when the button raised and the small blind went all-in, it was a relatively easy fold.

Domination to Gut Shot River (tourney)

BAD BEAT

The blinds got pretty big and I moved-in with AK dominating the caller. I thought I was good on the flop until I realized there were still four outs that could get me.

Beware the Big Stack (tourney)

BAD BEAT

The lesson I learned from this hand is that when you're up against a big stack, settle for the pot and punish him when you think you have the hand. Even though I was a 95% favorite on the turn and check-raised him, it wasn't enough and I paid for it on the river. The reason I didn't move all-in on the turn is that I was worried he might have a higher two pair, but I should not have worried about that since there was no way I was going to fold on the river.

Top Pair, King Kicker (tourney)

LAYDOWN

Back in the day, I would have had trouble laying this down. These days, I find it much easier.

Roller Coaster Beat (tourney)

BAD BEAT/GOOD BEAT

I was down, then up.  I was a 75% favorite pre-flop, a 14% dog on the flop, and a 7% dog on the turn.  Sometimes you're lucky and sometimes you're not.  In this case, I was both.

Big Stack Crushes Aces (tourney)

BAD BEAT

As usual, big stack poker takes it down.

Ferguson Hurt (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I knew the big stack had it or didn't.  I bet that he didn't but I was wrong.

Top Pair in Position Fold (cash)

LAYDOWN

It's very easy for me to fold top pair when there's a re-raise on the flop of a pot that had several players who limped in.  I knew there was trouble and I was certain of it when the pot was raised a second time by a player acting after me.

Turned Set (tourney)

LAYDOWN

I wanted to keep the pot small and decided to check top pair on the flop. I was in the big blind and had two players acting after me, so I didn't fire out. When another seven hit the turn, I had a feeling my hand got real weak. With such a small pot and not being in an ideal position, I think it's much easier to laydown medium strength hands.

Straight on the River (cash)

GOOD BEAT

I was surprised to see that I was a 57% favorite pre-flop. I thought it'd be closer to 50/50. However, I went to 24% on the flop, and 14% on the river. How sweet it is.

Nut Flush Gamble (cash)

GOOD BEAT

I saw Patrik Atonius make this same move against someone on a high limit table on Full Tilt. I figured I had to gamble at some point and calling the check-raise would have been a terrible play. I suspected I was behind, but I didn't think I would be a 2-1 dog. Going against two pair with just a flush draw generally gives you those odds, but as luck has it, I ended up getting a back door straight.

Busted Aces (cash)

BAD BEAT

Just another example of aces getting squashed. I am really beginning to hate pocket aces. Next time I'm going to raise much higher to get the most value out of them. However, in this case, my opponents had such small stacks, I don't think I could have pushed them off on any street.

Set But Flush Worry (cash)

LAYDOWN

I probably should have fired out on the flop, but I've been experimenting with keeping pot sizes low on dangerous boards. Getting check-raised is always a danger sign, especially when your opponent does it against two opponents while being out of position. I decided to lay it down and just wait for another opportunity.

Freeroll Hurt (tourney)

BAD BEAT

Freerolls are fun because they're free and you're not really losing anything except your time and sometimes your wit. I spent a lot of time working my stack up and studying my opponent. I knew he was a weak player and I was waiting to slowplay him and take all his chips. The time finally came and I was a 95% favorite on the turn.



After building my stack up again, I came across this fella and decided to make a stand with top pair. I was a 93% favorite on the turn.

Weak Ace with Position (cash)

LAYDOWN

Again, I felt something was amiss so I folded on the turn. I could have bet out on the flop, but I didn't feel that I would get much value since anyone who had a flush draw, a higher ace or even a pair would call and have lots of outs to work with. I had a feeling the big blind had a big hand he was protecting so I folded without too much trouble.

Folding Queen High Flush (cash)

LAYDOWN

I had a bad feeling when the player to my right called a re-raise with two spades on the board. I felt that he could be stronger than me, but I wasn't certain. When the third spade hit the turn, I began to regret that I folded. But I guess this is an example that you need to trust your gut.

Flush on the River (cash)

BAD BEAT

I was a 95% favorite on the flop and it was my mistake not to make my opponent pay more for a card on the river. However, I was still an 82% favorite on the turn. Another mistake I made was raising on the river. I wondered if my opponent had made a flush on the river and my greed led to my raise. I could have folded but the raise was perfect on my opponent's part. I had to see it.

Turned Straight (cash)

BAD BEAT

The thing about pot limit hold 'em is that it's a little more difficult to protect your hand. I turned a straight and had to bet just the pot. On the other hand, would you bet more than the pot if you turned a straight and had a decent flush draw? Probably not, so I guess you can just say this hand was bad luck. I was a 93% favorite when I turned the straight.

KJ in Late Position

QUIZ

You have KJ in position so you raise after the big blind and a new player who brought-in dead money calls. You flop top pair and the big blind makes a minimum bet while the new player makes a big raise. What do you do?



Here's what the players really had.

Cracked Aces Once Again (cash)

BAD BEAT

I can't blame my opponent for calling the all-in on the flop since he had most of his money in already pre-flop. But that doesn't help the hurt I still felt.

Set on the Turn (cash)

GOOD BEAT

I was just a 10% dog on the flop and figured I'd gamble to see if I got lucky. I did.

Two Pair Suck Out (cash)

BAD BEAT

I was good on the turn, but bad on the river. I thought about checking on the river because of the possible straight, but I wanted to make a value bet which ended up getting me check-raised. I was a 73% favorite on the turn.

Aces Cracked? (cash)

LAYDOWN

Might be the first time I've laid down aces.

Jacks Cracked (cash)

BAD BEAT

Another sickening beat. I should have raised more aggressively, but was a little worried about someone flopping a set.

Kings Get the Hurt (cash)

BAD BEAT

I'm starting to get sick of these beats. If I had a shorter bankroll, I'd be sick of them. But with a little buffer, I can hang - just barely. Sure, this guy had outs, but not many.

Folding Top Pair (cash)

LAYDOWN

Sometimes you'll get a feeling that your hand is beat. When you get that feeling, trust it. It's probably right.

Going Broke Against Gutshot (cash)

BAD BEAT

I was a 90% favorite on the turn, so I didn't bet much to get some action. I paid for it when my opponent caught one of four outs. This bad beat got me broke on PokerStars.

Straight Beats Set on the River (cash)

BAD BEAT

I made the right move, but Lady Luck was brutal. I was an 84% favorite pre-flop and an 80% favorite on the turn.

Kings versus Aces (cash)

I hate getting caught in these situations. Being second best will always lose you money. The only thing I should have done was move all-in after aces moved-in so I could generate a side pot.

Sick Runner Runner (tourney)

BAD BEAT

My brother once theorized that the big stack seems to have uncommonly good luck during tournaments. This is a prime example of that. On the flop, the big stack had just a 3% chance to win. Strangely, he ends up with a runner runner sick beat to win the entire pot. Is there something going on here?

Aces Hold! (cash)

I've had horrible luck with aces, but this time it paid off. I didn't think anyone would call my re-raise, but I was lucky that someone did.

Top Pair, Ace Kicker (cash)

I may have been too conservative here, but I hadn't seen much action from this player. In fact, just a few hands earlier, I raised him exactly the same way and he folded pre-flop. This time he took a flop and bet out. This led me to believe that he had an overpair.

Surprise Aces (cash)

BAD BEAT

Although technically not a bad beat (since I was behind), sometimes you'll get a hand that is simply sour. I don't think there's any way to get away from this hand and what is so frustrating is knowing that you have one person beat, but then another player shows you that you're beat. The aces surprised me, but then again, this session was just the end of a brutal stack destroying run.

Almost Cracked Aces (cash)

BAD BEAT

I almost cracked aces, but almost is not good enough. The turn was the worst card I could possibly get.

Why QJ is Weak in Early Position (cash)

BAD PLAY

Not only should I have not played such a hand in early position, I should never have raised against two players on the turn. I was in a gambling mood though and sometimes a gambling mood can get you in trouble.

Boats Aren't Good Against Quads (cash)

BAD PLAY

I'm just happy my opponent didn't have more money in this hand. Otherwise, I probably would have lost even more than I did. Sometimes, you'll get the cards you need to make a hand, but your opponent already has you beat. The best play here would have been to just call the river bet instead of raising. I'm not sure anyone can laydown a full house on the river.

Laying Down Overpair (cash)

LAYDOWN

After getting check-raised on the flop and then needing to call a pot bet on the turn, I decided I was beaten.

Queens and a Safe Flop (cash)

QUIZ

You have pocket queens and see a flop that has two diamonds. One player is already all-in while another moves all-in on the flop. What do you do?




Here's what happened:

Flopped Trips (cash)

QUIZ

You call a minimum raise from the button since you are on the big blind. You flop trips and it is checked to the button who makes a continuation bet. You call and an early position limper raises. You call his raise then see the turn. What do you do?



Here's what actually happened:

Laying Down Trips (tourney)

LAYDOWN

I didn't feel good about my hand so I laid down trips on the river. It's never a good feeling unless you know what your opponent had.

Check on the River (cash)

BAD BEAT

The villain tried to get me to be on the river, but I was suspicious of all his calling. When you have position, consider any straight draws or dominating hands that could have you beat.

Three in a Row (tourney)

DEFINITION/GOOD BEAT

I've noticed that to get far in a tournament, you need to get lucky. And there's nothing like getting a rush of cards to help you on your way. I don't remember ever getting a rush of cards like this. I got them all in a row.

Give and Take (cash)

QUIZ/GOOD PLAY/BAD PLAY

With AJ in early position, I tend to play conservatively. However, I had position in this hand since it was a blind versus blind scenario. What would you do?



Here's what actually happened.



Later in that session, I came upon this hand against the same player. What would you do?



Here's what I did.

Aces Cracked Revisited (cash)

BAD BEAT

This time my aces were cracked with a flush on the river. I think the hand that's been cracked the most is pocket aces, at least for me.

A 10-to-1 Overbet (cash)

QUIZ/DEFINITION

You are the Hero. You raise with AQ and the blinds call. There is $0.75 in the pot. You flop top pair and the big blind moves all-in for $10.00. What do you do?



The big blind, or Player 1, has made an overbet. He has bet $10.00 to win just $0.75. Unfortunately, you have not been on the table long enough to know what type of player he is. To see what Player 1 had, view the replay below.

Dominated But Short Stacked (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I was dominated but I had to make some kind of move with so few chips. At this stage, you just hope for the best and make a wish that Lady Luck will find you.

Aces Cracked Once More (cash)

BAD BEAT

Even if I had bet on the turn, I don't think my opponent would have folded. But you never know . . .

Multi-way Limped Pot (cash)

QUIZ

What would you do on the turn?



Here's what actually transpired.

Semi-bluffing from Early Position (cash)

DEFINITION

Since it was a limped pot, I decided this was a good time for a semi-bluff. I had an open-ended straight draw and figured my opponent didn't have an ace. For your bluff to work, you have to tell a believable story. My story told my opponent that I had an ace with a weak kicker since I checked on the big blind, and check-raised the flop. I also led out on the turn pretending to protect my hand from a possible flush.

Usual Two Pair v Flopped Straight (tourney/cash)

BAD BEAT/BAD PLAY

Not much of a bad beat, but when you get a lot of cards that flop a possible straight, you should be more cautious than I was. However, it's always tough to get rid of a flopped two pair and it seems like someone will always lose money in this kind of situation.

Flopped Flush v Flopped Set (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I might have been on the other side of a hand like this at one point or another. To gain chips on a flopped flush, your opponent usually needs to have a pretty big hand.

Good Laydown, Better Flop (tourney)

I felt I had a losing hand when the pair of kings raised. It wasn't much of a raise, but I suspected I was in trouble. When the flop hit, I thought I should have gambled, but then realized it was a good thing that I didn't.

Top Pair Fold (cash)

BAD PLAY

I think a good play here would have been the check-raise. It would have challenged my opponent on the button and probably would have made the player to my left fold. However, against an aggressive player, I could get re-raised and be forced to make a tough decision. My general rule is not to play KQ upfront unless I flop a big hand.

Unlucky Run (tourney)

BAD BEAT/DEFINITION

I have the feeling that when you get a bad beat in a tournament, you tend to get more of them later. It's kind of like the opposite of a rush. Sometimes you'll win a bunch of hands in a short period of time, and sometimes you'll lose a bunch of hands in a short period of time.

Wimpy Fold (cash)

BAD PLAY

Scared poker is losing poker. I should have called the river bet.

Flopped Nut Flush (cash)

GOOD BEAT

Not only was I lucky flopping the nut flush, I was lucky because other players also flopped good hands. Multi-way pots are so satisfying to win.

Possible Flush Flop (tourney)

BAD PLAY

When someone calls your bet with a board that is suited, either they have it or they don't. I was hoping my opponent did not have it and that's why I moved-in on the turn. Turns out I was wrong. I should have played the hand more carefully and been willing to let the hand go.

Great Slow Play (cash)

DEFINITION

Here's a great example of a slow-play. Unfortunately, I was the one who fell into the trap.

Runner Flush for Me (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I didn't even know how I won when I first saw this. Once again, sometimes you give and sometimes you receive. But like they say, it's better to give than receive.

Aces Cracked Once Again (tourney)

BAD BEAT

Just another case where the big stack cracks the poor and lowly lower stack.

Flush Draw v Set (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

My opponent made a pot bet on the flop which gave me 2 to 1 odds to call. Interestingly, I was getting correct odds to make the call since I was a 33% underdog at that point. Since the call would mean nearly my entire stack (and there was no way I was folding on the turn), I pushed it all-in.

Domination Kharma (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

Sometimes you get a bad beat, and sometimes you'll be the one giving the bad beat. I was dominated, but got lucky when my queen hit the flop. This lucky break allowed me to go further in the tourney than I expected.

Ace Jack Early (cash)

LAYDOWN

I played scared with AJs in early position, but I should have called since these players were playing very loose. Still, I figured I would wait for a better hand and better position against these players.

Slow Played Aces (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I slow played my aces and got burned. I had a feeling I was in trouble when I was re-raised, but I had so much money in the pot, I figured I had a chance.

Queen of Hearts Flush (tourney)

GOOD BEAT

I finally got the big, lucky break I'd been waiting for. I'd been beaten with runner runner flushes before and it sure feels a lot better on the other side. Winning this big pot allowed me to place 12th in this tournament.

Simple Continuation (tourney)

DEFINITION

A simple example of a continuation bet in position. The bluff works because of my opponents position and his low chip count. My tight image combined with my position also adds to the story I'm telling.

Nothing Like Floppin' Quads (cash)

GOOD BEAT

I think I played this hand just right. I was going to re-raise pre-flop, and I wish I would've.

Fold Decent Hands in Early Position (cash)

LAYDOWN

Playing marginally good hands in early position can get you in trouble. Other than having to make tough decisions the whole way through, your opponents can also catch or already have great hands that could get you in trouble.

Three Bullets, Three Calls (cash)

GOOD PLAY

I had been watching my opponent and noticed he was making some bad plays. When we got into a hand together, my hunch was that he didn't have an ace in this hand. Most players check when they flop trips so when he bet out, I thought the best he could have was an eight. But then I began to worry when he fired out again on the turn. I went with my read and called. I also decided that no matter what hit the river, I would call. Sometimes, you have to go with your gut and make the decision you think is right.

Flopped Straight, Flush Danger (cash)

BAD PLAY

I think I made a bad check on the turn. I should have been more aggressive and put my opponent to the test. I just worried that if he had a weak flush, my bet would be meaningless since he would simply call me. However, I think I allowed him to get his flush and I had to lay down my straight.

Flushed Nut (cash)

BAD PLAY

I like mixing it up and I don't think a raise on the button with suited connectors is a bad thing as long as you don't do it that often. My mistake was on the turn when my opponent bet a dollar into the pot. At the time, I was feeling a little frustrated because my pocket aces were cracked a few hands earlier. I was playing timid, fearful of losing my stack. What I should have done was raise on the turn and make my opponent risk his stack to make his flush. Instead, I ended up letting him draw to a flush that I wrongly hoped would give me the best hand.

Straight Flop (cash)

GOOD BEAT

There's nothing like flopping a straight with multiple opponents.

Sandwiched (cash)

LAYDOWN

I had one of those feelings that I was in trouble with this hand. With another player acting behind me, and a bet from early position, I figured I was likely behind and folded.

Domination Abomination (tourney)

BAD BEAT

Just another example of the big stack getting lucky when he's dominated.

Limped Pot Danger (cash)

BAD BEAT

Even though I had this player dominated, I got the short-end of the stick. A better play is to come into the pot with a raise. Perhaps the player would have folded. However, if you decide to limp, understand that you could go down with a random hand.

Bad Slow Play (cash)

BAD PLAY

I thought I'd change things up and slow play on the small blind. I now think it's not a good idea to slow play out of position pre-flop. If you decide to do it, be ready to fold even top pair when your opponent bets aggressively. Remember, limped pots are dangerous because anyone could have anything.

Good Call, Bad River (cash)

BAD BEAT

I didn't think my opponent had a flush draw, but even if he did, I figured I still had some outs. Besides, he was all-in anyway and there really wasn't that much left to call. Although the bet on the turn looks like a bluff, he actually had a straight-flush draw, so I don't blame him for moving-in. At that point, he had a 1 in 3 chance of winning.

Big Stack v. Little Stack (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I'm beginning to think that my brother may be right about big stacks getting lucky against smaller stacks. I couldn't ask for much more and I still ended up with a bad beat.

Folding AQ (cash)

LAYDOWN

With a re-raise from the small blind, I didn't feel good about playing AQ, even though I had position. Sometimes you have to go with your gut.

Luck, Bad Call or . . . ? (tourney)

BAD BEAT

I don't quite understand why the player would call unless he thought his opponent had overcards, or he knew he was going to hit that "3".

Overaggressive All-in (tourney)

BAD PLAY

At first, I thought I made a decent play moving all-in and taking a risk with a coin-flip. However, since the tournament was a sit and go that paid the top four players, I think I made a mistake. I should have just raised instead of moving all-in since the blinds weren't so large that I needed to move-in. I could have simply raised three times the big blind and still have over 4,000 chips if I folded.

On the other hand, had I won the hand, I would have been strongly in first place and been in the money. Had I won, I probably would not have regretted my decision.

Good Laydown, Bad Result (tourney)

LAYDOWN

Sometimes you'll make a good laydown only to find out you would have won if you stayed in the hand.

Top Pair Ain't All That (tourney)

LAYDOWN

When someone bets a large portion of your stack and you just have top pair, you should either raise or fold. I chose the latter because there was another opponent and the large bet on the flop seemed odd to me.

You Can Still Win When You Lose (cash)

DEFINITION

I'm not referring to side pots here. I'm referring to cards coming up on the board that helps you slow down and be more cautious. In this hand, I had a great flop with both flush and straight draws. I made my straight on the turn, but forgot that it was the dummy straight. Luckily, another jack hit the river to warn all of us that a full house could be out there. In fact, I thought I lost the hand on the river, but it turned out I had lost it on the turn.

Sometimes Lady Luck may not help you win, but help you from losing more than you normally would.