The only luck in poker is bad luck

By David McClary

The greatest thing about poker is that, over the long term, proper play leads to a positive return. Ah, the long term. It sounds so much better than the mathematical idea this term represents, infinity. Iπve had a few long nights before, but infinity would keep anyone out past their bedtime. The long term also brings around other friends, like those quarter-million to one suckouts that cardplayers stare at motionless. There is a non-zero probability that a queen high straight flush will lose to the ace high version. It has to happen to someone. Sooner or later, that someone is you. Let me give you some ideas to keep most of your money when the cards run cold.

Players lose for many reasons. The luck part canπt be helped. The key to snapping a cold streak is giving yourself the best chance to win. When you run into a few tough beats in a row, evaluate why you lost. This is best done at the table if you can pull it off without losing composure. Itπs important to know the difference between bad luck on your part and superior play by an opponent. Sure, an opponent may have sucked out at the river, but did you let them hang around with poor betting? Bad luck can only be fixed by playing more and riding it out. Poor play can be remedied with some evaluation. In the long term, if you recognize a mistake instead of assuming it was just bad luck, a lost pot can actually lead to huge returns in the future.

Sometimes the two most important tools for stopping the bleeding are at the end of your legs. The beauty of playing in a public card room is that you can walk away for a few minutes and they save your seat. If you canπt seem to catch a break, but the players at your table are far too weak to pass up, take a walk. There are plenty of reasons. You may need a drink or a quick snack. Maybe your headphones are in the car. Why not check to see how many comp dollars you have? A few minutes away from the tables can help right the ship. At worst, you canπt lose any pots while youπre away.

The last hint isnπt so much about when to stop. Itπs about when not to start. If you arenπt feeling confident, stay home. The game will be there tomorrow. If you are angry, tired or otherwise distracted, stay home. Poker takes enough concentration without adding other things to worry about. Bad luck doesnπt go looking for players who are distracted. It does, however, find them, and empties their pockets all the faster because they are not paying attention.

If all of the bad luck talk has you worried, remember that it is the key to profit. If winning poker were 100 percent dependent upon skill, then very few good players would ever get any action. It is the very bad luck that good players hate that brings the weaker ones to the table in the first place.