What Is a Bad Poker Hand Called?

A bad poker hand is called a “bad beat.” A bad beat can occur in any game of chance, not just poker, but it is most commonly used in reference to poker.

A bad beat can happen to anyone at any time, and there is no sure way to prevent it. All you can do is try to minimize the frequency with which it happens to you. .

There are two types of bad beats: those that happen when you have the best hand, and those that happen when you have a good hand. The first type is much more common, and much more frustrating.

PRO TIP:In poker, a bad hand is referred to as a ‘trash’ or ‘junk’ hand. This means that the cards in your hand do not form a useful combination and are unlikely to win the pot.

It occurs when you raise pre-flop with a hand like AA or KK, only to see your opponent hit a set on the flop (three of the same rank). It’s called a “cooler” when this happens heads-up (one-on-one), because both players have such good hands that the only way one can win is if the cards come out exactly right.

The second type of bad beat is when you have a good hand, like top pair or middle pair, and your opponent hits a better hand on the river (the last card). This is much less common than the first type, but it can be just as frustrating.

Bad beats are a part of poker, and there’s nothing you can do about them. The best you can do is try to minimize their frequency by playing solid, tight poker and avoiding situations where you’re likely to get coolered.