What is a Bad Beat in Poker?
1 minute
Last Updated: January 30, 2024
A bad beat in poker is when a player with a strong hand loses, either because their opponent had an even stronger hand or because the opponent who had little equity made a stronger hand on a later street.
Bad Beat Poker Example:
Let’s say you have a Kc Kh hand, and the board reads Ks Kd Ts 9s 3c, so you decide to go all in. However, as your opponent calls, they reveal their cards to show a Qs Js hand. Even though you have quads and a very strong hand, your opponent has a straight flush, making you experience a bad beat.
