In this Wizard Slots blog post, we'll share everything you need to know about a cooler in poker, including what it means, how it's different to a bad beat and how to deal with them.
What Is A Cooler In Poker?
A cooler in poker is when a player has a solid hand but is beaten by another player with an even stronger hand. Typically the player who had the first strong hand has made quite a significant bet, and then because someone with a very strong hand has beaten them, they end up losing a significant amount.
What Is The Difference Between A Bad Beat & A Cooler?
Poker is a game of both skill and chance. So before you play a round of poker, it's a good idea to know the rules and some basic strategies. Knowing this may help you understand what the best hands are.
If you have a hand that is too strong to fold, yet a player with a stronger hand beats you, this is known as a cooler. For example, you may have pocket Kings preflop, while the next player has Aces. The next player has a stronger hand, which results in you losing your hand.
A bad beat in poker is if you have a strong hand after being dealt strong hole cards; however, you still lose.
The main difference between the two is that a cooler happens when one player has a strong hand, and the other player also has a strong hand from the outset. Whereas with a bad beat, this happens when one player has a strong hand with a high chance of winning, and the other player has weak hole cards, but the community cards land in their favour giving them an even stronger hand.
How Do You Deal With Coolers In Poker?
Being on the bad side of a cooler can be frustrating. As such, many players then get tilted for the rest of the session, i.e. a state of frustration that affects judgement and decision-making.
If you're wondering what to do after a cooler (or better still, how to recover from a cooler), here are some strategies to consider:
- Take a short break: Take a short break to keep calm and regain your focus. Taking a break can help clear your mind so that you can concentrate when you go back to the table.
- Don't take unnecessary risks: If you have a strong hand, it's easy to feel overly confident and start placing bigger bets as you are confident you will win. However, this is not the best idea as you never know how this casino game will go, and you could potentially experience further unnecessary losses.
- A learning experience: If you have experienced a cooler in poker, let this be a learning experience. Go away and study through the poker rules and strategies so that you can come back and make logical and well-thought-out decisions next time you're at the poker table.
- Don't get discouraged: All players have bad experiences now and then; it's part of the game. So, don't let a cooler hand put you off, but don't chase losses or play without a level head.
