The term bad beat is used in a poker game and defines the defeat of a player having an upper hand by a relatively better one. The concept is quite confusing, though not completely impossible, although the statistics show this to be an improbable one.

In a game of poker, where the odds can never be decided, the occurrence of bad beat is not something new. It has been seen that a player having a strong hand bets, and yet loses. However, there is no fixed definition as to which hand is to be considered as bad luck. This is probably due to the fact that to calculate the odds, the cards of the weaker hands have to be considered too, and there are possibilities that the weaker opponent may get hold of the running cards which are essential for winning the jackpot.

Bad beat – an inevitable phenomenon

Regardless of your experience in the game of poker, it has been noticed that even the most professional players sometimes fall prey to this phenomenon of bad beat. This can be especially disastrous if the stakes are very high. And since this is completely unexpected, it might cause a mood tilt even in the senior players.

So, what has been done to avoid such situations? Casinos are often the target during quarrels and brawls that result due to bad beat. This has made them make new rules, and thus pacify the players. Mentioned below are three effective steps taken by the casinos and online poker websites to handle such situations. Let us take a look at them now.

· Bad beat tables – Bad beat is often known to affect the players psychologically, and this could also have a negative impact on the casinos. As a result of this, various casinos and also poker websites have come up with a concept of bad beat tables. These are tables that have am elusive jackpot. The concept is to give an accumulated pool prize, also known as the elusive jackpot, to the best hand which loses. The prize money is collected by taking some extra amount of rake from each playing hand.

· Bad beat jackpot – In some other casinos that do not have bad beat tables, you are most likely to come across bad beat jackpots. The jackpot here, similar to the previous case, is given to the player who has the strong hand, but still loses to a player having a relatively stronger hand. However, the rule states that the strong hand (who loses the jackpot) must essentially qualify for it.

There also have been cases where the elusive jackpot has been divided among all the players playing at the table (one has to qualify, of course). The largest share is paid to the losing hand, while the winner gets slightly less. The remaining money is divided equally among all the players sitting at the table.

Bad beat is a phenomenon that just cannot be escaped it. Most of the poker players blame it on luck. However, the best way to go face it is to just go through it. There is possibly nothing much that can be done about it, and thus going through it bravely makes the player all the more calm and experienced in the game.