Wed, 08/17/2011 – 06:16 – PokerPages Staff

Many poker players have their own personal superstitions, which are slightly contradictory, considering that most still believe it’s a game of skill.

1. Pocket Aces Can’t Win
Some players believe that ultimately pocket aces will manage to lose more money than they create. Pocket aces are the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em and can either improve or worsen as the flop progresses. Learning to lay down pocket aces when they are likely beat will improve the profitability of the hand.

2. If You Have a Double Ace at Showdown You’re Less Likely to Have it in the Next Hand
Wrong. The deck is shuffled before each hand and you have the exact probability of receiving any two cards on any given deal.

3. Made Hands Always Get Outdrawn During an All-In
If this math-defying logic were true, professional poker players would advise you to push against made hands with draws. Players are more likely to remember the hands in which they were beat rather than the hands when their made hand held up. Sometimes the player with the draw have the straight-up mathematical odds to call the all-in, but they will not make their hand every time. It’s impossible.

4. The Worst Starting Hand is Pocket Jacks
Pocket jacks is a complicated hand for a beginner poker player to play because it’s too tempting to ride them to the end without considering that other players have improved their hands on the flop, turn, and river. If you aren’t raising pre-flop to isolate your opponents giving more people the odds to beat you, and then refusing to lay them down when you are obviously beat, then yes, the worst starting hand is pocket jacks.

5. You Can’t Make any Money When Playing Against Bad Poker Players
Define ‘bad poker player’. What does your list include? Doesn’t bet enough with made hands, or bets high on inferior holdings? Puts all his money in the middle when he is not statistically favored? Plays every hand despite the cost? Pish posh. Learning to manipulate this behavior is way easier than trying to outwit a master of his craft. Consider this myth busted.