Every good poker player, professional or amateur, online or cash games, knows every time you play there are risks. You risk your money, your reputation and your confidence. It all comes down to the hand you are dealt versus the hand that the rest of the players in your hand are dealt. At first glance, it seems just that simple. But winners know that the situation is much more complex. It involves observation, strategy, patience and deception. Deception is useful for people bluffing with a bad hand or pretending they have a bad hand when in reality they have pretty well ranked cards. Of course, winning with a bad hand is one of the greatest skills to have if you are risking anything at all in a poker game.

Obviously, you can try and get a few new cards. But regardless of what you get or change, one of the first things to do when you have a bad hand is get to know the table. Observing other players’ tells and knowing your own is essential to beating a bad hand. Before a game, you should watch video of yourself and try and minimize anything you see yourself doing when you first look at the hand you are dealt. For better or worse, knowing and manipulating your own tell is a big part of success in a cash game.

When it comes to game time, as soon as the hand is dealt, the first thing to do is to watch closely every twitch, facial expression, move of the hand or eyebrow or change in seating position. Everyone will have a reaction, however slight. That reaction can tell you about how your betting and bluffing will proceed. If you can avoid a bluff by calling or raising by reading other players’ reactions, it’s a positive move. Most players don’t see positive action as part of a bluffing strategy, they see it as evidence of a good hand and react accordingly.

When you have called and raised all you can, then you have no choice but to keep up with the crowd, joining when the ante is upped and adding to the bank to support the illusion of confidence. You need to use your own positive tell to make the initial reaction seem like the one you usually do when you get a great hand. Throughout the game, you need to continue to make eye contact and conversation or quiet the same as you do when you have a great hand. Make a concerted effort to keep your body language relaxed and no tension in your face.

Eventually, the hand will end, and win or lose, you need to be ready to have the next one dealt. But making the most of a bad hand and rolling with the punches are what separates long term winners and losers. So, be sure to exhaust every tool in your repertoire for every game and don’t let the dealer decide whether you succeed or not. Everyone knows that poker is largely about mental endurance and strength and playing a bad hand to your advantage will be evidence that you are ready to play with the best.