Bad Beat

Definition

A situation in poker where a player who started with the stronger hand loses to a player whose weaker hand unexpectedly improves and wins. For example, the first player with AA calls the second player’s all-in with 97o, and the board runs out 9 K K 9 4, giving the second player a full house and the win. In such a situation, the first player’s pocket aces are said to have been cracked.