You’ve been there. God knows I’ve been there far too often, everybody’s had a game or twenty where they seem to get nothing but garbage for their poker hole cards. I’m usually an advocate for playing good starting poker hands, but there will be times when you just don’t get one, and it’s these times when having a variety of playing styles will come in handy.

When I just started playing poker, I was so conservative that on a bad night, I would literally blind out, playing only the hands that I got as the big blind. Sometimes the cards are actually that bad, and there’s nothing worse than sitting at a table, bored out of your mind and being pissed at the lousy cards you’ve been dealt (repeatedly).

To counter your lousy luck, it may be time to start playing a little looser. If you’re sick of not playing but you’re cards are lousy, then take them out of the equation. Win the hand preflop. For the most part, the other folks at the table aren’t going to want to throw money away on a risk, so if you raise before the flop, you’ll likely knock out most of the players in the hand. If someone beats you to it, give them a little re-raise before the flop and watch them fold. It won’t work every time, but if you’re losing anyway, it’s nice to have a (proverbial) Ace up your sleeve.

Take it from me, even on a bad night, it feels good to beat people who have better cards than you.