Executive Summary
This article analyzes the fundamental differences between Cooler and Bad Beat detection algorithms in CoolerTracker. While coolers identify inevitable situations where both players have strong hands, bad beats detect improbable suckouts where the favorite loses against the odds. Both are mutually exclusive when significant equity swings occur.
Fundamental Definitions
Coolers (Inevitable Situations)
- Concept: Situations where both players have extremely strong hands and it's impossible to avoid losing money
- Main Characteristic: Both players have strong 'made hands' at the moment of all-in
- Focus: Analysis of strong hand conflict patterns
- Timing: Evaluates at the moment of all-in (when the decision is made)
Bad Beats (Improbable Suckouts)
- Concept: Situations where the favorite player loses against adverse odds
- Main Characteristic: A player had high probability of winning but lost
- Focus: Equity and probability analysis throughout the streets
- Timing: Evaluates equity progression from critical street to river
Key Differences
| Aspect | Coolers | Bad Beats |
|---|---|---|
| Main Method | Strong hand pattern matching | Progressive equity analysis |
| Evaluation Timing | Moment of all-in | Street of maximum advantage |
| Main Criteria | Strength of both hands | Probability vs outcome |
Practical Cases
Cooler Only (No Suckout)
Bad Beat Only (Suckout)
Fundamental Principle: Mutual Exclusion by Suckout
If there's a significant suckout (bad beat), it CANNOT be a cooler simultaneously, because 'inevitability' is broken. Coolers require the outcome to be 'expected' given the hands, while bad beats identify when the outcome was 'unexpected'.
An outcome cannot be simultaneously expected and unexpected.
Practical Applications
For Tilt Analysis
- Coolers: How many times did I lose with strong hands inevitably?
- Bad Beats: How many times was I favorite but lost dramatically?
For Luck Analysis
- Coolers in Favor: Situations where you had the strongest hand in inevitable spot
- Bad Beats in Favor: Situations where you won as underdog
Analyze Your Coolers and Bad Beats with CoolerTracker
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