What is a bad beat, really?

[steve968574]

Bodhi I disagree with you on both counts.

True, looking for a precise technical definition of the term is ridiculous, but sometimes it's used incorrectly. When someone bitches about his kings getting beat by a set, crying "bad beat", he's wrong. He played his hand properly, he just got beat by the underdog. Crying "bad beat" shows he doesn't understand poker.

All in pre-flop, with KK, getting beat when a high pair makes a set: the best hand didn't hold up, that's all, nothing out of the ordinary.

On the other hand, holding KK, flop is x-x-x rainbow, going all in: No reason at all to anticipate opponent chasing a back door flush draw. Bad beat.