Poker glossary · Strategy
What does “cooler” mean in poker?
Definition
Cooler: A cooler is a hand where two players both hold very strong hands, so lots of chips go in and the loser could not reasonably avoid it.
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Coolers are a normal part of the game, not a sign of bad play. Folding a set on a dry board because a higher set is possible would cost you far more over time than the occasional cooler. The useful habit is to separate coolers from genuine mistakes when you review your hands.
Example: You hold K♥ K♦ and your opponent holds A♣ A♠. All the chips go in before the flop and the aces hold.