There's no such thing as bad hands and good hands, maybe bad luck and good luck. What OP said about making bluffs in poker plays a very big part in poker, it's like manipulating your opponents next move by just simply acting that you have the high cards. This is what you called "Social Engineering" if I'm not mistaken.

I've already tried applying it in so many pinch situations and it always saves me. For example is when I was still studying in college, I forgot my ID and the guard won't let me in, so I said I forgot my ID on the lab the other day, I've said that with a straight face and he let me in.