TalkFlop.com

Luck and skill.  You’ve got to have both to be successful at the poker table.  You can play your cards “perfectly” and have no success.  You can play your cards poorly and win every pot you’re in.  The best you can do is get your money in good and pray to the poker gods.  In the long run you’ll be a winner.

I’ve had more than my fair share of luck.  I get my money in with a coin flip and win.  I suck out on an open-ended straight draw against top two pair.  If you play cards it’s GOING to happen to you.  Hopefully you get a couple of those hands to go your way.  I like to think that it’s because I study the game.  I study my opponents (especially when I’ve played more than once against them) and try to make plays that will work against specific people in specific situations.

But what about superstition?  I try not to worry about stuff like this but I’ve always got it in the back of my mind.  What am I wearing?  What am I using as a card protector?  Music vs. no music?  Do any of these things come into play at the table?  I highly doubt it but for what it’s worth I decided to outline my superstitions here.  I’m thinking maybe if I get them out into the open they can no longer harm my game

1. The first hand of the night – I try hard not to play the first hand.  It’s not so much of a superstition as it is me not being ready to play.  When I’m playing a Cleveland Poker League I’m normally running around trying to get everyone situated, get pictures taken, etc.  The last thing I want to do is get into a big pot right away when I’m not “ready” to play.Even when it’s NOT a CPL event, I try to stay out of the way – especially when I’m playing a tourney online.  I’ve found over the years that you can almost always find some donkey that’s going to put his chips in (regardless of what he’s holding) on the first hand of the tourney.  Even if I’m holding Aces I’ll generally play it VERY tightly.  I recognize that this is a terrible play but in my mind it’s just too silly to be outdrawn on the first hand of the night.
2. My card protector – When I use a card protector (which is not often these days) I’ll use my KillTheCan.org Hall of Fame coin.  It’s precious to me and if there’s something to be on the table that’s it.  That said, it’s not often that I use one anymore.  I’ll typically just put one of my chips (or a stack) on my cards.  I don’t know which poker pro said it, but if you’re using one of your chips then you’ll always have a protector – as long as you’re still in the tourney.
3. Headphones? – I’m typically a pretty talkative player at the table when I’m playing with friends.  Poker is a social game and aside from picking up tells on your opponents I genuinely enjoy talking with my friends at the table.  If I’m playing in a tourney where I don’t know anyone then I’ll throw on the headphones and have some tunes going.   NOTE: PLEASE people… if you’re going to wear headphones PLEASE pay attention.  It’s a pain in the ass to have to tell you it’s your turn… AGAIN. As for the type of music it’s all across the board.  I’ll just put the iPod on shuffle and let it play.
4. Seat – This one is only relevant in the online world where you can pick where you sit (or at least where your icon appears to sit).  I always “sit” in the lower right hand corner of the table when playing on Full Tilt.  I think it’s more of a habit then it is a superstition, but I thought I’d point it out.
5. Sunglasses/Hat – I always wear a hat when I play and rarely do I wear sunglasses.  I like wearing a hat for two reasons: (1) I never get to wear one on a normal day and (2) It allows me to just look down and hide my eyes when I’m in a hand.  Sure, sunglasses do the same thing but I’ve just never been comfortable sitting in a $20 or $100 tournament with my Ray Bans on.  If I was playing in a WPT or World Series even with the bright lights, this may be a different story.
6. Shirt – This one bothers me and it really shouldn’t.  When I play in a Cleveland Poker League event I almost always wear a Star Wars shirt that says “Thank you George” on it.  Not sure how this came to be my default poker shirt but it did.  Well of course I’ve been having a down season so I decided to change it up a bit and wear another shirt – naturally I played worse than I had all season and was the third one out.  This only leads me to believe that this superstition holds weight, which of course it doesn’t.  (Or does it???)

So there you go – my superstitions at the table.  I’d love to hear some of yours.

See you after the flop!