Covering your face at the poker table: Strategic or silly?

[yuriko oyama]

I personally don't see anything important in the relationship between clothing and the game itself.
When you play, what really influences you at that moment is your skill and your luck.
I believe that I can be dressed in a paper towel, if I'm going to win, I'll win, if I'm going to lose, I'll lose.
I'm almost a Hindu because I'm so fatalistic.

 

[BillyR23]

Personally I don't mind people using different things to cover their face, eyes or other parts of their body... tbh it's not a bulletproof strategy for preventing tells as sometimes you can pick on some tells because of the use of this items and use it to your advantage(for example- in my HG, a friend is using sunglasses pretty much only when he has a strong starting hand and expects/ wants to be involved in a big pot...); still, I agree with many community members that said that covering too much shouldn't be allowed and sometimes it looks pathetic/ stupid(especially on 'TV' in some huge events...); also, that live poker should be more like a social game- we do have the online poker to hide everything or just play in our underwear lol.

 

[Gdefender]

I think it's a good thing to cover your face in live poker! Based on myself, I consider it necessary, because I'm afraid I don't have a poker face, and I would betray myself in certain hands, so I cover my eyes and mouth.

 

[VictorOd]

I hesitated, but have chosen a side. Scarves, and sunglasses should be banned at the poker table as they create an overly secretive and distracting environment. Relying on these accessories is kinda a sign of insecurity and lack of confidence in poker skills.

 

[fefibecerra]

I don't really know how effective it is, but I definitely think it looks silly.

 

[Axmanace]

Relying on these accessories is kinda a sign of insecurity and lack of confidence in poker skills.

It’s strange - I used to think this. Decided to try custom glasses on a whim after a year of playing live.

I don’t think I can ever go back

I feel like people have that bias towards sunglasses users - which can work to your advantage

 

[Stringy]

Part of live poker is about being able to read and hide emotions, tells etc. If the rules allow it then cool but generally i think coverings shouldnt be allowed

 

[Ruslan L]

I was never distracted by my opponents' clothes. Of course, pretty girls always attract my attention, I don't think there are any restrictions to be imposed. I think each of us has the right to wear what we like, the things that make us feel comfortable. I am against restrictions.

 

[Artbart805]

i will on occasion take up the Phil H stance....

 

[x patrice x]

I think that wearing scarves, sunglasses, etc. takes away what makes poker at the table so special.

It's a bit like online poker. Of course I can understand that players do everything they can to avoid tells, as long as the rules allow it.

That wouldn't be for me.

 

[RhinoRyan89]

I think covering the face is used for a tactical advantage and some have taken it whole other level then simply just wearing some shades or a scarf as many have done in the past i find them acceptable.

But full face mask and hoodies covering your whole head or face should not be allowed.

Until an official ruling is made on this in regards to rules people will continue to do as they see fit.

 

[Alucard]

well I started playing some live poker recently & I do all 3 things of mask, sunglasses & hoodie but for different reasons
at least 2 masks > because players smoke alot and Im a non smoker & try to avoid the fumes as much as possible
hoodie > because A/C is too much and I feel very cold, Id much rather play warm and comfortable
glasses > because sometimes my eyes hurt because of the lights being too bright

If just to cover tells Id just use sunglasses

 

[ammje]

For inexperienced people it may be necessary. For example, I get nervous when playing online, it would be worse playing live, so wearing glasses, hats and sweatshirts would help me hide my nervousness.

 

[sibkaz]

At first they covered their face with their hand...Dark glasses came...Hoods with medical masks appeared...if you combine everything together, you will most likely get something like this ....

It would be categorically unreadable and a crazy distraction ! )))))

 

[pirateglenn]

I think there are levels to this - i know that some players have obvious facial tells and so cover up - they have had this either pointed out to them or they self realise, - examples are bulging vein in neck when stressed, sweats, ticks - there are so many real things and genuine reasons why some players cover up and then there are the ridiculous.
That said - each to their own and it doesn't bother me if you smile, hide behind shades or a batman mask, i just focus on my play.

you do you, i will do me.

 

[Igor Popadyk]

professional players can read information, for example, from a vein in your neck, you need to study well the question of how the body reacts to different situations if poker is not just a hobby for you

 

[Axmanace]

So I’ve now been using custom blue shark optic sunglasses on and off for about a year now…. And have enough data to actually come to a solid conclusion.

The best benefit of wearing sunglasses isn’t hiding tells. It’s preventing others from knowing when you are looking at them.

People change their behavior when they know they are being watched.

Moreover - it’s nice to close your eyes without anyone knowing you’re not paying attention.

It provides less strain over the course of the tournament because I don’t have to be constantly paying attention.

Although eye glasses can conceal tells - this is a double edged sword. Sometimes you can use those tells to your advantage.

For example: I was once playing a cash game where I was dealt QQ with about 100$ left in front of me (1/2$). Three bet preflop.

Raised on a dry flop and he called. River was K.
My eyes gave away that the K was a bad card for me - so the guy tried to bluff me off the pot.

I didn’t budge (he was aggro loose). I put him on either two pair (worst case scenario unlikely given flop context and three bet pre flop) - or lower pair or air (AX non king - figured he would have reraised flop with AK).

If I had masked my tell - he would never have tried to bluff me. And I wouldn’t have won as many chips.

He even commented after the hand that he was positive I was going to fold.

(I give off nervous vibes with my eyes )

My current rule with sunglasses: I’ll wear them for tournaments only.

 

[dannystanks]

It’s all silly and entertaining to watch how people dress at the poker tables with hoodies and sunglasses. If you are as good as you think you are do really need all that?

 

[Axmanace]

It’s all silly and entertaining to watch how people dress at the poker tables with hoodies and sunglasses. If you are as good as you think you are do really need all that?

Agreed. A lot of people go over the top.

I don’t wear hoodies - I never have.
But sunglasses are growing on me 😎

 

[Claudiunm]

Should hoodies, scarves, and sunglasses be allowed to be worn at the poker table, or do you think it's too distracting? Do you make assumptions about what type of poker player they are? Is this a good strategy for preventing tells, or is it just a huge tell by itself?

I don't see anything wrong and I have no problem with this kind of thing. I even think that all those extravagant clothes give Poker a certain charm. It's part of what makes this game so fun.

 

[rei signo]

Covering your face while sitting at a table with other people is not good behavior with others!

 

[rei signo]

Even though it's a strategy game of the mind, it doesn't look good with more people live!

 

[Emily Trott]

It can be huge tell by itself - but, that can be exactly what player wants someone to think...🤔
Nope, it's not distracting at all, I really not care what someone wears at poker table! 🙂

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You could sure save a lot of time on makeup with something like that. Put sunglasses on and you wouldn't even need to do your eyes.

 

[hardfloor]

I'm in favor of accessories, they make live poker very elegant and with an air of mystery.
They certainly help to inhibit teels, but I'm completely against camouflage hahaha.

 

[Urameshi]

the rule should be you have to choose between the mask, hoodie/hat or shades. Can't wear all of them