| In a time when technology has reshaped our brains | | | | cat crosses her path. |
| to think like computers, one thing is certain: the | | | | Even though the previous rituals may seem ridiculous |
| spectrum of unexplainable phenomena and | | | | for any skeptic player, superstition surrounding card |
| circumstances remains unsolved. It is this gap | | | | games goes far back in history. According to Online |
| between scientific fact and mystery what can | | | | Poker Report, cards are associated with fortune |
| empower humans to either achieve all their dreams | | | | telling, and they have been historically regarded as |
| or lead a life of struggle and pain. | | | | potentially dangerous for the spirit, to the point of |
| UFOs, ghosts, religion, pagan rituals, urban legends, | | | | being called ‘The Devil’s Picture Book.’ |
| lucky charms and rituals, curses, witchcraft, astrology, | | | | Fishermen and miners honor the ancient superstition |
| mysticism, magic, and celestial human powers, to | | | | that carrying a deck of cards while working means |
| name only a few, form a group of behaviors and | | | | they are welcoming a shipwreck or a mine collapse. |
| beliefs called superstitions. According to some | | | | However, not only bad things are attributed to cards: |
| sources, superstition means rejecting change or | | | | since the 17th century, cards have also been thought |
| progress, and it is commonly associated with | | | | to be helpful during meditation and praying. |
| preserving traditions in rural areas far away from the | | | | Therefore, as pagan as these beliefs may seem, |
| constant fluctuation of trends and technological | | | | having faith in one’s rituals can actually help |
| inventions that fuel and determine city life. Those | | | | attract the desired outcome but in a completely |
| rural traditions, also called folklore, initially thought of | | | | non-magical way: since the player gets rid of any |
| as simply ‘outdated,’ were eventually labeled | | | | anxiety or fear when performing supposedly lucky |
| ‘superstitious’ from the belief that people in | | | | acts, the confidence those rituals provide may |
| rural areas were more prone to hold religion-like | | | | eliminate the energetic blockages that keep players |
| behaviors beyond clerical religion boundaries. | | | | from winning. In other words, through superstition, |
| We all have certain superstitious precautions, such as | | | | players can attract their own success. |
| avoiding walking under a ladder, knocking on wood | | | | Skeptics cannot deny that emotions play with your |
| when we gloat over other people’s tragedies to | | | | head, and once fear takes over a player, insecurity |
| protect ourselves from suffering the same or saying | | | | will drive them to doom. Well, that is exactly what |
| ‘bless you’ to a person who just sneezed. | | | | this article is about, and superstitions are used as |
| However, rituals like throwing salt over your shoulder, | | | | preliminary cures for that unwanted fear. |
| avoiding flying or leaving the house on Friday or | | | | Thus, before you go back to your old skeptic ways, |
| Tuesday the 13th, or feeling anxiety if it rains on | | | | read the following Online Poker Report |
| your wedding day may show a deeper superstitious | | | | recommendations and try for yourself. |
| inclination. | | | | Pick up your cards before the dealer is finished |
| According to Sarah Albert in her article “The | | | | dealing to all the other players. By doing this, you |
| Psychology of Superstition”, we are basically | | | | prevent other players from seeing your reaction |
| pursuing more control or certainty over | | | | when you see them and take advantage of it. |
| circumstances by looking for some rule or pattern | | | | Don’t pick up your cards with your left hand. |
| that would explain why things happen. This is why | | | | The left hand has been associated with evil doing, |
| even if rationally a rabbit’s foot is just a furry | | | | since it is believed that witches used to point at |
| dead limb, the false certainty that it will bring us luck | | | | people with their left hand to condemn them to |
| is better than no certainty at all, and it will give us | | | | perpetual suffering. |
| leverage over our fears. | | | | Avoid playing poker if there is a dog in the room. |
| Gamblers are well known for their superstitious | | | | Dogs are known for being humans’ best friends, |
| beliefs and rituals, and although it’s a fact that | | | | but also witches’ most trusted companions, |
| poker is a game of skill and not of chance, most | | | | bringing disaster to all their victims. So, just keep your |
| poker players don’t take any chances when it | | | | pets away from the poker area and you’ll be |
| comes to winning - they go beyond the influence of | | | | fine. |
| skill and explore the powers that superstition can | | | | Touch your favorite card before the game starts. |
| exert to turn fate in their favor. Let’s take a | | | | This superstition assures you will be most likely to |
| look at some famous players’ superstitions. | | | | win if you do so. Just make sure Phil Hellmuth |
| Phil Hellmuth wears only certain ‘lucky’ colors | | | | doesn’t see you, otherwise he will not stop |
| for playing, and we will never see him wearing a | | | | bickering about superstitious donkeys if you get |
| white shirt; Hal Kant will never be seen counting his | | | | lucky. |
| chips, since he believes it brings bad luck; Sam Farha | | | | If unlucky in poker, you are definitely lucky in love. |
| always plays with a cigarette in his mouth even | | | | This is a loser-made superstition to compensate from |
| though he doesn’t smoke; Hans “Tuna” | | | | not having what it takes to succeed in poker, but it |
| Lund thinks toothpicks are lucky charms; Tom | | | | is actually kind of consoling, right? |
| McEvoy will not accept a $50 bill while playing; Berry | | | | Superstitious or not, let’s remember human |
| Johnson will never sit on seat number 6, which he | | | | curiosity does not end with childhood, and no one is |
| thinks is cursed; Mike Sexton avoids looking at | | | | going to judge you if you want to try leaving your |
| dealers because some of them could bring bad luck | | | | luck in the hands of any of these superstitious rituals. |
| and Marsha Waggoner will not play poker if a black | | | | Enjoy the game and good luck to you! |