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Look around at any poker tournament and you’ll see quite a few players donning shades. Obviously the shades aren’t blocking any rays from the sun, and they aren’t sporting their glasses only to look stylish, even though that may be a small factor for some players. For those who consider poker sunglasses as a must-have, poker glasses help players with the foundation of the game: maintaining the infamous poker face. Special poker sunglasses are lightweight, made to wear indoors, and some have built in music players. From inside the famous casinos in Vegas to Panama casinos and others throughout the world, many players swear by their sunglasses. As for whether they really help you at a game of Texas Hold ‘Em, one of the most popular and recognizable forms of poker, is a topic that has sparked debate since pairs of glasses started to make their appearance in the game room.

Why Players Avoid the Glasses

One of the most common complaints of non-wearers is the simple fact that they can’t see their cards clearly. Some players learned the hard way by wearing glasses initially and ended up losing a huge chunk of cash because they misread their cards. The concern is valid due to the typically dimmed lighting paired with glasses that block further light, despite the manufacturer’s claims and hefty promises. Then there’s the chance that the highly reflective quality of the glasses can end up hurting rather than helping if any aspect of your cards are accidently reflected on the glasses, giving other players some insight as to what that player is holding. It’s a chance players who pass on the glasses don’t want to worry about at all. There’s also the fact that when you wear glasses, you can’t use your eye movements to your advantage by fooling and intentionally misleading your opponents.

Many players choose to stay away from glasses and strongly oppose their use because it spoils the spirit and “art” of the game. A huge factor in the success of a player is their ability to read other players. It’s easy to understand why some may feel it creates an unfair advantage. Pro players have brought up banning the glasses altogether while others simply see players that do use sunglasses as jokes, thinking of the use as silly and almost childish, or don’t consider them seriously as skilled players.

The Case for Wearing Sunglasses

Many players stand by the argument that sunglasses hide telling movements of eyes, including the involuntary dilation of the pupils that can occur with a very strong hand of cards. Sunglasses also hide who and where the player is looking at a given time, a significant advantage when it comes to sizing up others at the table when they don’t know it. This fact alone can make other players uncomfortable and much more revealing when at the table with a sunglass wearer.

At the end of the day, a large indicator whether sunglasses will help is if it gives the player confidence and greater peace of mind. Since glasses aren’t officially banned, wearing sunglasses at the table is a matter of personal preference. Sunglasses can give a greater sense of anonymity to the player wearing them and some players feel much more comfortable when they feel anonymous and almost “hidden” at the table. It helps the player to feel less intimidated by other, more aggressive types of players at the table. When a player feels confident, with or without sunglasses, it can do wonders for their game.

Tags: Texas Hold 'Em

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