Superstitions in the World of Poker
Superstitions and superstitious beliefs are commonplace in every country and culture everywhere in the world. There are also some superstitions in the world of online gambling, with some players performing rituals before the game in the hope of attracting good luck.
There are a few stories about poker players throwing candies and other items on the casino floor, thinking that bad luck will be distracted. One player even brought dolls dressed up as casino dealers in the belief that he can manipulate the cards in his favor.
Casinos often go out of their way to respect the superstitious beliefs of their patrons. For example, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas underwent a major renovation in 1998, partly to conform to the beliefs of Asian gamblers who believed that walking through the mouth of a lion is unlucky. The MGM Grand at that time has an entrance in the shape of a lion's mouth.
Several other superstitions abound in the game of poker. It was believed that wearing a piece of dirty clothing will shoo away bad luck. Also, you should not cross your legs so that you will not “cross out of luck.”
Another superstitious belief is the belief that sitting against the grain of a poker table is unlucky. Other beliefs thought to influence luck is spitting on cards, discarding the four of clubs and not allowing your opponents to place their feet on your chair.
The best-known superstitious belief is the wearing of red-colored clothing. Red is supposed to be the color of good luck.
Many of the superstitions of poker may sometimes be unbelievable, even laughable. But as the adage goes, there's no harm in trying. If you have some superstitious beliefs on attracting good luck or dispelling bad luck, there's no harm in using them to your poker game as long as you don't offend other people. The casinos have no policy against the practice of superstitious beliefs.
Though there's no harm in believing in superstition, relying on good luck alone in gambling will do more harm than good. If you want to win in poker, you should rely more on your skills and strategies rather than on luck supposedly brought about by your superstitious beliefs.
Respecting other people's superstitious beliefs is a great way to play a friendly poker game as long as they don't offend other players' sensibilities. Just ignore the superstitions, concentrate on your solid poker strategies and you will end up a winner instead of the guy throwing candies on the casino floor.
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