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

[nabmom]

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?

 

[G0930]

I think it looks pretty stupid..
It might prevent people from getting a tell.
I see people covering them up with hoodie scarf and sunglasses. This is pathetic imo and shouldn't be allowed. If such a person would go like this in a bank weapons would be immediately directed at him/her 😆

 

[AzdajaD]

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?

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! 🙂

 

[dreamer13]

They say the eyes don't lie. Therefore, if you hide them, the greater the chance of successfully bluffing or, conversely, not showing your joy when you receive a strong hand.This is prohibited at big tournaments.

 

[Pokerpoet2]

I think it is ridiculous, especially when you push all-in, If your opponent has a strong hand he is going to call you no matter what you try and hide, I make my decision before I look at my opponent, based on what type of hand I have, If I feel it is strong enough to call, I call!
However if someone bets into me on the River and I am holding the Nuts I will 100% of the Time Raise him.

 

[Suns of Beaches]

I mean i can totally understand if people who play for a lot of money do that to hide emotions and tells.

i think its rather silly if people do it at a very lowstakes table or at a friendly homegame since those games should be more like social games.

 

[Gritz18]

Is this a good strategy for preventing tells, or is it just a huge tell by itself?

I've never played live, but I've watched many events on YouTube, and in my opinion some players go overboard when it comes to hiding their faces to avoid tells.

At a certain event when I was watching one of the players at the TV table, he covered his face with a hood and put on sunglasses every time he got involved in a hand, I thought that was ridiculous.

I don't think there's any need for all this, professional players like Daniel Negreanu have never used these tricks, and they manage to be victorious.

But I would certainly, if I played live, hide my face, but not because of the tells, it's because I'm a bit lacking in beauty.😁🤣🤣

 

[CRStals]

I think a poker player can wear anything at the table so long as it's not disrespectful to anyone; isn't gang related, and doesn't inhibit anyone at the table from playing the game. Is it stupid? Depends on your view - some believe that you can give away tells through the veins in your neck - why many players cover their neck when in a hand. Sunglasses allow you to see your opponents when they may not realize you are looking at them as well

 

[Nafor]

Distracting? No. Loud mouths are distracting. Everyone can wear a helmet for all I care.
When one's face is hidden that is one thing less to worry about and gives more concentration for the game.

 

[Ogma]

Free world. Wear what you want.

 

[mclay]

Everything that is not illegal, not immoral and helps you win money has a right to exist.

 

[machinm19]

I find that covering my mouth with my hands when I have the nuts is a great reverse tell as people generally think you are bluffing. Hiding your entire face at all times could possibly give you an advantage but I'm not sure how.

 

[odonob]

Not necessary really. At the end of the day I think poker should be a fun social game, people at all levels tend to take it far too seriously.

 

[pentazepam]

It can be both silly and still strategic.

I think covered-up people are generally more difficult to read, and it's silly that no more rules are in place for how much you can cover.

But be careful. If you cover yourself up TOO MUCH it can also work against you since you see less clearly.

How about folding the best hand after being called in a half-million-dollar pot?!?!?!?

 

[mattiebumpo]

I think some people look very silly, but to each their own...as long as they don't slow down the game by not being able to read the board or the action.

 

[najisami]

I think everyone is free to wear what they want anywhere and everywhere including at a poker table.

If what someone else is wearing distracts you, it's a huge tell: You are not fit to be a poker player.

When I first sit, before the game starts, I don't, and shouldn't make any assumptions about anyone. But when the "masked" player turns out to be the fish at the table, then his/her strategy becomes a ridiculous tell by itself.

 

[Margo17]

It depends, there are people who can't hide some tells, which can be observed by face, on this point I think it's valid.

 

[thedarkman]

As someone who only plays on-line, I couldn't agree more - totally silly.

 

[Igor G]

Of course, there may be certain restrictions on clothing. I think sweatshirts, scarves, glasses are all quite acceptable things and it would be strange to ban them. Clothes should just be comfortable, and not too revealing, especially for pretty girls. Although I only play online, I'm more than sure that personally I wouldn't be distracted by my opponents' clothes, and I definitely wouldn't mind if my opponents played with glasses, scarves or sweatshirts.

 

[GarotoMaroto]

Allowed of course,if the person dont want,then dont use,but everyone is free to choose their outfit XD
Sunglasses,hat,mask (healthy)
Can be also useful to hide tells if you cant do a poker face all the way to the end of the tournament and feel confortable with the outfit
Its a card game not a guessing what that face means game,so yes obviously allowed,but not mandatory XD
Go for the gold
God bless

 

[Propane Goat]

I don't think covering up should be banned, but IMO players without a lot of experience should be careful to not assume that they aren't giving off tells elsewhere.

Yes, you might be hiding your pulse rate and eye movements, but if your leg starts bouncing every time you have a strong hand or you slump down when you miss your draws then covering up doesn't do you any good at all.

 

[BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch]

Pretty sure there are casinos that will not allow people at the tables dressed like that.

Some people believe what they see on TV is the norm and its not true. . . like most things they see on TV.

 

[R.Melnyk77]

I think that a dress code in poker tournaments is possible, as these are usually public events that will be covered on various social platforms on various video hosting sites. But this dress code should not be too harsh. But as for non-public tournaments, in poker clubs, I think there is no need for a dress code. Personally, I don't really care how my opponents are dressed

 

[KristianRas]

Full palpatine mode is good when you have 7-2 of tho

 

[Goggelheimer]

As long as it is not against the tournament rules you can do what you want.
There are other body language tells that can't be hidden, or only by wearing a big whole body covering bag (lol).
I think a trained player can fake those tells to give the other players wrong information.
You can do what you want to look silly or smart at the table.