Sunglasses, Hats, and Headphones

Have you ever watched a poker game and noticed that some payer were wearing sunglasses, hats, or headphones? Whether you're at a casino, playing at home, or watching poker on TV, some players do this - but have you ever wondered why?


It is because people display subconscious 'tells' when they see their cards, or the other cards on the table. Many of these signs are shown through their eyes. They don't want other players to read their tells, so they hide their eyes from the sight of the other players.

One benefit of wearing sunglasses while playing poker? You don’t want people to know when you’re checking out their eyes. Sunglasses allow you to look without being obvious. This makes it easier to try and read the other players at the table.

A negative aspect - Your sunglasses can reflect your hand. Be careful while choosing a pair. If you’re not careful your cool shades can expose your cards to careful observers with good vision. This is especially true of the mirrored kind.

Hats also help in keeping faces hidden and hiding tells. With the combination of a hat and a pair of sunglasses, you're pretty covered up out there!

They might be the most famous sunglasses in poker -- those green, lizard-eye specs that Greg Raymer bought at Disney World and wore right into winning $5 million and the World Series of Poker championship in 2004.

Funny thing is, they were just supposed to be a joke. A one-time thing at the 2002 main event. Put them on, people would laugh, the tension would break.

"But the first time I put them on,'' Raymer explains, "a guy kind of freaked out. 'What the hell's going on?' And he threw his hand away. I'd raised him, and while he was thinking, I put the glasses on. He jumped out of his chair when he saw them.

"At that point, I said there's a little something to these glasses other than a one-time joke. I continued to wear them when I played a hand. I've always found there are several opponents who are very uncomfortable. They don't want to play against you when you're wearing glasses.''

- from ESPN


Headphones are worn to help block all the additional noises and distractions around you. This can be especially helpful while playing poker at a loud, busy casino.


Do you wear sunglasses while you play poker? Do you consider it unfair?

Poker Night Snacks

Whether you do a poker night every weekend with friends, or ever month - odds are, it will be your turn to host sooner or later. We've got a good selection of snacks listed below - some are easy (store bought), and some involve a bit of work by you!

Let's start with a few quick and easy snack ideas:
- fruit or veggie trays from the grocery store
- chips, pretzels, popcorn, peanuts
- nacho chips and salsa


Going for a bit more of a meal? Why not grab a pizza, or wings from your favorite local restaurant!

Jalapeno Popper Dip

 Some snack ideas that require a bit of work, but are worth it:
- nachos - click here for a delicious recipe
- wings, meatballs, mozzarella sticks, or other frozen finger foods
- store made or homemade garlic bread
- chip dips - click here for a great Jalapeno Popper Dip (super easy!)
- maple glazed almonds - click here to see how to make them

If you are serving or allowing guests to bring alcohol, always make sure that there is food, water and other non-alcoholic beverages available at all times.

Make sure you have plenty of napkins to go around too, you don't want the cards to get marked or dirty!



Here's an awesome cupcake display if you're feeling adventurous too!

How often do you host poker nights? Do you provide snacks, or does everyone bring something?

How Do You Play Poker, Anyways?

Do you feel like this when you get invited to play poker? Let us help you.

Here are a couple handy things to keep in mind when learning how to play:

- There's a big difference between playing poker in a casino and playing at a friend's home: There is virtually no joking around and the atmosphere can be intense while at a casino. When playing in a more casual setting, you can feel free to jest, tease and really let loose during the game.

-  Even if you have a good hand, you will need to weigh that against the chances that your opponent has a better hand.

- The more you are into the game, the easier it will be to learn the language of your opponents.

- Below, an example of poker hands and what they include:

- The best time to fold is when you see that your hand is a losing one and that those around you are exhibiting a confidence that you do not share.

- Not only is it possible to read the body language of others as you sit at the poker table, it is a key component of the game. For instance, if someone sits up very straight as they place their bets they likely have great confidence in their hand. The same is true if the player is chatting a lot during the game or smiling at the other players. On the other hand, players that roll their eyes or take deeps breaths are more likely to have fairly weak hands.

- The most common hand is a no-pair which is also referred to high-card. This means that there are no pairs, no flush and no other ‘playable’ sequence in the hand. Thus, all you are really left with is a hand with a high-card. This hand is dealt about 50% of the time.


These are some great tips to get you started in learning how to master the game of poker. For more tips, and greater detail, check out our website articles here.

Poker Man Caves

Let's talk man caves. Whether you're a lady or a man, you've been in one at some time. While they are gaining in popularity over the recent years, man caves are the ultimate guy hangout - custom built according to what you're into.

Throughout this blog post you will find some great poker or casino themed man caves that we loved - like the one below - it's simple, yet effective. There's plenty of room for multiple poker games to happen, and not a lot of distractions on the walls.

Man Cave building tips:

- Find a focal point for your man cave.  Your focal point can be your beloved TV, workbench, trophy case, audio system, putting green or just about anything that you are passionate about.  Your focal point will help you decide on your theme.

- Once you have your focal point, figure out where you want to place it in the room. This allows you to plan around your focal point to complete your room plan.

When building your man cave, be sure to carefully think of the area in your home that you are choosing, any furniture, your budget, and any additional decor or items you will need.

There is tons of inspiration online to help you theme, build and design your perfect area. If you're doing a poker themed man cave, check out our website for items to help fill it- we have poker tables, chips, dice, and much more.

What would be your ultimate man cave? Casino or poker themed? Let us know what your theme would be, and what the main feature would be by leaving a comment.

Who makes the rules in a poker game?

This blog post, we want to bring together some great short articles from our website and highlight the types of poker games there are.

Let's start with some basics... Who makes the rules of a poker game? How long has poker been around for? Who has the final say at the rules during poker night? Read on to find out...

For standard and generally accepted games of poker, the rules of the game are dictated by governing bodies such as the World Series of Poker and the International Federation of Poker. Because the game of poker has been in existence for nearly 200 years, the base rules (for example, what is a flush, the type of deck used, etc) have remained consistent through the years. For the at-home poker player, the decision maker when it comes to ancillary rules is the host of the game. In essence, the philosophy is “My house, my rules”. This does not mean that essential poker rules may be usurped, but it does mean that the host can tack on additional house rules.

So are the Casino poker rules different than the rules you would use at home? We have some tips on etiquette for when you're out at the Casino playing poker.

While the rules of a casino game of poker are the same as the version you would play at home, there are some extra tips that you need to know when playing in a public forum. First, you should only act when it is your turn and not before it is your turn.  Be sure not to throw your tips into the pot and instead place them in front of you and allow the dealer to pull them into the pot. You should also be sure to make sure your cards that are on the table are clearly visible at all times. If you win a pot, you should not make a grab for your winnings and instead wait for the dealer to push them towards you.  Further, it is customary to tip the dealer a small portion of your winnings.

 
Now we will cover some basics of the very popular poker game - Texas Hold 'Em:

Texas Hold ‘Em is one of the most popular poker games in the world and is a favorite at tournaments. This game is played with nine or ten players, with each player getting two cards to hold and then five community cards are dealt face up on the table. The goal is to create the best five card hand given the seven cards that you now have available. Following the first round of betting, three cards are now dealt face up on the table and this is known as the ‘flop’. These are also community cards and another round of betting ensues. Next, a fourth card (referred to as the ‘turn’) is dealt face up on the table and leads to another round of betting. A fifth and final card will now be dealt and this is called the ‘river’, with final betting following.


Find more great articles on our website by clicking here.