Weird & Bizarre Superstitions In Poker

While Poker is certainly a game of skill, you can discount how much chance plays it’s hand. Because of the random nature to some of Poker many of the players, even the famous ones, stick to some funny superstitions. From lucky chip stacking to preferring a certain seat at the table, there’s no shortage of rituals and lucky trinkets on the felt, even in online poker.

Let’s have a look at some of the most iconic superstitions.

The Infamous Lucky Card Protectors

By far the most common superstition, or lucky charm, in poker is the “lucky card protector.”

Having a card protector isn’t always a sign of being superstitious, though: some people simply feel more confident having a little charm with them, which is usually good for their mentality at the table. Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, a poker legend, uses a small Ghostbusters medallion.

These lucky card protectors clearly add nothing to the cards except superstition.

Funky Chip Stacking - Superstitious Chip Stacking

Every player at a poker table fiddles with or riffles their chips. It is quite a cathartic and fun thing to do.

Whether a player rolls their chips in their fingers, stack and restack them in one hand on the table, the air is constantly alive with the clicking of chips being stacked. It’s safe to say that poker players love playing with their chip stacks, and some of them need them to look a certain way if they want them to be lucky.

Online poker players have it easy, since the software stacks and displays your chips automatically, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if most players taking part in online poker tournaments have a stack of lucky chips handy to fiddle with while they play, and grant them that bit of luck they need to suck out when a bluff goes bad.

Bizzare Poker Rituals For Superstition

When it comes to superstitions, these rituals, traditions, or behaviors that players exhibit can be a bit more out there than simply wearing a lucky white hoodie for a week straight.

A lot of poker professionals have got their own little rituals and behaviors that they believe bring them the luck they need, even when playing poker games online. Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu, six-time WSOP bracelet winner and two-time WPT (World Poker Tour) champion watches Rocky movies prior to sitting down at games, even when he’s playing online poker tournaments.

While Negreanu isn’t quite the size of Rocky Balboa, and is likely not as handy in a fight, opponents are still intimidated by him at the tables. The success of his career, and the massive lifetime poker tournament winnings he has earned can’t all be chalked up to his skill at the table, can it?

Superstitions will always win out.