Three Poker Apparel “Musts”
The poker boom has affected poker in an almost innumerable amount of ways, but one of the more visual ways it has impacted the game is how the players dress. Thanks to the expanded television coverage of poker, we have all been treated to an inside look at how some of the more colorful players in the sport dress, act, walk and talk, and new players have been all too eager to jump on the bandwagon and mimic their favorite pros, especially when it comes to how they dress.
While that’s good and all, here are some poker playing gear suggestions that are based on how it’ll affect your game, not necessarily how cool you’ll look.
1. Comfortable Clothes: You need to be in complete comfort when you play, especially if you’re settled in for a long session. All too often I’ll see players at the table wearing tight-fitting clothes that restrict movement and just aren’t meant to be worn for long periods of time. Personally I like to wear a large hoodie while I play, especially if it’s going to be cold inside the card room. As for pants, loose jeans should work perfectly, though you may even consider shorts if it’s warm enough.
2. Sunglasses: The popular concept about sunglasses at the poker table is that players wear them so that their opponents can’t see their eyes. While this certainly can be true, most of the people you’re likely playing against don’t even know what to look for in your eyes, so the effort is wasted. Instead, the main reason the pros wear sunglasses is so that the rest of the table doesn’t know whether or not you’re looking at them and paying attention to what they’re doing. When players don’t feel like their being watched they’re more likely to give away information through physical tells, something you can then pick up on from the cover of your glasses.
3. Hat/Headphones: Adding a hat or headphones or both will complete your attire and give you a more “experienced” look at the table. The guy wearing the flower-print and khaki pants obviously looks like a tourist and probably plays like one, so he’ll be picked on all day by the aggressive players at the table. The better you look, the less likely you are to get zeroed out by the rest of the table. It sounds silly, but it’s true. You don’t even have to have the headphones plugged in, they’re serving their visual purpose whether you’re listening to music or not.
By: Chris Iaquinta
