Sunglasses and Poker? I Say, Balderdash!

Hi. Come on in. It's a chilly night on the high desert. I've fired up my crockpot and brewed up a tasty chicken stew with my secret blend of spices. Put on your bib and dive in.



Among the most foolish of things I see at the poker tables today are players wearing sunglasses – even at the lowest limits. That looks real cool on the professionals on television, but check with your ophthalmologist about what wearing sunglasses indoors is doing to your eyes. You won't like it. (And if you think you're impressing your opponents – well, from the table talk I hear, they just think you look foolish.)



As I understand it, these players wear sunglasses because they don't want their opponents to see their pupils dilate when they get a good hand. Your opponents must have some terrific eyesight to see your pupils dilate across the length of a hold'em table. And do you really think they can remember the size of your pupils before you saw your good cards?



And, of course, any hand your opponent is playing will be one he thinks is a good one, or he wouldn't be playing it.



The other reason they give for wearing sunglasses at the poker table is that their opponents can't see where they are looking. But the vast majority of your lower-limit opponents don't care where you are looking, and are not looking to see where you are looking.



(I know a couple of players who always wear a turtleneck sweater or a shirt buttoned up all the way when playing poker. They say that this is so their opponents won't be able to get a tell from seeing the increased pulse in the carotid arteries of their neck. Again, how good is your opponents' eyesight?)



Change of subject: You can get several opinions about raising with a pair of jacks on third street in lower- and medium-limit seven-card stud. You were telling me about being reluctant to make that raise, fearing a reraise from a higher pair. That's a good, healthy fear, but it shouldn't necessarily prevent you from raising. Let me give you my thoughts with an example or two.



You are two seats to the left of the low card, who opens. The next player folds. It's your turn. You have a jack showing and a jack and a 7 in the hole. (Suits are not important for this example, just the fact that you have a split pair of jacks.) Now what? You say, raise. Not so fast. Right or wrong, you don't have enough information to make that decision.



The information you need is to your left, in the upcards of the players who will act after you do. There, you see an ace, a king, and a queen among the upcards in the other players' hands. While a pair of jacks on third street is generally a raising hand, there are too many overcards to your pair yet to act after you – too much possibility of a reraise. Just limp in. If those overcards all fold, you'll say, "Hey, I could have raised." Yes, but the same thing was accomplished anyway, without your risking an additional bet. Remember what I've told you before: If there is only one overcard to your big pair yet to act after you, put in the raise. If there are two or more, limp in.



If that one overcard behind you reraises after you have entered the pot with a raise, you have to make a decision about calling. Is he a Fast Eddy type who is willing to gamble, with live cards, or figures you'll fold your jacks in the face of his possible bigger pair? Is he the type who might be raising with a pair in the hole, possibly even smaller than your jacks, to try to knock out the players behind him? This way, he might get to play heads up with you, hoping to make concealed trips or catch another of his doorcard and beat you with two pair. (Some players just like to gamble.) Or, is he a conservative player who you know has what he represents? That's why I've said so many times, there is no substitute for knowledge of your opponents.


You do have a call if your jacks are hidden, because now you have the surprise value when you make trips. If you just limp in with your split jacks because of there being too many overcards behind you, and one of those overcards raises, you have to make the same appraisal of your opponent as we just discussed. And you will want to consider if there are any more Fast Eddy types yet to act after him, who don't trust him to have what he represents and will put in yet another raise.



Yes, that is great stew. I learned how to make it from a beautiful Scandinavian widow in Northern Minnesota one cold winter. Take a quart for your breakfast and kill the light on your way out.

Roy West, best-selling poker author, continues giving his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas for both tourists and locals. Roy's toll-free number is 800-548-6177 ext. 03. In Las Vegas call 873-7574.