Hiding Behind Glass
Sunglasses, while not a key feature in the mechanics of poker, have become a staple in the image of poker culture and players in recent years. The idea for wearing sunglasses at the table is so that no one can see where you are looking when you are trying to read other people and to hide a player’s tales from other players. Eye tells such as quickly looking at the flop, to your cards, and back is easy ways to determine if a player has a good hand.
While the physical uses of sunglasses are what brought them to the table in the first place, the psychological barrier sunglasses produce is much more useful. Sunglasses produce an intimidating figure, where if a player fails to get a read due to the sunglasses they make that person seem impenetrable, and appear as if they are in a much safer position than the rest of the players, no matter what their cards are. This works for the sunglass wearer as well. When people where sunglasses they are putting a bit of a mask on, and it allows players to act more naturally and have more confidence when you know there is a line of protection between you and the reality of poker. |
The degree of separation that come from sunglasses does not all have positive results though. The most obvious issue sunglasses present are that they make it harder to read your cards. In the heat and passion of some hands of poker the smallest misread of a player’s own cards can result in immense and unnecessary clasps. My largest complaint about sunglasses is that most normal sunglasses will not cut it and can reflect your cards. Every time I personally come across a player wearing sunglasses I look at their eyes not for twitch and eye-darting tells, but rather for the sunglasses themselves to tell me the players cards by reflecting hands off cheap lens. Additionally by putting up a blocker between you and the real world it makes it harder to socialize and be part of the moment. The separation created from sunglasses goes farther than changing the intenseness of light, it also affects how others respond socially to you when you seem more distant.
Sunglasses are a controversial addition to the game. They can both help and impede a player’s performance, and are disapproved by more traditional players who view it as a form of irreverent cheating. Therefore, sunglasses, much like poker itself, is subject to many moral debates, but is still loved and adored for those who desire it |
Reference:http://cardplayerlifestyle.com/sunglasses-at-the-poker-table/