Whether to use a card protector

Is it generally good to use a card protector? I personally don't use mine since I am not consistent with my body language and fear opponents will be able to pick up on tells with how I use my card protector

I've had someone give their cards a 'flick' towards the middle and his aim was off and they slid right on top of mine. So yes.

I just hold them with my left hand, never had a problem... or just throw a couple of chips on. And try to develop a routine, wait till the action hits you, look at your cards, put some chips on them if your going to play them, if not muck. There isnt any way they can pick up much off you if you stick to the same routine.

You HAVE to protect your cards, doesnt matter how you do it but I like holding them slightly raised above the felt in my finger tips, I mix it up one hand or the other or both pre flop. When its my action I either fold or place a few chips on top as the protector to play. I slightly mix up my routine so I dont have to worry about a tell. The problem with a defined routine is that if you ever get pressured and change something inadvertently somebody will catch it as a tell and then your always worring about messing up your routine.

The question is pretty basic, so I'm not sure it's clear from the responses: If your cards are not protected, whether by a chip or by a card protector, they can be mucked by mistake. In many (if not all) poker rooms, if you don't have your cards protected, you have no way to reverse the muck.

That doesn't mean you have to use a "card protector" specifically, it can be a chip as WiZZim says.

The best reason to use one IMHO, would be to standardize an action so that it doesn't turn into a tell.

If you are in the hand, the only tell you want to allow is that...well...you are in the hand. If your not in the hand then that is also a tell, and if you make a big deal about NOT being in the hand, then everyone will ignore your 'is he or isn't he?' tellability............

Some people say "Card protectors are lame. Just use a chip." But what it you go all-in and have no chip?

YouTube- WSOP 2009 - AA preflop in to the muck (dead hand)

Ever since I saw that clip, I don't mind being "lame". My new card protector:

Ultraman1Mag.jpg (http://www.cardschat.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28947&d=1275498263)

i do the same thing everytime i look at my hand. so i don't give out any signals to other players on how i play my cards after looking at them. Easiest way just look at ur cards and put a chip on them.

Listen to Mr. Sticker.

I never used one, not even a chip. And I can't recall exactly what happened now, but I lost a hand once, it wasn't major, but I remember others at the table telling me to at least use a chip.
Honestly I'm just to lazy to use a card protecter.
And I personally think, you have less a chance with tells if you are disciplined and busy putting a card protecter on your hand every hand.
I have seen countless dealer mistakes, they are only human, and its not their money.

omg that was brutal. ok i'm convinced, just need to develop a routine

I was scolded multiple times by the dealer for not using a card protector the first time I played in a casino. I had no experience playing live other than home games and just wasn't use to putting a chip on my cards. I finally made a point to remember after his 3rd or 4th comment to me.

Sticker pwned here imo. Always something on your cards is a must in any tournament or cash game thats live. One wrong move or hand motion could cost you everything. Regardless of whether its done by you or the dealer. I use one.. Kinda corny but its my Pepere's tie clip. Been doing the job for me since 2001 and its not a inconvience to use. Although it would be a inconvienance at this point to not use it. Just saying

Do you eat? are you just too lazy to pick up a knife and fork?

My point being; how lazy do you have to be to not be able to put a couple of ounces of material on your cards?
I'm sure it can't be the weight that is holding you back

Lets say she had a card protector and the same thing happened, then wouldnt the ruling be the same?

Probably... but the dealer would be disciplined for sure... maybe even fired.

Its less likely to happen if the cards have something visible on top of them that the dealer has to move in order to get to the cards.

My card protector has double benefits

I use a smooth stone that I bought that has the word "Patience" etched in it.

So not only does it protect my cards, it reminds me to be patient :P

Always weird to see that video. She's the wife of the Raymond Domenech, coach of the French national football team. Hopefully they have a little more luck on the field...

Too many horror stories of cards mucked to not use some kind of card protector. Like any habit, takes a bit of practice but once learned is done without thought

Its when the habit is ingrained you have to be careful of inadvertent tells cropping up

Since I never bothered to learn & practice chip tricks, I use die-cast racing vehicles as a card protector that I roll back-n-forth over my cards while waiting for my turn to act. Allows me to expend some of my nervous energy like the chip trickers do. Plus I'm a little ADD about my chip stacks and not having to 'play' with them is a plus.

So in conclution, always have a loaded mouse trap as your card protector

The best part about that video is when she's all, "Hey, my cards!"

And rather than saying, "Oh crap!" or "Oops" or something the dealer just coldly says, "Did you protect your cards?"

Next time, she should just bring a meat cleaver to the table and if the dealer's hand should come close to her cards, then take a swipe.

I call that "protecting your cards".

Back to that video.... yes, she should have protected her cards, but that doesn't make up for the dealer being incompetent. She was obviously all-in and her cards were right in front of her... the dealer just reached behind her chips and grabbed her cards, which were plainly in front of her. The dealer was a complete moron..... so with that, I have to say, protect your cards from stupid dealers. Some aren't paying attention.. or have been dealing at the table for awhile, and may get sidetracked from being tired.... do something to make sure that your cards don't get accidentally mucked.

I believe you should use at least one chip to protect your cards, a lot of things can happen, you cards can get flip over, the dealer can make a mistake, etc.

By protecting you cards you're protecting your money aswell.

The importance of protecting your cards is greater if you are seated in seat 1 or 9 (10). Sitting right next to the dealer seems to be the prime spot for unintentional mucking. I ALWAYS protect my cards if sitting in one of these two seats.

Dealers have to stretch a bit to get to the other seats and you can usually stop them before they grab them. If seated in any other position, I randomly use a chip, place my hand on my cards or hold them parallel to the felt. Occasionally I'll use a chip protector, usually my tiny green Buddha , when playing $4/8 FLHE where you don't have to worry about looking lame.

Once I get back from Iraq I'll be using my deployment coin as my card protecter. For the time being I hold my cards in my left hand until action is on me. Once I see my cards I immediately know whether or not I want to play them, so the next question is how. Once I'm sure they're memorized I put them face down on the felt, take a small chip off my small stack, and place it over the cards.

It's exactly the same every time, and is especially helpful when you're in seat one, as the mucked hands have a tendancy to slide into your hand on occaison.

I've never had an issue with a hand being mucked because my cards weren't protected, but once all my chips are in, my cards are back in my left hand.

Well, whether or not you are using a card protector, it is a very good practice to memorize your cards and just stay put with no unnecessary movements, in order that your opponents can't read your moves. But to make things more safe, it is really good to use a card protector. A number of things can act as one, like a single chip, coin, etc.

always put a chip over your cards....think of it as insurance. You might not need it but the one time you do, it's worth the effort.

Ah man, that WSOP video is rough. Good for her for keeping it together . . . I would have flipped out.

I saw this one guy playing live who had this really awesome holographic pog slammer for a card protector. Ever since I saw that, I've been looking for a protector that I like. Currently seeking out a mini spinning roulette table protector, but that would probably distract me too much, haha (and possibly turn into a tell when I play with it).

YES YES YES YES YES YES .................AND YES always use some kinda of card protector. We had a home game situation happen guy goes all in and gets 2 callers who have him covered flop comes A J 10 rainbow the 2 players still with chips create a side pot turn is a 2 goes check check river brings another 2 one guy bets the other pushes and gets snap called so the side pot is determined first and the guy that pushed flopped the nut straight the caller had pocket 10's then when they went to see what the all in guy had his cards were not in front of him and he was pissed he sadi he folded JJ and 2 jacks were found in the discard pile together but his hand was dead.

Im not a big fan of the card protectors. No one can obviously see your cards when they are face down anyways.

they are not to keep people from seeing your cards it so they dont get taken away by accident or have cards mucked into them.

"Stick66" great example, and nice chip. I remember when I saw that lady go all in and lose, I felt so bad for her I'm surprised she didn't cry or punched the dealer. LOL

I do. Better safe then sorry. Just be careful not to give your hand away!