SUNGLASSES IN POKER: Maybe douchey, but cheating?

When I read about Daniel Negreanu comparing wearing sunglasses during live poker to cheating, I thought he was nuts and I was afraid I'd be in a very small minority. But as I see more reaction around the 'net, I see that I'm not. So far, seems a good split. Here's a recent article in Card Player:

http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-blo...ton/entries/92320-sunglasses-and-poker-really

What do you think?

There's no way that wearing sunglasses in live poker can be compared to colluding, chip stealing, etc. Cheating in poker is a serious matter, and wearing sunglasses is no where near that

Here's a hint on how I voted:

Unless they're x-ray glasses where you can see the other side of your opponents cards.. I don't see a problem with sunglasses.

I like Daniel Negraneau... but I think the problem he has with people wearing sunglasses.. is that he relies a lot on tells.. and the eyes give a lot away.

I wear sunglasses because casinos are too damn bright. No different than the ear plugs I wear because casinos are too damn loud.

I dont like if use sunglasses at poker table. I think just fashion recently.

I don't understand how it could even be a question that wearing sunglasses is cheating. Of course it's not.

They might help you to hide 'tells' that you are giving. So will a baseball cap in some cases.

If your opponent objects because the sunglasses limit the amount of information he can get by way of tells, he's free to put them on himself.

If your opponent objects because he can't tell when you are looking at him, maybe he has to do some work on hiding his tells so he doesn't have to worry about when you are looking at him and when you aren't.

i dont wear sunglasses while playing, but i would hardly call it cheating. i mean if it makes them feel better to have sunglasses on, good for them. its just not a big deal to me. i believe that you can find out more about a player by watching how they act, how they play, and if they are nervous at times than you can from staring into their eyes.

Did someone really just say card rooms are bright? Where do you play?

I think sunglasses are funny. Especially because most of the people that I find wearing them are rather fishy. When the kids sit down and puts his sunglasses on and then ear phones in I think it sends the message that you are a defensive player and are scared. It almost screams low confidence.

With that said, I dont think its cheating.

^^ Hat works better.

[ ] Sunglasses.Makes u look cool
....think about it

i dont think they are, they are just part of the game now, its like saying wearing batting gloves in baseball is cheating, it helps you, but its not agianst the rules.

I wear them. In no way is it cheating. Unless you want to ban hoods, hats, all glasses, putting your hands in front of your face, and putting your head down then you really can't knock the sunglasses.

Since you made the CC official poll and included cake and bastard...I went Bastard....TV tables are really bright and outdoors are fine...but it really doesn't matter if someone wears them indoors to me...it just won't be me.

i'd rather have the contact lens that could see the aces like the old lady on CSI years ago. daniel also thinks no sunglasses allowed on tv poker, guess he thinks it would be more entertaining for the viewers to see their eyes.

Sunglasses are lame in my opinion. Kinda hackey!

What kind of cake?

I voted douchy, although that is in part down to me owning this bad boy!



Wanna play a game?

I voted "I could care less either way since there's more to poker than this." because wearing sunglasses doesn't change the game at all. It just makes it to where they can't get a read from your eyes, lots of players have their own ways of trying to let the opponent not make a read from them. Some read books, listen to music, eat food, etc. People have their own ways of doing that, and sunglasses is one of them. If that is considered cheating, you might as well consider the rest cheating because it's for the same cause. It doesn't change the game at all, it just helps players out. It's actually more like a strategy then cheating in my opinion.

His argument is totally irrational, and although I respect him greatly, it's really not even worth reading.

Wearing sunglasses being cheating is one of the dumbest things i've heard in my life, how do these people win on online poker?

Or would a wireless mouse be cheating as well?

Sunglasses could be use for novice or even pro-players who aren't that good on hiding their emotions (tells). I'd never consider using sunglasses as cheating, some might think using them is an advantage that's it.

Daniel is not only one of the greatest players ever but a great ambassador for the game. However, on this one he is just wrong. Players do what they can to hide tells and detect others tells. Sunglasses are just one tool a player uses. Besides where would it end? Are we goiing to tell Chris Ferguson he can't wear his cowboy hat?

white_lytning said:

Did someone really just say card rooms are bright? Where do you play?

Click to expand...

I don't know about casinos elsewhere, but casinos in Minnesota are lit up like it's a damn carnival midway. And always way too loud.

TBH, I have zero problem with anyone wearing sunglasses at a big televised final table. The one time I seen one the lights were blinding as hell as soon as you sat into one of the seats (didnt make that final table, but i did sit into one of the seats just before the players arrived).

Players wearing sunglasses in their local $5-$500 MTT or whatever are just plain idiots. It dosnt look cool, it just makes me laugh.

There are several studies that will give credibility to "tells", that you give off as soon as you look at your cards. Looking up and left is supposed to be a sign of a weak hand, looking up and right is strong etc, tbh I've never gained much from looking for these tells.

I normally agree with a lot of what Daniel says, however this is the most insane thing he has ever brought up. It makes no sense!