Is it advisable to wear dark glasses to face-to-face tournaments?

[Chica_bonita]

In the tournaments that I have seen on television, many players in the tournaments wear dark glasses, I imagine they use them to hide their expressions when playing at a poker table, but how advisable it is to wear them, you think they give you some kind of benefit to the bearer who carries them? Personally, some are more nervous with the glasses, It is up to each person but I see it unnecessary.

There was a lot of discussion about sunglasses, and players were even banned from wearing them at some events (I can't remember anymore).
I consider the desire to wear glasses not as an advantage, but as a sign of weakness. The weak defends against the strong. If a player puts on glasses, then this is not some style of appearance - it is an indicator that the player has problems with managing his own facial expressions, not enough experience to sit with an open face and, for example, bluff.

 

[bnasp2]

If you give live tells, then play online or "micro" live. There are many other ways for good "readers". Like breath, hands, sweating, body position etc.
Wearing glasses or not will not change anything on those.

 

[BetterThanAvgButNotByMuch]

I think it depends what you're playing and who you're playing. If you're playing the $1-2 or $1-3 table or some entry level tournament then this is just my belief but that's not where you wear sunglasses.

The folks at these table are going to play their hands, enjoy themselves and couldn't care who or what you look like. Nor will stalling or doing anything else get them away from their top pair and bad kicker for instance.

So I would leave the shades at home in that instance and the other thing is I can guarantee you that these folks barely know poker ABC123 strategy or if they do know it, lack the discipline to do what they should do so reading folks is another skill set on top of those and they usually don't have that skill set nor the interest at those low levels.

Besides, folks look silly wearing sunglasses indoors.

 

[Jillychemung]

There are glasses specifically designed for poker, see Blue Shark Optics
A number of players endorse them https://www.bluesharkoptics.com/team including some of the CC Pros. I have a pair of prescription lenses that I sent in for the treatment and I wear these to my higher buyin tournaments. Never had any issues with being able to see the cards or anywhere on the table.

 

[Kenzie 96]

You could also do what this CardsChat Poker Guru does.

View attachment 294038​

Didn't realize Helmuth was a CC poker Guru, cool.

 

[vaselbrassel]

glasses

shades cover your eyes from your opponent so any tells they may pick up will be blocked from reads that may uncover the strength of your hand, a little tomfoolery in the game.

 

[Holdem Tycoon]

Same here, I use them to not look obvious when studying other players.

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

In the tournaments that I have seen on television, many players in the tournaments wear dark glasses, I imagine they use them to hide their expressions when playing at a poker table, but how advisable it is to wear them, you think they give you some kind of benefit to the bearer who carries them? Personally, some are more nervous with the glasses, It is up to each person but I see it unnecessary.

I can see a player wearing them if they're worried about showing emotion or just to intimidate other players in a stare-down but for someone who plays the odds and other players' actions I, personally, have no need for them.

 

[Zorba]

Didn't realize Helmuth was a CC poker Guru, cool.

Not sure if you're joking or don't realise that it's Carl.

I personally prefer these over sunglasses.

 

[natsgrampy]

For me, I play at a casino with big windows and during the day the light coming in can create a bad glare and make it difficult to see the board.
Wearing polarized sunglasses I use for fishing, is the only time I put them on.

 

[IADaveMark]

Hiding tells, dilation, etc. is one thing. However, hiding that you are getting information is another big thing. Others have mentioned being able to watch other players without them (or anyone else) knowing you are watching them is big.

Also, this part kind of counts as a tell, but seeing where a player looks when they are making a decision can give off information. Are they looking at the board? The pot? Another player's stack? Their own stack? Each of these has different meanings in context. So not only can you carefully watch what other people are looking at but, with the sunglasses, you are hiding where your own eyes are looking while you are making a decision. That is probably one of the main reasons why people wear them.

Just don't tell Norman Chad.

 

[M1n1GuN777]

Maybe. I think it's more of a psychological issue. I usually look nervous and unsure on purpose before going all-in. Works often. Especially with unfamiliar players.

 

[riff_raff312]

I wear shaded glasses all the time due to a welding accident when i was a younger man but for someone just to wear dark glasses in doors for no reason is just to deceive or maybe distract other players,whatever the reason if it works use it.

 

[Luvepoker]

I wore shaded glasses one time and thats all. All it really did for me was make it harder to read the cards to be honest.

 

[Ketienne]

It all depends on how much you are able to control your emotions. If you don't have a good poker face and feel more confident about hiding your facial expressions with sunglasses, it can be a good option. I personally find it rather unnecessary because you are sitting inside, but to each his own. There are actually some pro's who are really successful with it.

 

[Decades]

I think if you have a good knowledge of human nature it makes no difference if somebody wear glasses or not. then you look on the nervous hands or gesture of your opposite. the glasses are more for somebody self but not really to hide myself.

 

[Shunsui]

This is always going to be about the preference of the player. I do not wear sun glasses when I play live games but that's because I feel completely relaxed at the table no matter the level. I treat the experience of live poker almost like a real world computer game and I never think about how much I have paid to enter or how much I could win. This seems to make me be able to make big plays at the right time etc...

If I did begin to feel nervous at live games I would definitely attempt things such as wearing shades. I always try to improve my game and evaluate what went right and wrong.

 

[Tato Ivan]

Use glasses for their intended purpose, only for eye comfort.