There have been several stories on this forum of players' cards being mucked by an oblivious dealer even in cases where the cards still have something on top of them, either poker chips or a card protector.

Clearly these stories have shown us all that the only fool-proof reliable way to protect your hand is with a death grip, the likes of which only a starving baby might be able to rival.

But, many of the casinos I've been to are fairly lenient with the diversity of card protectors. The general rule being that any object laying on the table has to be smaller than the cards themselves, such that they couldn't be used to hide a card beneath them.

So it would seem that you could solve this problem of absentee dealers by simply selecting the correct item to protect your cards, e.g.



Has anyone ever considered using such an item before?

Any other memorable card protectors you've seen in a casino?

I just use a $1 chip. It slows most dealers down because they are going to wonder for a second why you are tipping them for a losing hand. If they are too clueless to figure that out, an anvil isn't going to slow them down.

I’ve seen someone use a (half pound?) metal weight.

At some point a dealer told him he’s not allowed to use that because it might damage the cards. Since none of the previous dealers said anything I wonder if that was really casino policy though.

is that a card protector or an all in button

On a flat hard surface you could park a semi on cards without hurting them.

On a felt table top I suspect anything that doesn’t hurt the table or felt would not hurt the cards. That said it doesn’t mean I think it is ok using a two pound card protector.

I've never understood card protectors. The likelihood of your hand being declared dead without significant negligence on your own part is tiny even if you don't place a chip on them. If you're worried about it a chip suffices without your "good luck" charm.

I almost never let go of my cards during a hand. If the dealer can kill my hand by taking them from me, I wouldn’t even be mad. That’s impressive.

So, card protectors do serve several purposes, and not all apply to all players. First and foremost, they, well, protect your cards. Sure, you could use a chip, or your hand, but you could also use a card protector.

Second, they can be interesting. Live poker can be a slog, and if someone has a good conversation starter as a card protector, this can be a welcome addition to the game. Also, since poker is all about managing your table image, a card protector can be used to add to that image.

Finally, they are, as you say, 'good luck'. And no, it is highly unlikely that a card protector actually alters the distribution of cards you will see in a session. However, it is very easy to show that people play better when they are in a better frame of mind. If a routine, a talisman, or a ritual makes you feel more emotionally centered and confident before a session, then it will almost certainly increase your EV. Does the lucky piece of jade I got from Alaska actually bring me good luck? Probably not, but it doesn't matter, as long as I think it does.

Now, not everyone's mental game will be fooled by that. And not everyone wants conversation or interaction at the table. And some people prefer to use their hand to protect their cards. And all that is fine. Card protectors are not mandatory. But I find it odd that so many people disparage card protectors.

I know of a guy who used 'the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock'.

It was quite the novelty, wonder what happened to that guy ... GL

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