Daniel Negreanu knows a thing or two about poker, and one thing he knows for sure – he doesn’t like sunglasses at the table.
Phil Ivey doesn’t wear them. Patrik Antonius doesn’t wear them. Tom Dwan doesn’t wear them. Doyle Brunson doesn’t wear them. That about covers the generation gap among big time poker pros, and none of these stars covers their eyes with sunglasses while playing poker at the table. If “Kid Poker” Negreanu had his way, no one would, and it would be the law.
During a recent episode of High Stakes Poker Negreanu spoke out against wearing sunglasses, and most of the pros sitting around him agreed that not only was it unnecessary for a talented poker pro, it was considered – at least to them – poor taste. Negreanu followed up on the subject on his blog:
“They are so bad for poker on so many levels. Poker wouldn’t be on TV if everyone wore hoodies and sunglasses to hide their eyes. If anyone wants to start a petition to ban them in any form of poker whether it’s tournaments, cash games, or televised events I’d do whatever I could to help.”
It looks like he’s getting his way, at least on one poker TV show, the PokerStars created show “The Big Game” has officially banned sunglasses.
While he would not expand too greatly on the idea, Negreanu also says that sunglasses help support cheating at poker. More to the point, wearing sunglasses would help hide the tell-tale signs of a cheater, such as nervous glances, dilating pupils and the like.
“You should always be uncomfortable playing high stakes poker against someone wearing sunglasses. I’m not making this up, it’s just a fact. Banning sunglasses helps to protect the integrity of the game against cheating.”
Keep off the shades and qualify for the Big Game with PokerStars!