How Do the Pro and Regular Poker Players Feel about Wearing Masks?

How do the pro and regular poker players feel about wearing masks? Do they see them as an advantage, disadvantage, or are they indifferent about them?

[Editor's Note: This answer is provided by veteran low-stakes poker player Mick Schumacher, author of the book Dollars and Sense: Winning Ways of Low-Stakes Limit Poker, which, though it's not our own book, we highly recommend. The question was submitted and the answer written three weeks ago and the situation has changed since then. In most poker rooms, the plexiglas dividers have been taken down and masks at a number of casinos are now optional for players who've been fully vaccinated.]

I've never heard any poker players say they like wearing masks at the table. Not once. And I doubt anyone, poker players or otherwise, is indifferent to them.

The first challenge that masks created is associated with socializing, which is a large part of the enjoyment of the game. The combination of masks and the plexiglass dividers makes conversation with other players and dealers very difficult even if you’re side by side and nearly impossible if you’re on the other end of the table.

In addition, whatever voice and facial tells might otherwise exist, they’re now nearly imperceptible. So if you’re a regular player with lots of tells, a mask will likely hide them, which would be seen as an advantage. Conversely, if you’re a pro and really good at recognizing tells, they’re now more difficult to see and hear -- a disadvantage for sure.

On a more positive note, even with COVID protective requirements, including short-handed games, casino poker has come back from the shutdown in full force. It took a little while, but as I write this answer in late April, many rooms have waiting lists like in the good old pre-pandemic days. Poker with restrictions is better than no poker at all.

But we’re all looking forward to when we need to wear masks only on Halloween.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Comments

[email protected] May-20-2021

Question

I hadn't really thought about this, but could a player continue to wear a mask if they think it helps them cover up tell?  I know players often wear sunglasses, pulled-low hats, hoods, etc., for this purpose so wouldn't wearing a mask be on the same order?

Dave_Miller_DJTB May-20-2021

You can always opt to wear a mask

Although not many people did, some people wore them in the before times, so that option should always be available. 

Of course, they may ask you to lower the mask briefly when entering and/or cashing out ...

Jerry Patey May-20-2021

Masks

The mask thing is BS. There is no science supporting it. It was used in avTB epidemic 100 years ago. We now talk mask neurosis. People are getting addicted to them them. They are not needed. Have you seen teens wearing masks with racingEtc did you see girl callapse at finish line. Again science is ignored these days. This is not a vaccine. It is a combo of chemicals injected into your body. Teenagers don’t get or spread disease yet they wear masks. After lockdown relaxed the same continues   I am a physician with major in chem and biology. Last feb 2020 I predicted the past year’s corona thing would occur. I said it was about people control. I am still waiting for guy to come forward who said I was on drug high. I was more are less 100% accurate. Wonder how much crow he has eaten the past one year.

AyeCarambaPoker May-20-2021

I see our resident lunatic has access to the computer in his padded cell. 

In answer to lschulz’s question I wouldn’t be surprised if players continue to use them, especially at higher stakes where players are generally better at picking up tells

Kevin Lewis May-20-2021

Tells aren't all that significant

The importance of "tells" is vastly overrated. Like so many of the great unwashed public's perceptions about poker, this impression comes from the movies--Maverick and Rounders, to give two examples (and the depictions of poker games in each of those movies were laughable). Particularly in casino poker, in both live cash and tournament games, you don't have enough time to reliably observe AND correlate a given player's so-called tells--in no small part because you don't necessarily see that player's hand unless there's a showdown. And if you DO assimilate reliable information? That player busts out or leaves--or you get moved to another table.

I'm happy to see that Eminent Doctor Patey is still sharing his wisdom with us. I fear that if he actually had patients at any point in his illustrious career, those poor souls might not have survived.

Jxs May-20-2021

The doctor is IN

As Dr Jerry said so eloquently- “I am a physician with major in chem and biology.” Hahaha! Good thing your “doctor school” made you take some of those classes.

Question of the Day - 20 May 2021

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