Poker Prayer
With the common talk of “online poker gods” and the traditional God of Luck, you might often find poker online players at the table, in the face of a large draw or against one, praying for their dreams to be made true. The most recent major example of such that comes immediately to mind is Jerry Yang, winner of the World Series of Poker 2007, who literally invoked God at the table, praying that he win the hand and take the prize. Which he did. Praying at the poker table, like those who shout at bad beats and scream “One time!” or otherwise celebrate extensively seem to me in bad taste. Sure, you want to win, and sure, your beliefs might lead you to such a place, but making a scene and praying for something as arbitrary as a spade on the river to me just makes a player look ridiculous. Pray under your breath, or in your head, if you have to. Or better, yet remember that this is a game, and praying for the turn of a card that can not be affected outside of what will be is just ludicrous and kind of crazy. Over-celebrating, prayer, shouting, and berating players loudly are all behaviors that should be left for other times, if at all.
