US HoldemThe Chip Jugglers
The chips are an indispensable component of poker. At times, a player juggles his chips while the game is ongoing. It may either be a mindless display of dexterity or an exhibition of deliberate mastery, but it produces among the witnesses a variety of emotional effects which may be woven to decisively win a player the game.
Expert chip finger juggling is fascinating to watch. Many of us have seen the back and forth tumbling chip on fisted fingers; or one tossed in the air by the click of the thumb.
The reasons for this side show can be classified into those who subconsciously do it and those who want to show-off.
The subconscious juggler is a person under stress. Poker, as we know, is a game of stress. First, a player has to deal with the cards in his hand. The combinations he can create go only as far as the ones allowed by his cards. It is not a race game. It is, in fact, a slow-moving game in that the players have ample time to maximize their hand. For such as one, however, whose hand can go only as far as a Straight, a chip in his hand will be taken for an air show. If he is skillful, he will at least amuse his partners.
The chip becomes a convenient object for a player's psychology to relieve him of some stress. This is one of many human tendencies, psychologists believe, to ultimately keep the person from going insane. Can a person go so far as to become insane because of poker pressure? Normally, it can't, even if poker were a race game. It can, on the other hand, temporarily wear one down mentally so that he clings to whatever choices available to alleviate the pressure. One way is to, again, toss the chip. Another is to succumb to - as a result of - intimidation.
The player who thinks - or who wants others to think - he owns the best card, applies pressure to his partners; and an effective way to do this is to use the chips. He may opt to raise the stake by tossing a determined amount of chips into the "pot" - the pile of chips at the center of the playing table that represents all players' bets. The very sound of crashing chips contributes to the tension. Or, in an equally obvious display, he - you guessed it - flips the chip! Coupled with a haughty countenance, it may also gather the respect of casino staff and potential cheaters who would think twice of weaving their magic against this apparently experienced poker player!
Masterful chip juggling promotes the impression of an expert poker player. Juggling comes from years of practice; and since chips are a part of poker, it would entail that one's experience in handling his chips is a reflection of how experienced he is in poker. In a way, this is true. Even the professionals in the World Series do it!
|
