WHY PLAYERS DO CHIP FLOURISHES AT THE POKER TABLE Definition: Chip Flourishes (Chip Tricks), handling chips in a fancy manner. Poker is fast becoming America's favorite form of entertainment. Hold 'em tournaments are broadcast daily on TV. You and I are able to peek into the pros hole cards, and we are able to see the way they handle their chips. Some don't flourish at all, but others, work with the chips in a manner that reveal their thousands of hours spent on the green felt. They riffle shuffle their chips. They delicately finger the chips...extracting one, turning it over, and replacing it. They bet their chips with a flair. The colorful flourishes include running a chip across the knuckles, spinning a chip on the table and making it return, and rolling out a stack of four chips so that a chip is gracefully placed between each finger. They impress us with their chip acrobatics. And it's second nature. They aren't even thinking about it. There are several reasons why players do chip flourishes. Here are a few. 1. TABLE IMAGE: I've heard talk that players should project an image that they are a "madman" or "unsure of themselves"....when in reality...they are not. This does have advantages, but I just can't get myself to do it. When I sit down at a table I want everyone to know that I grew up with a deck of cards in my hand, that I'm a "player", and that I know what I'm doing at the table...all the time. Flourishes help me stand out and increase my ability to control the table. I can opt to look like a poker veteran, and unleash my repetoire of chip handling techniques on those at my table. Or if I want to look like a beginner, I can simply choose not to flourish. 2. RELIEVE STRESS: Just as some people twiddle their thumbs, bounce their knee, or tap their fingers, flourishing can be a means to physically dissipate nervous energy. Poker can be a stressful game in several ways. One is the nervousness one feels at the beginning of a tournament. This is easily decreased by some chip shuffling. Poker is a sedentary game and there aren't many physical ways to "blow off" a bad beat or major chip loss. A player can get out of his seat and walk a few steps, he can verbalize, or pick up a drink. There's not much else to do. Golfers can walk off their frustration. Baseball players can fling their helmets and bats into the ground after striking out. One way to "let off steam" for a poker player, is to work the chips. Moving your fingers and handling the chips, is one physical means to lessen stress, and take your mind off the last hand. 3. INTIMIDATE OPPONENTS: I've seen beginners fold solid hands after being intimidated by players who perform a superior display of colorful chip twirls, rolls, flips, and other fancy fingering of chips. The psychological factor in poker is far more important than in other card games. If you look like you grew up playing poker, you will have your raises respected more. You will find opponents laying down hands because they think you have the winning hand. The confidence you display, and flourishes you exhibit, affects other people's decisions and play. 4. EARN RESPECT FROM DEALERS AND FLOORPERSONS: I don't look like a beginner, and I am more likely to be noticed and remembered. I'm looking to maximuze my comps and courtesies! Sometimes a dealer may get "testy" with a tourist or one who is new to the game. I'm not put in that category. Over the years, I've also seen a variety of borderline situations occur at the table, where the veteran player gets the better shake. My flourishing puts me in the"poker veteran" category. 5. STAY AWAKE: During long tournaments, keeping my fingers moving helps keep me awake and aware of what's going on. There are some boring stretches to poker, and flourishes help me stay alert. 6. FOCUS: Handling the chips keeps me focused on the game. My hands are physically on them, and I'm mentally attached to the cards at play. The purpose of the game is to gain chips, and there is no better way to remind me of this than to finger the chips. 7. HELPS TO WARD OFF CHEATS: Someone who flourishes his chips does not look like an easy mark. The flourisher is thought to be well versed in proper poker shuffling, cutting and dealing procedures. He is one who is more likely to be aware of card "mechanics", collusion, and other scams. I am less likely to be pegged "a sucker", and any cheat will think twice before trying to pull one on me. 8. OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO DO IT: Doing flourishes is like riding a bike...once you learn it, you learn it for life. I like to see others watching my moves, knowing that they would like to do what I'm doing. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. Buy an instructional video on Poker Chip Flourishes and practice along with it. Make sure you have them second nature before sitting down and gambling. If you have to concentrate on the flourishes, and take attention away from the cards at play, you'll be hurting your game. 9. THE PROS DO IT: No matter what sport or game, everybody wants to emulate the professionals. They are the stars, the successful. Do as the pros do! 10. IT'S COOL TO DO! Tom Golabek plays the poker tables of South Florida and Vegas. He has produced an instructional DVD on performing poker chip flourishes. It can be found at www.pokerchipsvideo.com (Note from Administrator: I've removed the link to the URL, but left the post intact otherwise.)
Poker Wow, great post Tom.. Oh wait ..............this is a Blackjack Tournament Site........ And as you know.......One cannot play with one's chips in a BJ tournament..... Besides, playing with chips is like bouncing a golf ball on a sand wedge....it adds nothing to your real game.....Goodby Spam
Bouncing a ball off a sand wedge?!!! Only a REAL golfer would mention that. I never thought about it until now, but I used to do that when I played golf. You are right...it adds nothing to the game...but the guy who does it looks like a good golfer. I play poker daily, but also hit the blackjack tables for a change every now and then. I still do my flourishes and it triggers lots of talk and smiles at the blackjack table.
Chip flourishing at tournemnt BJ table - not cool citytom: Chip flourishing at a poker table may be "really cool" but it has no place in tournament blackjack - and that's what this site is about. Do you understand? I have played against some flourishers in tournaments and found them extremely irrating. Seems like they are always the "smart ass" at the table and we all know NOBODY LIKES A SMART ASS.:flame: I do have 1 question: Are you also a jerk at the poker table or do you reserve that status for blackjack? Goodby spammy. Hope you get to read this before it, like all other spam, is removed from this site. PS: If you had any blackjack tournament knowledge you would realize that "playing with chips" is prohibited by written rules in the vast majority of tournaments.
Actually, I find nothing wrong with citytoms post. It isn't really spam, it is under other games section and chip flourishing is part of the game of poker among other games. Most are old dealers tricks. I have been doing them for over 23 years, long before they were popular. I started learning how when I first started dealing, I believe that you'll find most players who do them well were a dealer at one time. However as they became more popular the players started copying the dealers. I find myself doing chip shuffling all the time at the tables except in tournament play. Even then I may shuffle some chips before I shove them into the circle for my bet. If it effects another player that’s great for me. It shouldn't effect anyone, but if they are thinking about me shuffling chips then they are not paying attention to what they should be during the tournament. I find myself starting with shuffling 8 chips (4 in each stack) and working my way up 2 at a time. The most I have successfully shuffled is 36 (2 stacks of 18). Almost everytime I am at a table someone will ask me how I do that. I also find that it is stress relief while I am playing. My latest is bouncing a chip off it's edge back onto a stack of chips. It seems to make most players at the tables smile when I pull it off. Bouncing a golf ball off a wedge is a good comparison, both add nothing to the actual game, but are fun to do between holes or hands during a break from play. And by the way I also bounce golf balls off my wedge, but I suck at that...LOL.
Spam At first I thought that his post was OK also but went I went over to Blackjackinfo.com and saw that he posted the same post word for word I now believe it's SPAM.You should have to pay to advertise on this site
Cut the last part Good catch joep, I too saw nothing wrong with the post at first. Just cut the last part of the post Ken (after #10) and you can leave the rest, then it will be spam free.
It may be spam, but at least it was a better effort than the usual. I've left the post there, and just disabled the link. If you're interested in checking out the product he's selling, you'll have to type in the address.
Chip Flourish/spam Dang, no matter how long I've practiced I'm still spastic with chips. Must be the alcohal. I found the post informative and entertainining. But, then I'm an easy mark.
Practice makes perfect noman: An easy mark? I don't think so. Not knowing you personally, if I made a list of those I consider an easy mark you would be way at the bottom. Sometimes it's better to be last.:laugh: It looks to me like citytom is a practiced and seasoned spammer. He (I assume male) wrote a very deliberate story about the advantages of flourishing. He made people want to read the whole thing and we did (yours truly included). As Joep pointed out, you didn't realize you were reading spam. Citytom obviously spent a lot of time tweeking his writeup and it worked. I guess a congradulations should go to him for a job well done - although misguided. Now I'm guessing, but it looks like he has some type of computer program that duplicates keyboard entries so that he doesn't have to meticulously type his message error free every time he finds a site to spam. Yes, he has it down to a science. But in the end, and you'll love this noman, spam by any other name is still spam. Hay, let's be honest, he did entertain us for a little while - a very little while.
New Program Toolman, it's called copy and paste. :laugh: Hey it was good meeting you at the tourny a few weeks ago and yes, I do look younger than I am. Good thing I wore the JD cap, just too bad we did not meet up at the final table. I felt good about my play though and just did not catch the cards on a couple of crucial hands. I actually did not notice that this post was SPAM because I did not make it past #2 Dan
Hey Dan, Are you going to try for the WSOBJ? Any host casino's nearby? Me and my wife are going to the Ho-Chunk this weekend to sign up for their February event...So we won't be in St. Ignace. in February. Good Luck, Slim
Copy and Paste Dan: Copy and Paste - I'll have to remember that. I'm looking for a second job, maybe as a spammer:laugh: . Oh, wait a minute, I'm retired, it would be my only job. As for the Blue Chip, what can I say. I needed that elusive final hand win to advance. Oh well, another time, another place. So what about the Ho-Chunk? Are you going? It's only, what, about a 10 hour drive for you. Get a free room if you are one of first 50 to register! slim100_us: I plan to enter all 3 Ho-Chunk WSOB satellites. If I don't succeed in the first 2 (and I probably won't) maybe I'll see you at the final table in Feb.
Ho-Chunk Toolman1, I am going to the Packer / Lion Game in Greenbay this Sunday (I'm not sure who I should route for ). We are Staying in Appleton WI. I figure that being only two hours away from the Ho-Chunk on Saturday that I might as well take a ride and try to get a free room out of the deal. (being one of the first fifty to sign up. ) Anyway, good luck to you and anyone else trying to get their name in fame :joker: Slim
Always Pma I always go into a tournament with PMA (Positive Mental Attitude):gun: I just joke around with the "probable won't"
Charity Event Slim 100, you're probably already aware of it, and planning to play. But in case you weren't aware, there's a monthly being played Saturday at Ho Chunk in which the proceeds are being donated to Kops For Kids. It's in the event calendar.
Not any close by Slim, Not any close to us. I have a brother in St. Paul, Mn. Maybe the wife and I will plan a trip to vist around the time of a tourney at Ho Chunk and make a week of it? We are planning a February trip to the U.P.. So far we have 6 players coming up. It was a fun Superbowl Party there last year. Good Luck, Dan P.S. We might wait till it warms up a little though!
ChipFourishing/spam Toolman 1: Once again. You are correct sir. Though, to your making a list of easy marks; if I made the list, no matter how far down, I'd be semi-easy. But not cheap.
