Most people will agree that poker is mostly a game of skill. Obviously there is a percentage of luck though. Both online and live poker players rely on some good cards, flops and seating arrangements and not just the skills they possess to help them get through to a victorious win.
It seems some players have a natural skill AND luck factor about them. We can all develop skill, there is no doubt about that. The more effort we put into study and playing, the more our poker skills increase. Some players just have the worst luck ever though. It seems no matter what they do they can not get good cards, they run badly, the flops are against them and these spurts can run for what seems eternity. Other players on the opposite scale of the luck factor have nothing but premium hands and perfect flops. How can this be? Do they bring luck on themselves or are they actually naturally lucky?
Many people try different things at poker tables to induce luck. Some people have their lucky card protectors, lucky charms and try to get their lucky seat. Other players have rituals they perform at tables such a bending cards a certain way, moving seats at certain times and praying to the poker gods.
When it comes to pre game luck inducing, again rituals come into practice for some people. They eat certain foods, prepare themselves mentally by doing certain things at certain places and bring along their lucky songs on their trusted ipods and mp3 players. Others go that little bit further though when it comes to bringing themselves luck. Few do it, but - I was told just the other day there are some! I went and further looked and asked, and surprisingly there are actually more people that do the following things than I anticipated. Call it crazy, I don't know? I have decided to try some of this myself and see the outcome. It can not hurt right?
Power of positive thought: This i one thing used commonly amongst poker players. It is used at the tables and before hand. It is used mostly for mental conditioning but also used for luck factor in poker. People use the power of positive thought to try and push some sort of holding luck when their flops, turns and rivers hit the board. They also positively think about how much luck they will have in the game that's coming up.
Manifestation: Players manifest their dream, goal and wins. They manifest the glory, the start, the end, the money. They try to use their mind to make it happen. They believe in sending it out into the atmosphere - sending their thoughts of the win. The mediate on this, focus on this and block everything out. They use posters, songs, videos, words such as "I will have nothing but good luck, I will get good cards, I will win the tournament, I will be victorious." During this process of manifestation they also use vision and make the visions a big part of it. They "see" in their minds the cards, the win, the cash. By visions, I mean they PUT the pictures in their head and focus on them.
Spells: Players (i am guessing not many) have the option if taking this spiritual thing a little further and trying some luck spells. Not something I ave done, but may be worth a try - its all hocus pocus to most but; who knows - it may work? I looked around and there are many luck spells. I couldn't believe it! If your zany enough i guess you could give it a try if your luck factor is dead. Here are a few i found!
1. Just say these words when the moon is full:
"Lady of luck come out of your hidden course
bless your light upon me as the light of the moon shines above
and in the light of luck will be blessed I, when the moon is next to be full "
2. Wondering magic bring to me, in this life the luck I need,
so all my angles can be seen, and thus fulfill my every dream,
combined earth and fire, bring forth my hearts desire,
guardians of the sea, keep all harm from me.
This should be done while lighting 4 candles 1 at each side of u repeat the
above words 3 times to bring good luck and obtain your hearts desire.
3. Gather 7 mall pieces or turquoise.
Place the stones under a full moon, to soak up the light for seven hours.
Take the stones into your hands, and say:
Luck be quick, luck be kind,
By lucky seven, good luck be mine.
Place stones into green bag, & carry with you wherever you go.
Throw a stone into a moving body of water, stating your desire, anytime you feel the
need for a little good fortune.
These are obviously just 3 of the many out there, written by goodness knows who!
Crystals and Stones: Evident-ally it seems that with spells comes lucky charms. Stones and other kinds of luck materials and objects. It is written, if you need luck in gambling that Aventurine and Tourmaline are what you are looking for! seems like I need some new jewelry if this is true!
So the last thing i am going to mention for luck I just came across whilst reading. Its luck potions. Again possibly worth a try! The way my lucks running, I am going to be whackily trying it all (or sensibly if it actually works).
Luck Potion for Beginners: Lemon juice and sugar, one table spoon of each in a small glass of water, add a quartz crystal to catalyze and activate in sunshine for about ten minutes. For beginners it helps to put a piece of paper under the glass with "Luck Potion for (your name)!!" written on it. You need to drink it all in one go (don't drink the crystal, obviously!). Depending on the person, it lasts for about a week. Top up if you need to. And wearing something yellow helps as well.
Thats all for investigative little me! Best of luck on the poker tables and with your luck enhancing ways! Good luck with d luck potion :-)
It was only this morning I realized how right I had been about poker being a sport, well almost a sport hehe. I had many the argument (or rather discussion) with David Saab over this topic. Is poker a sport? He said no as there was no sweating involved. I said yes as there was sweating involved. He said it wasn't a game that took physical endurance, I said it was; as 12 plus hours sitting and concentrating and having sleepless nights - one certainly physically feels the pain. Anyway back to the title heading. Is the luck factor in AFL and Poker comparable? I know all the AFL players and supporters out there are going to say I am nuts! I say "Think about it".
