So I did make it to Vegas earlier this year. And this is what my wife got me…
It’s a custom Card Protector, that we got from a booth in the Miracle Mile. The back is even better…
Love it. Briefly, what is a Card Protector used for, and what is the etiquette for using one?
Put simply, a Card Protector is some token or flat sided object that you lay on top of your two hold cards in a Texas Holdem game. It’s put there so that the dealer does not accidentally muck (discard) your cards. It doesn’t happen often, but if your signals to check or bet aren’t clear, or there is distraction on the table, there is a possibility that the dealer might make this heinous mistake.
It’s also used as a clear signal to the rest of the table that you need a minute to think, that you know it’s your turn but you need a moment.
Both purposes can EASILY be accomplished by using a chip in the same way, laying it on top of your cards, or even laying a single finger on your cards (my favourite alternative). But a Card Protector is a flashier way to do it. Often it’s used for luck or to display an interest… in this case, an unreasonable love of Mel Brooks’ SPACEBALLS.
Generally, I don’t use a card protector if no-one else at the table is using one. But if anyone is, or it’s an extremely friendly game, I’ll lay it on the table.
Fun Gambler 