Inquiring minds want to know.



I've gotten a number of emails inquiring about my hat. It always surprises me when someone writes about my hat, because at this point I almost forget it's there. To me it has become as much a part of my life and poker as cards in the air or the sound of chips moving into a pot. And for the record it is an unshaped 4X felt Stetson (the Tanya Tucker model) and I've had it for over ten years now.

When I first started playing poker live, I always wore a hat. Sometimes I would wear a baseball cap and sometimes the Stetson. But after playing in a stud satellite at the WPO a few year back, the Stetson started to win the hat race.

I had never played stud live, and had probably only played it about two dozen times online when I sat down, with my Stetson, for the satellite. There was a young kid who was just phenomenal at the table, and laid waste to most of the competition. I got lucky with three of us left to double up to pull almost even when the kid and I got to heads up. He suggested a chop and I took it in a heart beat. Looking back, my instincts were right on, as my young opponent was Michael Bernstein. Michael took third in this year's WPO stud event.

The next day I was wearing a baseball cap when I bumped into Michael. He asked if I was playing that day. When I said yes, he said, "Put on your Stetson." I laughed, but he was insistent. He told me he had found it a little intimidating and distracting, and one of the reasons he considered a chop. Hey. I'll take edge. And the Stetson became my primary playing hat.

As I started to do more writing, I realized the pros recognized me because of the hat. They were more inclined to talk with me as they knew me to be someone "from" poker. It also had the distinct advantage of being easily spotted in a tournament room, crowded with thousands of players.

The Stetson has two other important advantages. When I take it off, no one recognizes me. And there are definitely times when I want to be anonymous. And let's face it; it's a godsend for bad hair days.

So I know there are many of you that think it is "dumb" and "goofy." And maybe it is. But it is not an affectation. It is me.

I love my hat.