Poker, lucky charms and your health
I’ve just read an article titled “The Zeal of Fortune”, which on the face of it you’d be forgiven for thinking that it has nothing to do with lucky charms or health. However, the article relates to how some players like to bring an object, or indeed objects; that they think will be a lucky talisman for them to the poker table. You’ll see this a lot with non-professionals – some of whom seem to bring a veritable menagerie of toy or plastic animals to the table; and keep stroking or re-arranging them as if they’ll somehow bring them luck or ensure a good hand is dealt.
Can an orange be a lucky charm?
Johnny Chan - are Mandarin or Seville oranges the luckiest for him?
However, I am genuinely concerned that some of these talismanic charms could in some cases pose a very real health threat to the players at a poker game. If you read the article you can go on to learn that Johnny Chan likes to have “his lucky orange” with him at the table. What’s all this about Johnny and his lucky orange? Is it the same orange that he brings to the table every match? Surely if it is the same orange he’s been carrying around the country with him – be it in his pocket or a cooler-bag – it surely is passed its best; as an orange, if not a downright rotten mess and a health risk to all? If it’s not the same orange – what’s so lucky about it, or are all oranges touched by Johnny somehow transformed into some magically lucky orange?
Its all in the aroma!
So, thinks I, a little more research is needed here. Google in Johnny Chan and oranges and what can you find out? Well, it appears there could be a few explanations for the orange ‘thing’ with Johnny. First and foremost he simply finds the smell of oranges refreshing, which is understandable and so – no, its not he same orange that he takes to tournaments over and over again. Having studied Hotel and Restaurant management at Houston University for a while he’s bound to have a reasonable appreciation for some foods too. However, surely the question to really ask is – which is the luckier for him, Seville or Mandarin oranges?