Today is Friday the 13th, the unluckiest day on the calendar! According to some, this superstition has its roots in the Christian religion. On a Friday, they say, 13 men shared a meal on crucifixion day – the Last Supper. In the Middle Ages, most European people avoided new beginnings on a Friday. No weddings, no travel. Today, when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday, many Americans still refuse to fly or to buy. In 2004, it was estimated that between $800M and $900M were lost on Friday the 13th because people would not do the business that they normally would. Today, this number is probably in the billions. Now that’s a bad session!
That date, however, is definitely not agreed upon by the whole world. Greeks are most wary of Tuesday the 13th. Why? On Tuesday, April 13 of the year 1204, Constantinople fell to the Crusaders, and on Tuesday, May 29th of 1453, the same city fell to the Ottomans. Tuesdays are also bad in several Latin American cultures, so much that in some South American countries, the movie Friday the 13th was translated to Martes 13 (Tuesday the 13th). At Playground Poker Club, we only believe in Turned-Up Tuesdays!
But unlucky dates are just one of many kinds of superstitions. Bad omens are another:
- Black cats are bad luck.
- Breaking a mirror brings 7 years of misfortune.
- Walking under a ladder is also a jinx.
This last one, some people believe, comes from medieval times. Back then, the ladder symbolized the gallows where people were hanged. Of course, it is easy to imagine a 13th-century person making such associations, but how do these beliefs withstand the test of time?
Even poker players, with our mathematical minds, say things like: “Pocket aces never win!” or “The draw always hits!” or “ Jacks are the worst hand in poker!” or “Eights are terrible on this table today!”
And then there are the fun lucky charms, such as Johnny Chan’s lucky orange. He has said that he just likes the citrus scent, which helped him cope with the smell of cigarettes, but who knows? Sam Farha, on the other hand, swears that his unlit cigarette got him to the final table of the 2003 World Series of Poker. Doyle Brunson uses a black rock as a card protector that 
he calls Casper. The object’s powers became so powerful that Dolly could lease it at a rate of $200 for 30 minutes. He claims it’s earned him over $15,000! Howard Lederer offered $3,500 to buy Casper, and Brunson, surprisingly, agreed – although the trinket would only change hands upon the Texan’s death.
Some players will avoid $50 bills. They are said to be unlucky, and the belief is so widespread that some American casinos will not hold them at their cashier! At the cashier at Playground Poker Club, we hold just enough red bills to fill your pocket after a nice Friday the 13th session! As poker players, we promote analytical thinking, but we also like a good harmless lucky charm, so if you can’t help your superstitiousness, ask our Player Services desk for a Playground card protector; they are believed to have the power to reverse the most tenacious bad luck.
One time!
