Mastering poker chip tricks so you can show off your skills across Latin America’s finest casinos, including the Viña del Mar casino

Poker is one of the card games that can make people more nervous than they need to be, there are many venues in Latin America with experienced players which can make you feel out of your depth. All of the card combinations and the bluffing can make poker seem like a game that is only for professionals. At the Atlantic City casino in Peru, the standard of poker game can vary dramatically so you should feel confident you will be better than at least some of the players.

Anyone can play poker if they put their mind to it. This game might have more rules than the others at an online or land-based casino but they’re all very easy to learn.

You can get some practice in by playing with friends or family members – or even doing a trial run with an online poker operator. And there are some things you can learn to give you the appearance of confidence, even if you don’t actually feel it. 

Poker chip tricks can give the illusion of being a much more experienced player than you are – if you’re showing them off in front of the right people. At the Casino in Viña del Mar, there are often high stakes games so you should do everything possible to get a psychological edge over opponents. Other rookies might not be able to tell, but the more experienced player might catch on.

Even so, poker chip tricks are a fun thing to learn to do. We’ll be taking you through how to do them, but first, let’s take a look at some other tells that give away experienced poker players. 

Ways you can tell if a poker player is experienced

• They know when to fold 

One of the best skills you can learn as a poker player is when to throw in the towel. If you know that your cards are bad and there’s no way you can bluff your way to a win, folding is your best option.

There’s no point in letting ego get the better of you. Watch out for the people who aren’t taking massive risks every round. If you visit Rio Poker Club in Rio De Janeiro, the players you come up against will know what they’re doing so it’s vital you know when to fold rather than pushing your luck. 

• Getting to know the players before they make big moves

The same goes for those players who look like they’re intently watching what other players are up to. These are the people who are ensuring they know the people they’re up against before they make big moves. 

The best strategy is to take in as much information about your fellow players as you can so you can make informed decisions. If you visit a bigger casino like the Casino Noa in Colombia, you’ll find that the turnover over players is far higher than a smaller venue you might find locally so it can be harder to get to grips with the habits of players but if you stay patient for long enough in a game it should become clearer.

• Tips and tricks

You might be surprised to know that doing lots of tricks doesn’t automatically make someone a good poker player. Anyone can learn how to do poker chip tricks (as you’ll find out later) so this doesn’t automatically mean that someone is a good player.

Of course, there are good poker players who know how to do tricks as well. But these people will tend to show off their tricks in a less obvious way – it won’t be something they try and pull off for attention. At the Enjoy Punta del Este Resort y Casino in Uruguay, the players often display their tricks to make other players feel less confident in themselves, so don’t be intimidated and play your game as you normally would.

Poker chip tricks

• Basic shuffle 

When you start out doing poker chip tricks, begin with a small amount of chips to make things easier. Six is a good number to start with – and make sure you have three of each colour so you can tell that your shuffling has worked. The Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo in Argentina has trained croupiers, their shuffling skills really add to the atmosphere.

Separate your chips by colour and place them on a flat surface. Using your dominant hand, place your fingers around the chips and apply pressure from each side. Use your thumb to prise the chips upwards and push so that the chips will be pushed together and shuffled.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to this trick as it’s all about the muscle memory. Once you’ve done it a few times, it should be a breeze!

• Thumb flip

This cool little number is easy to master and is always a crowd pleaser. All you need is a stack of four chips in order to practise and get this one ready to show off to your friends.

Take the chips in your dominant hand and place them between your index, ring, and middle fingers. Using your thumb, apply a small amount of pressure to the first chip that sits on the outside and roll it upwards.

As the chip moves on top of others, use your finger to guide it towards the bottom of the stack, moving over other chips and letting it slot in on the other side.

• Knuckle roll

Last but not least is the knuckle roll. This is a trick we’ve all seen in the movies, but now it’s your turn to master it.

Take one poker chip and hold it in the gap below the knuckle of your thumb and index finger. Gently move the chip onto the top of the index finger and let it slide into position.

Using your index finger and middle finger, hold the chip to stop it from slipping off your hand. Repeat this process until the chip makes its way across your hand and then you can catch it with your thumb to move it back in the starting position.

These might all prove a little tricky at first, but they’re well worth the practice to impress your pals at your next poker game in Latin America!