扑克牌迷信——该做什么和不该做什么

　　任何涉及运气成分的消遣娱乐活动都会有一些迷信的说法，例如赌博迷信，特别是那些用扑克牌玩的赌博游戏，由不得=无神论者不信。多年来，有许多迷信围绕着赌桌，你应什么或者不应该做什么，以抵挡霉运气。

　　下面是我给玩家们的一些忠告：

　　不要玩有布覆盖的游戏。你不应该玩的纸牌游戏，如扑克平稳表，因为它是有布覆盖的，可能会带来厄运。

　　不要用左手拿起你的牌。传统的说法是，左手与恶魔是相关联。当你用你的左手拿着牌时，坏运气就会侵入你的体内。

　　不要交叉盘腿。坐打牌是交叉盘腿坐，会产生邪恶的能量。

　　不要唱歌或吹口哨。打牌时唱歌或吹口哨这些行为会让你失去你的纸牌游戏。

　　不要玩狗。在房间里玩扑克游戏，狗会带来坏运气的。所以，在你开始扑克游戏之前，建议给它一块骨头，并送它到花园。

　　不要在你的扑克游戏中砸牌，尤其是黑色的。很显然，因为它是一个运气不好的迹象。

　　不要用左手触摸你最喜欢的牌。应该用你右手的食指触摸你最喜欢的牌。据说这样能带来好运。

　　译文：

　　Superstitious Playing Card Dos and Don’ts

　　As with any pastime that involves elements of luck, many superstitions have arisen around gambling, especially those games that are played with cards.  Even I, master atheist and unbeliever of all things, will not go anywhere near a poker table without my lucky coin.   Over the years many beliefs have developed around playing cards and what you should or shouldn’t do to ward off good luck.

　　Here are a couple of my favorites:

　　Don’t play on an uncovered surface. You shouldn’t play card games such as poker on a smooth table, but rather one which is covered by a cloth, as this could bring bad luck.

　　Don’t pick up your cards with your left hand. Tradition has it that the left hand is associated with the devil, and by holding cards in your left hand, you’ll be allowing evil forces and bad luck into your game play.  Of course, if you’re already left handed, you may have a problem with this one…

　　Don’t sit cross legged while playing cards. You’ll be making a hex sign out of yourself by sitting cross legged, and we don’t want more of that evil energy, do we?

　　Do avoid singing or whistling while playing cards. These acts are said to draw misfortune and make you lose your card game.

　　Don’t play cards in a room where a dog is present.  Apparently poochy in the corner there brings bad luck. Give him a bone and send him out into the garden if you want to advance in your game of poker.

　　Don’t drop a card during your game, especially a black one. OK, this obviously can’t be helped if it happens, and you’re certainly not able to predict which card is going to fall! But IF this happens, you should be worried, apparently, as it’s a sign of bad luck.

　　Do touch your favorite card. If you want good luck during your game session, search out your favorite card and touch it with your index finger on your right hand.  It is said to bring good fortune.