Great Reads: Psychic Susan Scarpa Plays First Live Tournament as Zynga Winner

By Sean Chaffin

Susan Scarpa (pictured) may have an edge when it comes to the mental side of poker. A professional psychic, she won a Zynga Poker sweepstakes to earn her shot here at ARIA this week in the Zynga Poker WPT500 Las Vegas.

On a daily basis, she meets with clients either in her office or at their homes. People seek her out in hopes of speaking with loved ones who have passed away. She communicates and offers comfort.

Scarpa also works with law enforcement in looking for those who have died or been murdered, but haven’t been found.

“I’ve had it all my life,” she says of her psychic abilities. “I don’t see visions, I’m basically clairaudient, which means ‘clear hearing.’ So I’m able to communicate with people no longer here in the physical world. Anyone with abilities able to speak with spirits, they also automatically have past, present, and future psychic abilities. They come hand in hand.”

Her work doesn’t involve a crystal ball – and don’t insert your own Tarot/poker cards joke here. She uses none of those when working with clients, and is serious about her abilities and work. Some people may be doubters, but doesn’t let that bother her.

Like other Zynga sweepstakes winners, Scarpa didn’t believe the email letting her know she’s won an entry into the WPT500.

“I was not even going to respond,” she says. “My family all thought there was no way, that this can’t be real.”

It was real and she’s now putting her Zynga Poker skills to good use in hopes of a deep run. When not using her psychic abilities to contact lost spirits, Zynga Poker occupies much of her time. She doesn’t watch television and finds playing cards on her phone a nice way to relax.

Does she think her abilities will help when battling it out at Aria today?

“I don’t read cards per se, but I feel I may have an advantage when it comes to bluffing,” she says.

A mother of two grown children, Scarpa lives in Orange County, California. When not working or playing social poker, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.

A big fan of Texas Hold’em for many years, the live tournament experience is something new for Scarpa. Poker has always been a social game and she’s only rarely played for real money.

“I’ve never played in a casino – ever,” she said before action got underway in Flight 1G on Tuesday. “I’ve played in one tournament years back and made it to the final table.”

That lack of live tournament experience doesn’t mean she isn’t ready to give it her all. Scarpa used her time since finding out about the trip to study. That includes watching videos online, reading books, and other research online.

“But I’m mainly just going to go with my gut and hope for the best,” she says.

Of course, her preparation also includes hours and hours playing on Zynga. How does she think social poker will compare to a tournament like the Zynga Poker WPT500 where real money is on the line?

“That’s what scares me,” she says while laughing. “I’m not quite sure. I normally play conservatively, and I’ve found recently after doing more research and learning more, that’s not necessarily the way to go. You need to be more aggressive, otherwise, you’ll get eaten up.”

With a nice payday possibly on the line for even just making it into the money, is Scarpa getting a reading as to her ultimate finish in the tournament?

“I don’t have any expectations on this one,” she says. “None whatsoever.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.