Cheating at Poker
Marked cards, imported chips, mechanics and collusion are the four major types of poker cheating that you must be attentive to. The imported chips are the illegal chips that are carried into the game. Mechanics is done by manipulating the cards so that one player can take advantage. Collusion is the way you play differently against one or two opponents on the table than what you do against the others. Unexpectedly, peeking at the cards of other players is the major form of cheating.
Marked Cards
Marked cards that can be bought through stores and online use a kind of dye wherein players wearing special glasses can see the markings. It is better not to use anyone else's deck of cards to avoid this kind of cheating.
Tearing or nicking the cards with a fingernail is also another way of marking them. A punched card is another tactic wherein a small indentation punched in the card in an exact position. The dealer, as he deals the cards can feel the punch and the player can see the punches on other player's cards.
Imported Chips
Some cheats might carry their own poker chips into the game which you must be very attentive to, especially if you will use the common types of chips which are readily available.
You can try to alter the poker chips like putting a sticker on each chip or using a colored marker to mark them.
Always count your chips at the end of the game to ensure that you played a clean game because you will seldom lose them on the floor or under the carpets.
Mechanics
This type of cheating usually involves the dealer. You must always give meticulous attention to him since this is when the major cheating might take place.
Collusion
Collusion is very hard to prove and it is definitely a sensitive issue to deal with. Listed below are some of the common forms of collusion.
• Dumping Chips - Intentionally losing to a partner, possibly with someone you have traded a percentage stake or someone you are supporting financially.
• Hand-mucking - Two players sitting next to each other will try to change or switch hands.
• Hot-seat - This new person will be asked to join the game wherein he will play against a group who are working together secretly.
• Signaling - This is the act of exchanging information with you partner using signals which can have many forms; it can be by coughing or tapping the table.
• Soft play - This is the failure to put money in a situation that will normally merit it because of the opponent. Soft playing a companion is deceiving all your opponents who would like to see you devastate you friend, getting them nearer to the prize.
• Whipsawing - The two players or partners in the game will raise one another to shut in players in between.
Implicit Collusion
For example, there are only three players left in the game and all of them go all-in. The two players will now "check it down" which means that they will not raise or bet but they will both check until they reach the showdown. Implicit Collusion is when at least two players go against an all-in player. Some of the valid reasons why Implicit Collusion is accepted:
• Since there is the guaranteed card showdown with the all-in player, the probability of the successful bluff is much lower.
• The main objective of the game is to eliminate a player which is also the main goal of both players against an all-in player.
• The players who are not in the pot would also like the all-in player to be removed.
Angle Shooting
The angle shooters will use the procedures of the game to their own advantage. They will also try to take advantage against an opponent who lacks information on proper procedures of poker.