The Powertool Shed

Poker cheating techniques are difficult to identify, and the cheaters will invariably deny any accusations since these are hard to prove. However, there are steps to take to prevent cheating from taking place. First of all, if you play poker in a reputable casino or card room, the risk is minimized by the surveillance.

In a home or private club poker game, where you might not know the other players, here are some suggestions for thwarting cheaters.

When the poker players arrive and are being seated, ask if table positions can be allocated by card draws. This can stymie cheaters in collusion since the seating pattern is random and not according to their plan.

Have two decks of cards with different colored backs. These should be spread face up on the table so the players can count them and verify that all cards are present. Have the dealer then spread them face down, and look for any subtle markings.

The dealer should rotate around the table. To add further security, have the player to the left of the dealer actually shuffle the cards.

After the shuffle, the deck should be cut by the player to the dealer’s right. A “cut” card, which is a joker or solid color card, should be used to cover the bottom card. The player cuts the cards somewhere between one-third from the top and one-third from the bottom of the deck. The dealer places the bottom portion on top, and puts the cut card under the deck.

Another way to thwart cheating is to enforce a ‘hands on the table’ rule. If a player has cards, then the cards and the player’s hands must remain on the table.

Reluctance to comply with these practices could indicate cheaters at the table, and it’s wiser to leave than risk being scammed.

As a poker player, my number one objective when I sit down at a table at any given time, is to make the most of my money. At so many tables, though, you’ll see new players sit down, or get busted and rebuy, and only come in for a portion of the max buy in at the table. You’ll see guys sitting down at a $1/$2 no limit poker game with $50 in front of them, just praying to get lucky and double it up.

These players are in essence, for the most part, shooting themselves in the foot. If you can’t afford to play online pokerfor a full buy in, and give yourself the right amount of excess with which to put plays on pots, then odds are that you are playing out of your league. Buying in so short that you only have 25 big blinds in front of you is basically saying, “I am here to wait for one hand, and my money is going in. If that hand doesn’t pan out, which more than often it will not, I have lost my money, or I’m going to rebuy and try just to earn back what I lost.”

Buying in for the max at the table ensures that you are giving yourself full room to breathe with the cards. You can lose a pot and not be immediately short stacked (and moreso, you aren’t starting as a short stack.) Playing short stack poker is much more of a gambling process than it is a game of skill, so why are you playing a skill game with that money? In the end, you are going to lose.

It is far more wise to take that smaller stack and move down to a table where you can be on the same level as the other players, to give yourself the same odds of winning, and the most payback on your dollar.

Playing poker can be fun, especially if it is a ‘family poker type’ theme. You can gather everyone together for some great poker playing, food, and some enjoyable communication between family members. Any type of poker can make for a good time if you are able to plan a bit out before the night starts.

You will need to make sure that everything that needs to be done is before your poker night. The right snack foods, the right drinks. You will want to plan with teenagers non-alcoholic drinks and a certain time limit you wish to have for them.

Having a poker family night every week can help families to bond together. It can also help improve any skills you may wish to. In addition, it can help with actually talking to each other; something with everyone’s busy schedule can be hard to do at times.

The time spent with the family playing poker can be one that is cherished and make a family party night. Younger children may not be able to play certain types of regular poker, but variations to include all family members can be done. Working together to provide this entertainment will make everyone have a comfortable time and really enjoy a great card game, poker.

So the World Series of Poker final table crew is set in stone: nine poker playing baddies with millions on the line.

But, what’s this? The final table was selected in July, and we have to wait until November to see the final event take place live? Anyone else see the big, glaring issue with that?

Here’s a hint: collusion. Players at final tables in any poker tournament event are notorious for offering up deals to the other players. Most involve splitting the pot equally and then playing hard for whatever’s left. It makes sense, given the fact that luck will always have a role to play in a poker game, regardless of a player’s skill level.

But that’s somewhat ok, and legal. Contracts are signed, the pot if split, and everyone walks away with a cool million or so (winner takes $12 million if they do it solo). What if the long time off means something more sinister however? Like cheating, or muscling out players? What if the collusion is only happening between two or three players, and the rest are made into easy marks?

This is the big problem with the WSOP final this year, but I suppose it’s inevitable. Poker has peaked, some say, and the WSOP and TV networks needed to amp the hype way up this year for the final. Hence, the long wait. I jus hope it doesn’t mean a final that’s been decided by cheating or collusion months in advance.