Poker is a game that is largely dependent on skill and luck. But when a player is able to cheat the odds, they can make a huge difference in their winnings.
Cheating in card poker is a serious matter that can have serious implications on the final tables of any tournament or cash-game. These are the most common ways cheaters manipulate cards in their favor:
Dumping Chips
Cheats are known to dump chips on their opponents. This is usually done by using sticky adhesive to cover up large amounts of the player’s chips. By allowing the other players to believe that the person is not taking down any of their chips, the player has the opportunity to take down more players and win larger amounts of money.
Marked cards
Marking cards is one of the most common methods of cheating. These are used in private games or backyard poker tournaments and can be very effective, particularly if the cards are marked with an invisible ink that is visible through a pair of infrared contact lenses.
Bottom Dealing
Another popular cheating technique is the “bottom sale.” A dealer will stack the bottom cards of a deck to ensure that they get the best hands. This can be very dangerous in casinos, as the bottom cards may be visible through the cameras. It could also lead to the dealer being caught red-handed.
Buddying up
A poker buddy can help improve your game. They can share your card information and help you plan your game. They can even soft-play to avoid a big clash of chips with you, if you’re in a high stakes cash game or tournament.
They may also give you their opinions on how to best play a particular hand or if your hand is strong sufficient to call. These types of cheating strategies are very difficult to spot. It’s important to pay attention to your partner and their body language.
You can spot cheaters by being familiar with the rules of each poker game. You should also be able recognize unusual patterns in your body language and signals that you’re not playing your cards correctly.
Glimpsing, or Peeking
It can be very difficult for other card players to spot a cheater if he is looking at the deck’s top or bottom card. A good card mechanic can perform this maneuver so quickly that an untrained eye will not notice the difference.
In addition, a cheat may also be able to look at the back of a card without other players knowing or seeing it. This is called “glimping” and it can be done in a variety of ways.
If you suspect that someone is cheating in your game, you should immediately exit the table and report it to the poker manager. Then you can file a complaint and request a full investigation.