Identify the Cheaters

The methods below are cheating techniques some individuals may use to gain an edge over their opponents. You should acknowledge these techniques to protect your game against cheaters.

Peeking

This method allows the player to know what cards are in play and who has them. The player can combine this technique with the bottom dealing technique to always deal himself the best cards.

Extra Cards

This method involves the dealing player dealing extra cards to himself. He may conceal extra cards by placing two cards on top of each other to look like one card. He later drops the cards under the table and uses them later in the game.

Marking the Cards

This method allows a cheater to identify specific cards by marking the back. For example, if a player would like to identify Kings, he would scratch the back of the cards with his thumbnail.

Stealing from the Pot

A participant attempts to steal chips or money from the pot. The simplest way for a player to steal chips from a pot is to create distraction in order to grab some chips when the pot is very large and when no one is looking.

Bottom Dealing

This method involves cards dealing from the bottom of the deck in dealer's favor. A player holds the deck in his hand in a manner that makes it difficult for others to see the act.

Collusion

Collusion involves secret cooperation between two cheaters. The cheaters communicate through special signals and their goal is to share the pot after the game.

If you pay careful attention to the game course, you will defeat cheaters and win the game. Most players fear cheaters, but they generally lose more money while cheating, particularly in complex games involving split pots and twists. Indeed, contrary to popular belief, most players actually increase their losses while cheating because they :

• Concentrate on cheating instead of focusing on the game
• Miss vital information about their opponents and the poker action
• Make their hands and intentions much more readable

A good player can take profitable advantage of the above weaknesses.