Cheating in poker is much more common than you might think. While casinos have made significant investments in technology to combat the problem, poker players continue to come up with new ways of manipulating the system and their opponents. If you’re a regular player, there’s a good chance you’ve been a victim to foul play at one time or another.
This list will discuss some common poker cheating methods. These tricks have been used by many players before and you can try them next time you host a casual game with your friends.
1. Marking your Cards
Casinos often mark cards. There are many ways to mark cards. You can mark a card by making a small dent in the card. This is a way to make sure that no one else notices. If the card is not noticed by your opponent and it gets dealt, you’ll have a significant advantage. This will allow you to make better plays.
Another modern method of marking cards is to use tech gadgets that produce invisible fine prints. This allows you to identify which card is being held. These prints are invisible and can only be seen with infrared contacts. It’s difficult for others to see them. This is a popular method in private matches, where the opponent might gain early access to the cards and make changes.
2. Collaborating with a friend
This is a very common problem. Sometimes it’s unconscious. Imagine this: In one of your casino games, you meet a colleague that becomes a close friend. You both practice together and improve each other’s skills. One day you find yourself in the final three of a tournament. There is a good chance you will plot to stop your foe from winning.
When done correctly, soft-playing can be a very effective method of cheating. Some people argue that soft-playing is not cheating. Collaboration is something you should avoid, especially if your reputation is at stake.
3. Dump Your Chips
You can manipulate the tournament’s outcome by dumping chips. If you have a friend at the table, this can be a great strategy. This strategy may work even if you don’t want one person to win the Tournament, for any reason.
However, dumping chips can lead to serious consequences . You could be disqualified from the tournament or even banned from the casino.
4. Switching cards
One of the oldest tricks is to switch cards. This is where the phrase “I have an Ace up my sleeves” comes from. This trick involves you bringing your own cards to use to swap the cards that are being dealt. It’s possible to hold cards from your previous hand and use them later in the game.
Although switching cards was a popular activity in the past, it is difficult to do today. The casino has put in place various safeguards to stop it, and opponents will always be on the alert for suspicious hand movements. The trick works almost every time if it is done correctly.
Although it may seem simple to cheating in poker, it is not easy. You could get kicked out of the table, or worse, end up in jail for switching cards.