CATCHING A POKER THIEF
This article is designed to learn how to spot an online poker cheat. Playing online is most likely the safest place to play as the dealer is electronically programmed and unable to cheat at poker. There is no need to worry about the possibility of illegal card handling by either the dealer or the players as there are "no cards" in online poker.
Almost all of the online poker rooms use highly secure encryption algorithms and multi-layered random number sequencers so there is no need to be concerned about hackers gaining access to your accounts and personal information. The most common form of online poker cheating is player collusion. This is defined when two or more players reveal their cards to each other through another method of communication.
Player collusion is no easy feat as it requires these poker cheats to coordinate well together and this takes much practice. Our recommended online poker rooms all have anti collusion policies in effect and zero tolerance for this practice.
Here are some of the typical tells of online player collusion:
Two or more players who try to bully other players out of the game by re-raising each other, so that the innocent poker players call multiple bets at once.
Players who are slow to play the pre-flop, this gives them time to chit chat about what they each have for pocket cards. Pay careful attention to the reaction times of players at the table as this slow reaction time could represent collusion.
Be mindful of 2 or more players at the same table that make the big hit and run! Most online poker rooms have note taking capabilities and you can jot down this kind of behavior for future reference.
Watch for a group of players who re-raise with a player between them. This will get the maximum amount of bets out of the innocent party. If one of those re-raise players has a poor hand or if he folds with a final bet to go despite the pot size this kind of play has the probability of being collusion. Anyone who plays in the online poker rooms have a basic idea of when to bluff and when to fold so watch for those players who exercise horrible judgment at the tables.
Although collusion is very rare it does happen so be aware of the players at your table and don't be afraid to get up and leave the table if you don't like the way things are going. There are several poker games going at all times so you will always have another table to sit at.
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