Cheating at Poker

Cheating at poker can be defined as behavior contrary to the rules of the game that gives a player an unfair advantage. Cheating is more common than many people realize. Cheating can be accomplished by using sleight of hand, such as dealing from the bottom of the deck, lying about the cards you have, collusion, usually aided by accomplices or by cheating devices such as marked cards or mechanical card holdouts.

The easiest and most common form of cheating is to call your hand something it's not. This is done by claiming to have a winning hand, such as a full house, when the player hasn't got the cards to back it up. The player places his hops on the other players simply not checking. The way to get around this cheat is to simply let the cards speak for themselves. The other players have basically 'paid' to see the winning hand. They should see it and check it.

Another form of cheating, also common, is the sleight of hand. Dealing cards that will help a player, from the bottom of the deck, where they have been conveniently placed, or pulling cards from some other haiding place. Devices have even been invented which can deliver the needed card into the player's hand at the appropriate time.

Collusion is usually done with a partner. There are a few ways this can be done. One is to simply play differently against one palyer than with others in order to give your partner a winning hand or a bigger pot to win. The two players can raise and re-raise each other, trapping a target player between them in order to bet him out of the game, or deliberately losing to your partner in order for him to win the pot.

Cheating is a common practice that is often hard to catch. Cheating has been going on nearly as long as the game has been played. The best defense against cheating is to simply keep your eyes open and play by the rules.

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