Archive for December, 2008

Beating the poker champs and the clowns

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Whether you’re playing against some of the greatest poker players in the world or just another Average Joe, you can’t let anyone get in your head. Once you get the chip lead at the table, someone will constantly be trying to get in your head. You have to keep playing your game, because your game got you that chip lead, and your game can keep it too, no matter what anyone is saying to you. Keeping a cool head is one of the most important things you can do at the table, no matter how much money you’re playing for or who it’s against.

A lot of times you’ll run into the professionals and at first, they can be a little intimidating. You have the same chances as they do as long as you don’t let them break down your game. It’s the same with the hecklers of the game; you have to keep your cool. Frustration will set in on them, because they’re not pulling you out of your comfort zone, getting your chips, and if they can’t pull you out of your zone, you can beat them. Poker is a game of numbers and judgment and as long as you don’t break down, you have the same chance of winning as the next guy, let the cards decide.

Cheating in Poker – A Guide to Spotting a Cheat

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Players who cheat at the casino game of poker typically work in pairs or groups because it is difficult to cheat individually, short of getting a good look at other players’ cards. In order to determine whether you are playing at a table with cheaters, players should pay particular attention to the action followed by any two particular players. The betting patterns of the players (and their chip set) should draw special attention if there is a suspicion of cheating.

Some tell-tale signs of cheating at the poker tables typically involve betting designed to attract enough money initially into the pot, then pushing other players out of the action. For example in the game of Texas Hold’em, you might see two players betting lightly on the first one or two rounds of betting to encourage other players to spend their Texas Holdem chips.

On the later rounds of chip betting in the same hand, the two players colluding together will drive the betting up to a high amount which can force other players out of the game. This plan can obviously backfire if they are playing against someone with a superior