Changing of Decks

Typically, changing of decks can be done once in a while. The most advisable, at least once in every hour, this can already keep a game honest and free from any cheating scheme.

To change decks in a card room or casino, you can just request the deck to be changed. You just have to know the ruling of the card room or casino in terms of changing of decks as some only allow such once during a particular period of time, typically once every two hours.

Changing of Decks Can Lessen the Cheating Risk

Changing or swapping of decks is an effective preventive measure to take by those players who play accordingly and wish for a clean, honest game. However, it doesn’t guarantee total freedom from cheaters and their cheating schemes, most especially when we speak of expert cheaters who are capable of cheating no matter what preventive measure is carried out against them. It can only lessen the risk of cheating taking place at the table as it prevents players from cheating because they know there are those who are on top of things, watching very closely over the deck.

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Nowadays, both in online or live poker rooms, there is already a rule that states that the deck must always be cut after a shuffle by a random player. Certain poker rooms from two worlds, the online and live, have a “to the right” rule that states that the person to the right of the dealer must cut the deck after the shuffle. This rule is effective but the random type of deck cutting rule is found to be more effective.

The Cut Can be Shifted!

Yes, it’s true that you can totally be saved from cheating by just cutting the deck after the shuffle. Do you know why? Well, it is because even the cut made by someone can now be shifted by cheaters. They have perfected the advanced sleight of hand technique that allows them to do the manipulation over the cut. This then allows them to have the deck arranged the way they wanted it to be.

Maybe you’re now telling yourself that you can’t, in any way, avoid cheating. Well, though the cut of the deck can actually be shifted by cheaters, you can’t actually just allow them to do the shifting and all right in front of you. By knowing how they shift the cut made by someone, you can catch them in action and finally save yourself from cheaters and their cheating techniques.

Normally, cheaters shift the cut made by someone in three different ways. First, they simply just take the original top half of the deck and place it back on top of the deck. Second, they take the bottom pile, pass it over the top pile and then at the same time pick up the other pile and drop it on top of the cards to make the deck appear like exactly as it was when it wasn’t cut yet. Third, they pick the deck up and drop the bottom pile on top of the top pile, making it appear as if the cut was honestly carried out however they see to it that the bottom pile must not be dropped directly onto the top pile so there could be significant edge of where the original cards landed so they can replace the bottom pile with the top pile.

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Normally, cheaters mark cards like high cards in regular game play and game specific cards, such as wild cards, for other games. To mark some cards, they usually make small alterations in the cosmetic appearance of the cards, most of the time on the backside. Alterations would include scratches on the surface, a slight bend in one of the corners, or even a small change in the cards’ design.

Well, to mark some cards is effective but it’s something hard to accomplish. Cheaters who tend to mark some cards must have the opportunity to have possession of the cards. Ideal time for them to carry out their scheme would be before the game. Thus, this would mean that it could either be their deck that must be used or it could be not their own deck but must gain possession of it prior the start of the game without the knowledge of other players. If by fate they couldn’t get the cards before the game, they could still try to mark the cards during the actual game. Tough, but it will be worth it for them.

Ways to Mark Cards

Generally, there are four different ways cheaters mark cards. These include, shading, daubing, corner crimp, and thumb-nailing.

In shading, cheaters use a fine pen to alter the cards’ design. The mark that they usually make is very small so that others may not notice it that much. In daubing, cheaters use a pen with special ink to mark the cards. For them to see the mark, they wear special sunglasses typically red lensed. Other players at the table not wearing special sunglasses won’t see the mark. In corner crimping, cheaters slightly bend the corner of the cards when they are holding the deck while dealing or actually just holding them in their hands. They slide the card away from the deck a bit and use their index finger or thumb when bending. In thumb-nailing, cheaters take their thumbnail and make a small divot in the cards’ back design during a deal or during when they’re just plainly holding the cards in their hands. The cards marked through thumb-nailing can then be seen by them as the shine of light that reflects off the cards is not typical.

Clear Vision for Marked Cards

If you have clear vision, you can easily see marked cards. Also, if you are aware of the various marks that cheaters typically leave on the cards, you have great chance of noticing marked cards. It is important that you know when cards are marked so you’ll not be fooled by cheaters.

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Cheating to take place in online poker games is something really possible. Just consider the virtual tables with virtual dealers dealing virtual cards, there is no assurance that you’ll be getting what’s really for you. Also, do not disregard the many known cheating techniques used by many online players to just win at all means, they’re alarming and threatening for your bankroll particularly if you play for real money.

Well, as of the moment, online players use and apply various cheating techniques like Collusion, Angling, Marked Cards, Misrepresentation of a Hand, Stealing Chips From the Pot
and Prepared Deck to manipulate a poker game. These techniques when successfully accomplished can wipe out your entire bankroll.

Among the aforementioned techniques, the most popular cheating technique is the Collusion. Thus, if you are planning to play online or are actually already into playing online, you must know how it takes place in a certain online game.

Well, collusion typically takes place when two or more players team up against others at the table. To play against others, they reveal to each other their cards and eventually will not take money from each other. Online, they will converse via AOL instant messenger, MSN messenger, or Yahoo messenger, separate from the poker room’s chat box. By secretly communicating to each other, they may plan out how to win the game and take home all the money.

Other cheating techniques like Angling, Marked Cards, Misrepresentation of a Hand, Stealing Chips From the Pot and Prepared Deck are also worth knowing. They actually involve manipulation of turns, cards, hand, and deck and stealing of chips.

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If you are a beginner and/or an inexperienced observer, you may find it hard to know when there is someone at the poker table doing some cheating techniques like in particular Mechanic’s Grip. Therefore if you are either of the two or both, you must be aware how the usual cheating techniques are done by cheaters. You can start by one of the basic, usual cheating techniques, the Mechanic’s Grip. Doing so may save you from being involved in any cheating activity.

Mechanic’s Grip for Cheating

Indeed, the Mechanic’s Grip is believed to be quite akin to the natural way of holding a deck of cards.

Basically, the cheater or the mechanic (scam artist who performs Mechanic’s Grip) upon holding the deck the natural way will move his or her index finger and middle finger from the long side of the deck to the short side. Take note that the movement will most likely be away from his or her body. After which, he will then make an impression that he or she is pointing at another player with his or her fingers from the front of the deck. This would then allow him to peek, bottom deal, second deal, and the like.

Sometimes, the cheater or the mechanic does the Mechanic’s Grip quite differently. He or she will hold the deck with his or her thumb on top of the deck, his or her index finger wrapped around the front edge, two middle fingers on the bottom, and his or her smallest finger around the back edge. Just like as above, his or her hand will cover most part of the deck. This will allow him or her to do some peeking and all.

Catching the Cheater!

It won’t be indeed easy for you to catch a cheater in action. You of course must be very observant and watchful of the hands of your opponents when they are dealing particularly the way they hold the deck. You must also be knowledgeable enough as to when is one is actually doing some cheating techniques like Mechanic’s Grip or as to when he or she is just dealing innocently without him or her knowing that he or she is already doing an unacceptable act of cheating; in other words, just playing normally without any intention to take advantage of others.

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Sleight of hand is recognized to be the base of all other cheating techniques for poker mentioned above. This is to say otherwise that almost all of the cheating techniques used in poker that we know today deals with manipulating of cards secretly, well because that is sleight of hand is mainly about.

Generally, sleight of hand is difficult to learn and perfect. In fact, it may take someone months or even years just to master the said technique and then later apply during the actual play. However, when finally perfected, this technique can turn a regular poker player into a dangerous thief who can wipe out your entire bankroll without your know-how.

Sleight of Hand’s Seven Principles

Sleight of hand has seven principles. These principles may have been also involved to some other cheating techniques aforementioned.

The seven principles go as follows:

1. Palm – To hold an object in a seemingly empty hand.
2. Ditch – To eliminate an unneeded object secretly.
3. Steal – To get a needed object secretly.
4. Load – To secretly move an object to where it must be.
5. Simulation – To make false impression to a happening that has not taken place when in fact it has.
6. Misdirection – To lead attention away from a hidden move.
7. Switch – To exchange one object for another secretly.

Sleight of Hand Involving Cards

There are two sleight of hand techniques particularly involving cards. You must know these two for these might be used by cheaters in your games later. Considering also that sleight of hand is considered the base of other cheating techniques like as mentioned card peek, second deal, bottom deal, dealing extra cards, false shuffling – you must really know these two. It’s better to be knowledgeable at all times.

Well, the two sleight of hand techniques involving cards are The Pass and the Side Steal. The Pass is the cutting of deck of cards in the hands and interchaning the top and bottom halves, hence returning the center card at the top. While the Side Steal is about palming a card from a deck and afterwards returning it to the top of the deck or placing it to another location already expected. If you are an inexperienced observer, you may not be able to realize these two techniques taking place at the table so be careful.

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