Poker Bluffs

Cheating Method in Poker

Double Teaming

This is a very interesting question. If you were to ask two “Cheating” experts for the most common cheating method in poker... you’ll probably get three opinions. Well here are two of mine. One poker cheating method involves sleight of hand manipulation of the cards and the other does not involve sleight of hand at all. The non sleight of hand method I am referring to is “Team Play” also known as “Double Teaming.” A group of two or three players are in league with one another. Many inexperienced poker players hold their cards “away from the vest” exposing them to view.

Location Play

In my opinion, the most common (and easiest to accomplish) sleight of hand cheating method is “Bottom Retention.” Bottom retention is also referred to as “Location Play.” Simply stated, a known group of cards is kept on the bottom of the deck during the shuffle. This is a very simple sleight of hand technique to master. During the riffle shuffle the cards are just not mixed on the bottom. It is also possible to perform “Top Retention” however it is much more noticeable that you are not mixing the top cards. It is much easier to retain cards on the bottom of the deck. During an overhand shuffle cards are drawn from the middle of the deck to begin the shuffle, thereby leaving the bottom cards in place. It is also very easy during an overhand shuffle to shuffle the bottom cards to the top of the deck and then simply shuffle them right back to the bottom.

Play Poker Stripping

During a running strip cut (also known as “Sidlings” or “Stripping”) the bottom cards are striped to the top and can easily be run right back down to the bottom. With this known order of cards in place (either bottom or top) the final cut before dealing puts the stack into or out of play Play Poker - Progressive Teams. In a private game the dealer may be using the information himself or be in league with partners on the game. If the known cards are on the bottom and the dealer makes a deep cut he will in effect, bring those cards to the top. These cards will then be the first cards dealt and become the down cards in a stud game or known cards in each players hand in a draw game or dices poker. The confederate working with the dealer also knows the order of the cards controlled on the bottom and simply waits to see which of the cards he himself receives. By simply counting forward and/or backwards from his own hand he can determine the known cards in each other player’s hand. The cut after the shuffle (and just before dealing) can also put the known cards out of play. A thin cut (not to deep into the deck) will leave the known cards near the bottom and there-by eliminate them from the next round of play. Knowing what cards cannot come into play is very strong as well. By cutting to the middle of the deck, the cheater knows the bottom cards will be dealt in the second or third round of a stud game or will be the draw cards in a draw poker game. It is also possible to attempt to steer the known cards (by virtue of the cut) to land in the “Flop” for board games such as “Hold Em” or “Criss Cross.” You might run into “Magicians” or “Pseudo-Gambling” experts who will disagree with my opinion. They may attempt to impress you with clever tips of hand moves and complicated card maneuvers, however most of them never cheated in a game... I did. (A “Poker Cheat” says to a “Square” who just won the big pot... “You couldn’t possibly have won that hand... I know exactly what cards I dealt you.”)