4 Signs to Spot Online Poker Cheats

In gambling, there are many illegal methods a player can use to gain an unfair advantage. When playing on the Internet, manual forms of Poker cheating techniques are largely deterred either by the intangible nature of the Web space or by the prospect of serious consequences and penalties lowering casino profitability.

However, while online Poker cheat is not always a major issue for most players, it is still a serious issue that can affect your game. This guide will tell you some key signs to look out for when playing Texas Holdem.

Overview of Online Cheats

How common is cheating?

If you believe everything you see in movies and on TV, you might think that card-cheating techniques lurk around every corner in every casino, just waiting to pounce on unsuspecting players. But that’s not the case. The reality is that Poker hacks are not as prevalent as it is often portrayed in popular culture.

The fact is that there is no one reliable indicator that will identify the cheater in your game. Any behavior that a cheater may demonstrate may resemble what perfectly innocent players do. That is how fraudsters manage to avoid detection – their actions look natural.

Wondering how to cheat at online Poker and how to anticipate it? The most effective way to limit Poker cheats online is through vigilant game control. 

You may encounter cheaters depending on where and how you play, so knowing how to recognize them is important. To effectively control your game, you must be able to identify potential cheaters at the table. Here’s how to do it.

How to recognize cheating partners at the table

Cheaters often work in pairs, meaning they must sit together at the same table. However, if two friends play together, it doesn’t mean they are cheating. Nevertheless, you should watch out for suspicious behavior that might indicate collusion.

It is harder for players to identify online cheaters because there are thousands of active accounts, and it is impossible to know if two players have colluded. However, the possibility that two players end up at the same table all the time is extremely small. If you suspect something is wrong, watch the pair’s interaction for a while.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to establish any wrongdoing. But if you have suspicions, you should leave this table and find another one. Remember, it’s always better to exercise caution.

Typical Table Fraud Schemes

Soft play

Soft play may seem insignificant to some, but make no mistake: it is conspiracy, plain and simple. Soft play occurs when one player takes or fails to take action to avoid knocking out a player with a shorter stack. So why does someone do that? Because they collude with the other player and understand how to cheat in Poker.

Soft play is especially dangerous in tournament play. Imagine you’re in the bubble of a tournament, and you see one player relieving his buddy with a short stack. This Poker friends cheat could cost you money, and that’s not fair play.

Sadly, you can do little to prevent soft play. You don’t want to be known as a cheater, no matter how small or large your social circle is. But the professional community is small, and word of mouth spreads fast.

Gambling may seem harmless to help a friend, but it’s cheating. Remember that real players play to win, not to collude. So always play fair and honest.

Let’s look at the two most common cases of collusion games

1️⃣ Squeezing

The squeeze play is a dirty trick where two or more players compete against you to steal the pot. They work together to force you out of the pot when neither player has a strong hand. For example, you might see a player make a small bet after the flop, and with a decent hand, you will call. This form of collaboration is common in Texas Holdem.

The player acts after you raise the bet, followed by a re-raise from the original bettor. Unexpectedly, your hand doesn’t look so good, and you pass. Now it doesn’t matter who wins the pot because the two players are working together. Squeezing out players can be very profitable for them.

It’s not always easy to distinguish who is the victim of collusion and who is just unlucky. However, you may be better off finding another table if you repeatedly notice the same two players using this tactic. Alternatively, you can try to turn the tide by re-betting and taking over the game. However, remember that you may get caught before you can expose them.

2️⃣ Chip dumping

Dumping chips is one of the most common forms of collusion. Dumping chips occurs when a player intentionally hands chips to another player. This behavior occurs mostly in tournaments. There is also little that can be done to stop this action.

In some cases, two players may have the same bankroll or be friends, and the stack of one of them begins to decrease. The first player with a larger stack may drop chips to the second player with a lower stack. In the tourney, getting to the bubble can be profitable. If the player manages to hold out until that point, he will get back at least his buy-in.

Cheating has no place in the game. That form of cheating can result in other players being left out, all because another player decided to collude. Remember that most players play honestly and with honor. So always play fairly and don’t allow chip dumping or any other form of collusion.

Specific fraud schemes inherent in Internet games

3️⃣ Unnatural persistence

One way to identify a potential bot in an Internet game is through their consistency. We are not talking about using an elaborate strategy, but rather that they behave the same in identical situations. While this is not a problem in live games, you must be careful with it online.

If you notice a player behaving the same way for an extended period of time in different scenarios, he may be a bot. However, before you report someone as a bot, make sure you have your suspicions. Most often, a Poker player is caught cheating, and websites take bots very seriously and detect Poker cheating apps. So, you don’t want to hurt someone’s reputation with a false complaint and an online Poker scandal.

4️⃣ Reckless bets when the player is out of position

Making wild, overconfident bets or calls when they should be folding is a classic sign of a bad player, and it is an opportunity for you to profit if you are playing against him in person. But if you are playing online for real money, it can be a red flag that something bad is going on.

A few years ago, a team of hackers used malicious online Poker cheating software and Poker cheat apps to view other players’ cards, giving them a significant advantage at the online table. Therefore, finding another game is best if you see someone consistently making bad bets that somehow result in wins. Maintaining a level playing field is crucial in the casino industry to avoid online Poker cheating scandals, and if you suspect foul play, report it accordingly.

Bottom Line

You must be vigilant but not too worried about fraudsters to protect your game. Keep in mind that most players, just like you, enjoy the game. If you notice something suspicious, report it to the website administration. Cheating is much less common than many think, but fighting it is vital when it happens.

While reading just one article won’t make you an expert at spotting cheaters, knowing about the different ways to cheat will help you minimize the possibility of going into the rage of getting involved in a long game with a cheater.

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