These methods of cheating are usually performed by a вЂњcard mechanicвЂќ or вЂњcard sharpвЂќ, and use sleight of hand and card manipulation to switch cards and deceive other players at the table. Skilled Methods for Advanced Card Cheating Switching in a cold deck is more easily done in casual card games where a new person deals the cards every hand. A smart cheater will typically stack the deck in a way that gives their victims a good hand as well (so theyвЂ™re encouraged to bet more), just not one that is good enough to win the pot. Cold DeckДЄ cold deck is a special deck of cards that has been pre-arranged ahead of time to have certain cards stacked at the top of the deck that guarantee the cheater will win. These same methods are also used to steal from or short-change other players. By hiding chips, cheaters can preserve some of their winnings or prevent major losses in high-stakes games. This is known as вЂњgoing southвЂќ or вЂњratholingвЂќ and typically uses palming or an odorless adhesive. Some card cheats may also covertly remove a portion of their chips during the game. Once they win, the big prize is then split up among everyone involved in the scam. The player who was gifted the chips now has more money to take down the other players. This is where a group of players gives all their chips to one of their partners by making high or unconventional raises and then folding when their partner goes all in to match.Дumping chips can significantly impact the endgame of any poker game or tournament.

Many players who work as confederates or soft play together may also dump chips toward the end of the game.

If 2 or 3 people are soft-playing at a 6-person table, it can ruin the integrity of the game. While soft playing technically isnвЂ™t cheating because it doesnвЂ™t break any rules, many avid poker players consider this to be one of the most unethical things you can do at a poker table. This is typically done by purposely avoiding betting against each other. Soft playing is when two or more players collaborate to ensure that everyone else is eliminated before them. (And, as an added bonus, these types of playing cards also last longer!)Д¬ollaborating with a Friend or вЂњSoft PlayingвЂќ You can also use 100% plastic cards, like those found at casinos, because they are much harder to mark on the fly. If you suspect a player might be using marked cards, politely request to change out the deck of cards.

While a simple scuff with a fingernail is enough for most cheaters, some have employed more high-tech approaches such as invisible ink markings that could only be seen with a special pair of glasses or electronic poker cheating devices that look like they were plucked directly from a James Bond movie. Marking is typically done during the first few rounds of a card game by either secretly scratching, denting, bending, or somehow altering the playing cards in a way that only those involved will notice. For example, marking the Aces and Court Cards in Texas HoldвЂ™em allows you to know when to fold your hand or call a big bluff. This simple cheating method gives an incredible advantage to card cheats. Marked CardsДЄ marked card is any playing card that has been specially altered so the card cheat knows its identity without needing to see its face. These days, the most typical shiner is the screen of a cell phone however, some creative cheats have been known to use everything from a cup of black coffee to a butter knife. While the average cheater will attempt to peek by leaning their body a certain way or quickly darting their eyes, more advanced cheats will use a вЂњshinerвЂќ-or reflective object that works like a covert mirror for cheating.ДЄ shiner that is subtly placed in the right spot can allow the cheater to peek every card that is being dealt or even see another playerвЂ™s hand. It might seem too simple to be true, but one of the most common ways card players will cheat is by trying to peek at an opponentвЂ™s cards or at the top card or bottom card of the deck.

These methods of cheating are typically quite bold and require steady nerves more than any complex dexterity or sleight of hand. It was not written to help you start cheating at cards, but rather to help you identify and stop people from cheating when you play cards. Please Note: the following is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Manipulation card game rules