A Poker Scam I Saw Last Night

[BigdaddyQH]

Last night, I was invited to attend (but not play) in a Poker game at a friends house. He had already told me that he and his friend were going to sandbag 6 others out of a certain sum of money. Now these players were sharp. They checked the decks for markings and for being stripped. They did not allow any objects including drinks on the table, nor did they allow any type of hand movements other than the normal movements you see at a poker table. They still got bagged. Here is how my friend and his buddy worked the scam.

For the sake of ease, let us assume that the chip vales were 5, 10, and 25 dollars. The game was Hold 'Em. During the first round of betting, if one of the two decided to raise the pot, he would signal his hand this way. The raise was always an odd amount (30, 35, etc...) If he had a strong hand (Face cards or a face card and an Ace suited, or a high pair) he would throw in a 25 dollar chip on top and a 5 or 10 dollar chip on the bottom. If he was bluffing or did not have a strong hand, he would REVERSE the way he put in the chips. Low chip on top, and the 25 dollar chip on the bottom. His partner would respond the same way. This way, when they both knew that they had strong hands, they were able to sandbag the other players. This signaling system was used for the round of wagers after the flop, and also if one of the players filled in his hand. They eventually took the entire table for everything those guys had brought with them.

I tell you this story to warn you about this practice when you play at any public poker room, be it in Vegas, your local casino if it permits poker playing, or even in a house game. The most important thing you can do is know who you are playing against.

[Bobtheicon]

Kind of risky robbing people like that. People have been shot to death for less.

[iggs111]

Originally Posted by BigdaddyQH

Last night, I was invited to attend (but not play) in a Poker game at a friends house. He had already told me that he and his friend were going to sandbag 6 others out of a certain sum of money. Now these players were sharp. They checked the decks for markings and for being stripped. They did not allow any objects including drinks on the table, nor did they allow any type of hand movements other than the normal movements you see at a poker table. They still got bagged. Here is how my friend and his buddy worked the scam.

For the sake of ease, let us assume that the chip vales were 5, 10, and 25 dollars. The game was Hold 'Em. During the first round of betting, if one of the two decided to raise the pot, he would signal his hand this way. The raise was always an odd amount (30, 35, etc...) If he had a strong hand (Face cards or a face card and an Ace suited, or a high pair) he would throw in a 25 dollar chip on top and a 5 or 10 dollar chip on the bottom. If he was bluffing or did not have a strong hand, he would REVERSE the way he put in the chips. Low chip on top, and the 25 dollar chip on the bottom. His partner would respond the same way. This way, when they both knew that they had strong hands, they were able to sandbag the other players. This signaling system was used for the round of wagers after the flop, and also if one of the players filled in his hand. They eventually took the entire table for everything those guys had brought with them.

I tell you this story to warn you about this practice when you play at any public poker room, be it in Vegas, your local casino if it permits poker playing, or even in a house game. The most important thing you can do is know who you are playing against.

sound like a bunch of scumbags imo

[Bobtheicon]

Originally Posted by iggs111

sound like a bunch of scumbags imo

No shit - nice friends.

[ETownChron]

doesnt surprise me these are the kind of frinds BDHQ associates with. not at all

[Klazerman]

Originally Posted by ETownChron

doesnt surprise me these are the kind of frinds BDHQ associates with. not at all

[BigdaddyQH]

This is exactly the type of response I expected from most of you. Complain about the scumbags that pulled this off, completely ignore the fact that this happens every day, and ignore the fact that it could happen to you if you get into this situation. Why does this not surprise me? Wake up people!!

[The Judge]

BD, am I undertanding that you feel cheating at poker is justified because it "happens every day"? Guess what, cheating at poker is not exactly a new trend and has been happening, literally, for centuries. While your post was somewhat informative for a change, I am bothered by the fact that you derive some type of satisfaction in your friends' unscrupulous actions.

I am also curious as to how this was "exactly the type of response" that you expected from the board. Do you mean that you anticipated that we would be offended by the fact that you not only associate with "scumbags", but are apparently proud to do so? Are you not surprised that no one admires you for bragging about your little "spectator" adventure?

Still, you somehow think that it is time for the people at Cappers Mall to "wake up".

[mrwho]

Originally Posted by BigdaddyQH

This is exactly the type of response I expected from most of you. Complain about the scumbags that pulled this off, completely ignore the fact that this happens every day, and ignore the fact that it could happen to you if you get into this situation. Why does this not surprise me? Wake up people!!

with you being an ex-cop i'm surprised you would let people being cheated and getting ripped off go by without any actions. Now if it was someone else's friend i'm pretty sure you wouldve frowned down on it.

[xxxFTWxxx]

This thread is disgusting.

[boldt]

Originally Posted by BigdaddyQH

Last night, I was invited to attend (but not play) in a Poker game at a friends house. He had already told me that he and his friend were going to sandbag 6 others out of a certain sum of money. Now these players were sharp. They checked the decks for markings and for being stripped. They did not allow any objects including drinks on the table, nor did they allow any type of hand movements other than the normal movements you see at a poker table. They still got bagged. Here is how my friend and his buddy worked the scam.

For the sake of ease, let us assume that the chip vales were 5, 10, and 25 dollars. The game was Hold 'Em. During the first round of betting, if one of the two decided to raise the pot, he would signal his hand this way. The raise was always an odd amount (30, 35, etc...) If he had a strong hand (Face cards or a face card and an Ace suited, or a high pair) he would throw in a 25 dollar chip on top and a 5 or 10 dollar chip on the bottom. If he was bluffing or did not have a strong hand, he would REVERSE the way he put in the chips. Low chip on top, and the 25 dollar chip on the bottom. His partner would respond the same way. This way, when they both knew that they had strong hands, they were able to sandbag the other players. This signaling system was used for the round of wagers after the flop, and also if one of the players filled in his hand. They eventually took the entire table for everything those guys had brought with them.

I tell you this story to warn you about this practice when you play at any public poker room, be it in Vegas, your local casino if it permits poker playing, or even in a house game. The most important thing you can do is know who you are playing against.

To waste a night like that, and the best part is that it was at someones house, does your buddies know the other 6 people at the game and did they think it was strange for someone other then someones bitch to be watching..

Good luck with life,

[Orlandomagic]

solution is spelled incorrectly, if it is going to be there spell it right. thank you sir.

[Orlandomagic]

no excuses accepted

[boldt]

Originally Posted by Orlandomagic

solution is spelled incorrectly, if it is going to be there spell it right. thank you sir.

no spell check

[iggs111]

Originally Posted by BigdaddyQH

This is exactly the type of response I expected from most of you. Complain about the scumbags that pulled this off, completely ignore the fact that this happens every day, and ignore the fact that it could happen to you if you get into this situation. Why does this not surprise me? Wake up people!!

Well maybe because some of us are honest people and I think this is wrong. And to tell you the truth I know it happens, its the ugly side of the gambling biz. But not to be ignorant if they get caught I hope they baseball bat there heads in, have a nice day!