The Psychology of Cheating At Poker |
Posted: July 26, 2017 |
Introduction The game of poker relies a lot on mind games and understanding of the opponents’ body language and tells as well as on poker strategies. Here, getting the cards to a winning hand is crucial, but so is reading the other players to gauge their hand and behaviour. Understanding the psychology and behaviour of a player can go a long way in revealing their game strategy and possible strength of cards. However, for some players, just understanding the game isn’t enough, they look for that extra edge that they get from cheating. Poker is one game where cheaters can be found in a galore but it may not always be your stack of chips they are after. With laws and casino rules become stricter than ever, here we look at the psychology of cheating at poker and why it draws so many players in. Not just about the money The first thought for a lot of people when talking about cheating at poker may seem to be about the money, but it isn’t always the case. For a lot of cheaters, the thrill of doing something wrong and trying to get away with is what leads them to perform such an action. For a lot of seasoned players, the rush of the game and the ups and downs of the game tend to mellow after a while. They don’t get the same exhilaration as before during the course of the poker game. Instead, they start to cheat in small ways for the thrill of it rather than purely being motivated by the money factor. For a seasoned player looking to cheat for the thrill of it, a low stakes game may be the ideal place to start as it would largely have several beginners at the table. ‘Because I can’ Cheating for a lot of poker players is as much as an accepted concept as developing a poker strategy. For some the thought that it is an open option for all or they cheat ‘because they can’ is a major draw. Here, there is hardly a thought given to the action before it occurs but is simply carried out as part of the game. Palming the occasional chip or marking a card or all done without being considered a cheater. Here, the player doing so has the idea that if you can cheat and get away with it, then it’s fine and would continue to do so every time they can. The thrill of the game For poker players that cheat for the thrill aspect, there is nothing more fun than knowing that someone may be onto them. In such a case, the player is more likely to up his game and outsmart you. The added rush of knowing someone has caught on to their behaviour gives them the thrill to up their game. They try harder to cheat and improve their techniques to avoid getting caught red-handed. So, if you feel a player at the table may be doing a lot more than playing the poker game, don’t try too hard to catch them but rather protect your own stack of chips. To win at any cost For a lot of poker players their image is their number one priority. They tie up their reputation and self-worth to the stack of chips in front of them and will do anything to keep winning. The thought of losing isn’t just limited to the game but becomes something personal to them that they try and avoid at any cost. These players are less likely to cheat on a day things are going in their favour. However, after a game or so where they lose more than they estimate to be acceptable, they are likely to try any and every trick up their sleeve to get back their stack of chips. Will never accept they are cheating Players cheating at poker will vehemently refuse any allegation even it may be correct. Here, if a player is accused of cheating they are sure to counter very strongly against the accuser. Even if caught red handed they are likely to come up with a story excusing themselves or find an excuse for it. They are also likely to try cheating again at every opportunity they get. Conclusion Thus, cheating at poker isn’t just for monetary benefit but has a lot to do with the personality and nature of the player. So, the next time you feel something isn’t quite right at your table, you may just be in the company of a cheater! Its best not to cheat and learn fast. and the best way to learn safe and fast is to play online poker.
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