Newbie with first Q

[Matt T]

Hi all, I'm new here and haven't been playing Hold 'Em for long. I've read Sklansky & Malmuths book, most of Caro's book, and Hellmuth's book and I just booked a trip to LV for May 20-24. I think there's something going on there at that time.

So my first question is: Do players 'team up' or form 'truces' or anything of this sort during the WSOP (or any big tourney)? Actually, my question should be: "How do I spot this?" and "What are the rules on this?".

I thought I saw a particular player giving a 'signal' to another player on ESPN's coverage of a previous WSOP. I'm just speculating though! It just looked very contrived and un-natural. TIA!

[Jonniedough]

I would assume it doesnt happen, due to the fact that is collusion. A form of cheating for all that didnt know

I couldnt see many people doing it pros especially, they wouldnt be playing in the tourneys or would be marked as cheats.

Just guesses though

[BeerWench13]

I'm sure that this does happen on occasion at the poker tables. I've seen it in a home game in which I played. The funny thing was that I picked up on what their signals were and ended up taking all of the money from both of them. In a casino, however, everyone and everything is on camera. If they do it often, they will eventually get caught. I wouldn't be worried about it a great deal. If you're watching your opponents closely (as you should be doing in poker anyway), you'll catch them if this is happening. As Jonnie said, it is collusion and is therefore cheating. They can be expelled from the casino for doing so.

[charlidontsurff]

What was the WSOP example that you saw?

[mindgame]

The above is NOT what I've heard. I've read (albeit a dozen or so years ago) that by the time the final table is formed up in the WSOP there are always a few players who've hooked up as partners--in fact the complaining about this was ongoing and loud.

I'm not suggesting that they were in collusion, per se, but that they'd agreed to share their winnings and had made further agreements to advance one at the expense of the other. In other words, you and I have just made the final table. Our stacks are equal and not overwhelming, so we are going to need an edge to make it past 5, 6, or 7. So we agree that the first time one of us has a hand worth going all in on, the other will call regardless of his cards. It's possible we both go out on that play, but if one of us hits and we've pulled in another player, the winner's stack has just tripled. The partner who's out just sits back and prays for a great finish by the guy who's alive. When the money's paid out we meet and split our two checks.

Takes a lot of trust, doesn't it? But I understand that that's exactly what happens.

[Matt T]

Ooops, I had forgotten about this post! The episode I was referring to was the '03 WSOP I believe. This is purely an observation and I'm not accusing anybody of anything! It was Dutch Boyd who did something that seemed contrived and unnatural. He was rubbing his nose, and he continued to do it for what seemed like a long time (like perhaps he was waiting to make sure the "receiver" saw it). He also appeared to be looking/focusing on someone/something as he was doing it (as if, "look up dummy I'm giving you the signal!"). It was probably nothing (but a greasy nose!).

We're all wise to Johnny's orange right? He's got super-sense-of-smell. He rubs that orange zest on certain cards and can smell them across the table. Of course, the player picking up his cards and then taking a big wiff of them with a puzzled look and then looking right at JCs orange is a bit of a tell too.

I've read that it's not uncommon for two bigger stacks to check all the way through when a smaller stack is all in. Just so they have a better chance to get the player out. But that's just smart poker (or is it?).