Online Poker Collusion

This page will be focused on the issue of online poker collusion. Collusion in poker takes place when two or more players at the table conspire against the others in order to profit. For example, two players share information about their hands with one another while strategically betting to their advantage. This was one of the main themes from the famous poker movie “Rounders”.

How Common is Collusion in Online Poker?

Before the days of online poker, cheats had to use various signals to let their partners know what they had. Now, cheats can simply exchange information over the phone, or over messenger, or over Skype, ect. In other words, it is very easy for online poker collusion to take place.

I mentioned the movie Rounders, because collusion was almost glorified, and this was in the time before online poker was created. In the movie, two friends resort to elaborate methods in order to collude poker games, putting themselves in danger while doing so. When colluding online, cheats are able to share information and discuss strategy effortlessly. They are also totally protected from physical harm or repercussions.

How do Players Collude in Poker?

In order to protect yourself against online poker collusion you need to familiarize yourself with some of the methods that cheats use when colluding, so that you can recognize them and act accordingly.

Information Sharing:
This is the basis of collusion. The cheats will communicate their hidden hole cards to each other and discuss their strategy for the hand. In the days of brick and mortar poker games, players needed an elaborate system of signals to accomplish this, now they can simply talk on the phone or over AIM or MSN messenger.

Playing the best hand:
Playing the best hand means the cheats will decide which hand has the best chance of winning and fold the rest. This is the most common strategy used in online poker collusion, and it is also the most effective. Imagine you were dealt three or more hands at a poker game and were able to choose which one you would like to play, does this not provide the people colluding with a signifigant edge?

Whip Sawing:
This is also referred to as the “squeeze play” where the cheats enter a hand together and trap people into call bets and raises. One of the cheats will have a monster, and his partner will have nothing, but will bet and raise to get more money in the pot, then simply fold on the river. This is a blatant form of collusion that is mostly used by amateurs (or people who aren’t afraid of being caught).

Chip Dumping:
This is a common technique for colluding online tournament play. Many players will pool their money and enter a tournament together, forming a collusion “team”. When a member of the collusion “team” has a low chipstack the other cheats will dump chips to him in order to keep them in the tournament.

How do Online Poker Sites Prevent Collusion

Online poker sites do their best to curb the collusion. There was a recent scandal in which a collusion ring was busted at Pokerstars.com and money was refunded the victims of this collusion ring.