Party

[Losing all]

After reading 2+2 for a couple weeks I see I'm being a stubborn old meathead with my "no online" rule. Pretty silly considering my entire life revolves around building a bankroll to get me back to Vegas.

So anyways I'll be signing up at party tonight. I don't know if they have a referal bonus. If they do I'll be more than happy to get it for someone. just post what I need to know here. If it's something that shouldn't be posted here, just leave your email and I'll get the info that way.

[Rushmore]

You may not get the same advice from anyone else here, but I'll get out on a limb:

Online is a totally different animal. I don't know what limits you're playing, but just take it slow at first. You see so many more hands, your swings can seem much greater.

Also: a lot of these players wouldn't have the stones to walk in and play in a B+M cardroom. But online, believe me, they have no shame. You'll see beats that defy reason.

You'll think everyone at your table is out on some sort of a day pass.

And if it gets too bad, you'll start wondering if everything's square.

I think from the site perspective, it is. But I guarantee, there are still people out there, sitting in their living rooms with 2 or 3 computers, their friends jamming pots. I'm also positive there are plenty of folks out there who share information, either by phone or IM/PM/whatever.

The collusion element is there, and I'm beginning to think there's nothing they can do about it.

Sorry if this seems unduly negative. God luck.

[Inthacup]

I have been returning the refer a friend bonus back to the players. If you want me to do this for you, just send me a PM or an email and I'll give you the info. Talk to you soon.


Cup

[CrackerZack]

[CrackerZack]

[huzitup2]

I do not believe collusion is any more of a problem online than it is in live games - if anything I think it's a SMALLER problem online.

1. The "major" sites have "hosts" that monitor the play of every player in every hand in bigger (10-20 and above, and probably in MOST 5-10) games; try anything blatant and watch your account get frozen IMMEDIATELY - this includes your winnings (if there are any) as well as your STAKE.

2. If a "team" were clever enough to escape detection - well
I've seen more players cheat themselves broke than I can count. Those who need to cheat are often (make that frequently) very weak players; I'd rather play in an honest game than in a game with poorly skilled cheats, but I have - on rare occasion - gone out of my way to get in a game which featured 2 (or sometimes 3) players who were "in it together", given the weakness of their play. The dumb bast---s didn't even know how to use the knowledge of their partner(s)' holdings to their advantage.

* Cute story: I was out in Reno several years ago and saw a dealer who was [inadvertently, or so I thought] exposing her hole card at blackjack. The table was, of course, full.

I had a friend who was a floorperson - he happened to be in that pit - to whom I felt an obligation to make aware of what was going on.

His response: Thanks "H", but we've been aware of it for the last hour.

I asked him what action(s) the casino was planning to take.

He replied, "none, they're stuck close to $3,000 - as soon as they go broke we MIGHT ask them to leave. (True story)

Back to online collusion . . .

If you plan to play below 5-10, there is, IMO, such a small amount of cheating going on, I tend to look at it as a slight (very slight) increase in the rake.

*

One other story - this one involved me personally.

3-6 online game several years ago . . .

I have red pocket 7s in the SB. The pot is open raised by a player who would not raise with less than AA.

Three players (who were apparently unaware of this fact) called his raise; I called as well since if I flopped a set I was in GREAT shape given my position relative to the raisor's. The BB folded.

The flop came Ah - 9h - 7s.

I checked, he decided to get clever and check his monster, and the others checked as well.

The turn was the Qh - now it gets interesting.

He bet, I RAISED and the others folded.

The plan worked; the 2h landed on the river, I bet and he folded; truth be told, I actually believe he may well have folded even if the fourth heart HADN'T hit on the river - he knew that I knew what he had and he would never believe I'd try something so daring.

Two of the three players who had called pre-flop (and had, of course seen the turn for free) went ballistic; both claimed to have higher hearts than my "7", though neither claimed to have had the flush on the turn, nor did either claim to have the King. (If either had held the King he would have no doubt called, and of course won).

The commotion was caused by the fact that I accidentally showed my hand after "he" had folded to my river bet; I was new to online and simply hit the wrong button after he folded.

There was no accusation of cheating by the other players - they were just p---ed.

However, management was somewhat interested.

I received an onscreen (private) message "suggesting" that I sit out when the blind came back to me.

It didn't take much for me to explain the thinking behind my play; the "host" even congratulated me for making a good play.

- - - But they WERE watching !

These sites are not about to allow collusion - not when the bigger sites are raking MILLIONS PER MONTH.

*

P.S. There are those who post here who are - no offense intended - "conspiracy buffs" and will tell you of the MANY times that they have been cheated; this is the same group that SWEARS that there is a "cashout curse" at one of the larger sites - in other words, if you make a sizable cashout, the site starts arranging for you to lose so you will have to buy back in.

- Sane people realize that if you make a large cashout it's often due to the fact that you ran very hot for a short period of time. If you are a break even player there is, by definition, approximately a 50% chance that you will now begin to run bad; even if you are of expert caliber there is ALWAYS a chance that a bad run awaits you right around the corner and you don't need to make a "cashout" to find it.

Believe whatever version you choose, but please take note that I have not "promoted" any particular site; ergo I have NO incentive to push you into playing online poker.

But if you do play, I am firmly convinced that your wins or losses will be determined by your ability (and luck in the short term). Online cheating is a very small problem - make that a VERY small problem.

Good luck at the tables; and if you are a very good player, be a nice guy and don't go out of your way to sit in a game with "HUZITUP2" - money is a little tight right now and I rely on my meager earnings from my online play. (LOL)

Best wishes,

- H

[Losing all]

First off- thanks for all the offers through PM's to help me get a bonus, a good bunch of guys(even though I screwed it up, and will probably get nothing)

As far as the "teams" that's really the main thing that kept me away. I've heard horror stories from a couple players I respect a lot. I was also asked to join a team a couple years ago, so I know it does happen.(no I didn't join)


Bottom line though, if they are a good team(and I'm sure most are not!) They wouldn't bother with the lower limits. And that's all i'll be playing, well unless I get wild /images/graemlins/smile.gif

ps. Tonight will be my first online action(if that damn wire transfer ever goes through), and I'm freakin jacked up! See ya'll there

[Losing all]

Thanks for the well wishes, and interesting stories. And yes, I'll avoid you at the tables /images/graemlins/laugh.gif