Commerce Collusion?

I remember reading some disconcerting words from Abdul about potential team play in the 40/80+ games in LA. Does anyone who plays in those games have an opinion?


thanks.

I'm only an occasional player and hardly an expert on these things, but at least during the day, I've never seen evidence of this nor heard anyone tell me they've even have suspicions. Doesn't mean it ain't so, but I don't think you have any worries, at least up to the 40-80 level. Brett should be able to tell you if he's detected any problems at the 80-160 level or above.

Great, thanks, Andy. As for the 80 level, I really don't care, as I would not play that high. And even a little bankroll sharing here and there is not a concern to me. Hell, I play online where I know for a fact that there is collusion. Just as I play games even though there's a rake or time charge, I'll also play games even if there's a little cheating. It's just a question of degree. Thanks for your input. You'll be seeing me at the tables...

I did see 3BB colluding with a dealer today. In fact, they were arguing over the split: apparently she thought she should keep all $12 and Brett was insisting she owed him $6. But this was in $80-$160, so not to worry.

The best part was when the floorman told me to sit down and chill.


But I got the $6. These things add up, you know.

After much soul-searching, I have decided that I can no longer keep this to myself. For quite some time, there has been a team operating in these games. The real shame is that part of the team is a respected member of the 2+2 community.


One of them is a large man of foreign decent. He smells of smoke, grumbles and acts in a repulsive manner, and always wears a flowered Hawaiian-style shirt. The other hails from the East, is always well-dressed and well-mannered, and uses an obscene number of cushions while seated at the table.


Of course, I'm referring to the A&A connection, Archie and Andy. Today they were so blatant as to sit right next to each other, but each still pretended not to know or even like the other. But rest assured that they are taking your money home on a regular basis. One can only assume what happens when they both leave and meet in the parking lot.


If you encounter these scoundrels, beware. Or better yet, change tables. Don't become their next victim.

. . .cut Brett in when he found us out. Brett threatened to expose us yesterday, and I offered Brett double the six dollars he was almost thrown out of the casino about, but no, he could not be bribed.


Big scramble, extra shuffle, new set-up. 36 hands/hour without Archie is the game, 26 when he's in.

Andy:


If Mr. 3 Bet keeps writing this stuff, just let me know, and if you can pay my fee, we'll smear him pretty good. I'll tell eveyone that he's always nice to dealers, and reads and studies everything that (name withheld by request) writes. We'll also try to publish the dates that he comes to Las Vegas so that David's tag team can get plenty of practice.


Best wishes,

Mason

I have very little faith in what Abdul states about cheating. I've read many things from him about myself that have no basis in fact, and I strongly suspect that his cheating claims are at the very least greatly exaggerrated.


Best wishes,

Mason

I imagine there must be some players who play from the same bankroll. But I've never been in a hand or a game where I felt I or anyone else was being tag-teamed. There always seem to be enough bad, mediocre, below-average and average players in the games at Commerce such that the games are certainly beatable at the 15-30, 20-40, 30-60 and 40-80 levels.

There is no question that you should always be vigilant when playing poker. Players who police the games are an important factor in keeping games honest. Furthermore, if you or anyone do see anything suspicious, feel free to report it here.


Best wishes,

Mason

Never seen it so far as I know, never even heard the rumor, and never given it a thought. And I play at Commerce 20-40 and higher about 20 hours a month, or more than I do anywhere else.


Where I think I did see it was in San Jose, in a 20-40 game. And it was absolutely brutal -- if done right, it makes the game not only unbeatable, but sheer torture. This was not at Bay 101 btw. But interestingly, word on the street is that the 20-200 Bay 101 spread limit game is a team sport. While waiting for a seat in the 30 game, I somewhat reluctantly sat in on a four-handed 20-200 game. All I can say is, even if these guys were colluding, they were so attrocious that the game was quite beatable. The worst players at that level that I have ever seen. Quite aggressive too, so you can imagine the variance.