This is not the equivalent of shorting the pot. This is the equivalent of pretending that you are considering a fold when you have the nuts.


The more interesting ethics question is the player who is first to act on a hand who after the flop comes announces that he checked in the dark (when in fact he did no such thing).

Now this a player actually lying about his GAME ACTION. And I see this happen all the time. (also players looking at their cards and then announcing they are playing blind is something I see often -- from players of multiple ethnic backgrounds).