No Cut?!

[Benoit]

did you notice them bottom dealing or organizing certain cards in the muck before shuffling?

[Khabbi]

He didn't think much about it. If there are 4-5 players all doing this they are either really good at it, or it would have been obvious.

They are probably good at it so go undetected, unless you count not allowing cuts as a red flag.

[Benoit]

True, but bottom dealing seems to have a certain flow to it. I think there can be a noise as the card is snapped to the top and the dealer will flick his wrist that the deck is in to divert attention from the move.

[ QUOTE ]
There's not a single legitimate reason why cuts should not be allowed.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree 100%. In fact I think cuts should be required. your average poker player in a self-deal tourney doesn't know how to shuffle with the deck flat on the table- they pick up both halves and in the process of doing a bridge-shuffle, expose them inadvertantly to other players.
Any players who have seen these on the final shuffle now know one or two cards which are going to not come out in the hand, because they will end up being the bottom card and another card close to the bottom.
So even if there's no cheating going on, not cutting is a poor choice.

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]
even if there's no cheating going on, not cutting is a poor choice

[/ QUOTE ]

This can't be emphasized enough.

Do they burn cards before dealing the flop, turn, and river? This is to minimize the impact of marking cards, and works even if cards are inadvertently marked.

The practices experienced in card games have been developed for a reason. Stick to them and you'll be well off.

Your instincts are probably right (otherwise, you wouldn't play poker, right?) Play online if you have to-- where you never have to worry about bad dealing.

[John Bedtelyon]

I'd return with a bat...

More likely, I'd just not play there again. There may not be cheating going on, as in most homegames there's usually a select few that do the most winning, I still wouldn't bother with it unless you're strapped for other places to play.

If you must go back, talk to them before the game and ask for concrete reasons why they won't allow cuts. I'd be willing to bet they have none and are probably just cheaters, and for that reason bring the bat... or a large friend.

JMB

They are cheating. Cutting doesn't save you from cheaters I've seen bent cards, and salt used to have someone cut to the stacked bottom of the deck (with and without them knowing) but there is no logic to not cutting the deck.


Now that I think about it, it could be that they caught someone doing that and stopped cutting the deck after... but still I'll never play there.