unethical team play...comments

[gymrat]

Here is a subject I haven't seen alot said about.Background-about 3 weeks ago,I was playing at a large southern casino,(10-20&20-40)when it became painfully obvious that three of the nine players were playing together,trying to get"tourists"in a cross-fire.I was very lucky to catch on to this(as I was the target)and managed to turn it back on the "team"for a pretty nice win. My question is this:what should I have done?The more I think about it,the more I believe I should have done something,I'm just not sure what.While I have enough experience in poker(25 years)to be able to spot this,not all players do.And in my opinion,this is an issue that goes directly to the integrity of the game. Comments,suggestions,instructions will be welcome.

[Anadrol 50]

How did you turn it back on the team ?

[gymrat]

The "signals"they chose to use were laughable,at best.once I figured that out,it was a real simple matter of waiting for something close to the nuts,and letting them bet my hands for me.Ok,the drunk tourist act I put on probably helped,along with the comments that I hadn't been playing poker but a few months(which I shouldn't have said,since that isn't anywhere near the truth),not cutting or riffling chips,tipping too much,etc,etc. In the past,when I suspect something like this is occuring,I simply change tables,or leave.It was more the out and out blantent way they were going about it that got me really really mad. I guess from the lack of responses to this post,I can assume that the"switch tables or leave"solution holds. They really were amaturish about it. Nothing you can do,I guess.

[AliasMrJones]

If they are actually signaling, etc., I would assume you could alert the floor to covertly watch the table and get them kicked out.

[Brian]

You should certainly call the manager over immediately and do something about this. While you may have profited from it, many others did not. Your failure to do anything about it and instead try to capitalize is almost as bad as the original bad deed IMO.

-Brian

[redwings03]

Stuff like that is so weak. I believe it artificially will pay you off if you play tight enough...same reason why I fear not three people playing online "together"...they can never know what I have so how much good is it to overbet their hands??? Even so, poker is a one man game and may the fleas of a thousand camels infest the colluder's armpits.

[LetsRock]

You should definately inform the management of your "suspision". Whether you choose to do it during or after your session is up to you. They'll dry up the game real quick by cheating all the fish out of their money and unless they're working for the place, the manager would want to know.

[M.B.E.]

[ QUOTE ]
You should certainly call the manager over immediately and do something about this. While you may have profited from it, many others did not. Your failure to do anything about it and instead try to capitalize is almost as bad as the original bad deed IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]
I disagree. Don't "call the manager over" if you suspect collusion; talk to the manager privately. For one thing that gives the poker manager a chance to catch them in the act. Also there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of colluders, even to the detriment of others at the table.

[gymrat]

Thanks for the different responses...I think in retrospect,I'm going to have to agree w/the poster that said profiting from knowledge of colusion is almost as bad as the collusion itself.If I had it to do over again(and I just might in two weeks),saying something,quietly to the room mgr. is the way to go.

[CrackerZack]

I agree with this idea and its good to see people taking the ethical road. Poker is becoming quite mainstream but rumors of cheating, real or imagined can really tarnish its growth. New players seeing it dealt with swiftly and forcefully will help the game as a whole.