Marked Cards at Foxwoods

[lunchmeat]

I was playing 10/20 hold 'em at Foxwoods this afternoon, and a particularly good dealer took a deck out of play because he noticed a marked card. It happened as he was leaving the table for a dealer change, and as he was putting the new deck into play he glanced at the top card of the new deck and said "we have another marked card." He flipped over the king of clubs after showing the new dealer where the card was marked with a fingernail. I repeatedly asked the new dealer if I could see the card, but he didn't understand English very well and I eventually gave up asking. He did look at the card himself, though, and confirmed that it was marked in the center about 1/3 of the way down. He didn't seem to think it was a big deal, and neither did the rest of the table. One fat girl who just sat down even said that "it doesn't matter if the cards are marked in hold 'em."!

I left the table when the blinds came around, examining the cards I was dealt and then folding regardless of what they were for the rest of the orbit. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with the cards, but I don't have any idea what to look for. Anyone have any tips on what to look for? Are fingernail grooves on that spot on the card a typical way cheaters mark the cards.

I had only played for about 2 hours, but as I was sitting down the table got a new set up, so I'm assuming the card was marked while I was there. I left ahead 5 bets, but I think it should have been more. Here's one hand where I think I was cheated:

The cards are dealt and, as I always do, I cover both cards with my hands and wait until the action is on me to look at my cards. The pot was raised in early position and everyone folded to me. I looked at my cards and saw black kings (remember, the king of clubs was marked), and I 3 bet. Then I cap my cards with a chip and place them in plain view in front of my stack as is my custom. Everyone folds to the raiser who thinks for a very long time, and then reluctantly calls. After the flop he check/folds immediately. So when my cards were out of view this guy raised from EP, but when my cards were in view he almost folds getting 6.5: 1 with a hand that was good enough for an early position raise. By circumstance I had been raising a lot, so I had a very aggressive image and the 3 bet didn't look at all out of place. My opponent in this hand was one of 3 guys who I thought were acting strangely at the table, and they all left at the same time (about 15 minutes before the marked card was spotted).

From the rant-like nature of this post, you can tell I'm still pretty pissed off about the situation. From the way things played out, I don't think the card got marked by accident (how could you accidentally make a fingernail groove in the middle of a card?). I'd like to take something constructive away from this experience, so if anyone could offer advice on how to spot marked cards I would appreciate it... I already know what I'm going to do if I spot those 3 guys at the same table again.

[sublime]

The brand of cards they are usuing now are low grade for them. From what I have heard marked cards are pretty common the last month or so.

I would not worry about it.

[Rams_Law]

[ QUOTE ]
The brand of cards they are usuing now are low grade for them. From what I have heard marked cards are pretty common the last month or so.

I would not worry about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

If I understand your point, it's easier than ever to mark the cards at Foxwoods, and its happening more frequently. That would make me more worried, not less. The last time I played 4/8 there, A player 'agressively' mucked his cards. The dealer saw a nail mark; it was immediately taken out of play. The card was a rag, so I wrote it off as not deliberate.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
The brand of cards they are usuing now are low grade for them. From what I have heard marked cards are pretty common the last month or so.

I would not worry about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would this be something to not worry about??? Can the level of play there be so bad that you could overcome someone cheating?

Not criticizing your comments, just curious as to why this wouldn't be a big deal. Being a West Coaster I'm not exactly making it out to Foxwoods anytime soon, but I'm still curious about this.

[CollegePlayer]

[ QUOTE ]
I was playing 10/20 hold 'em at Foxwoods this afternoon, and a particularly good dealer took a deck out of play because he noticed a marked card. It happened as he was leaving the table for a dealer change, and as he was putting the new deck into play he glanced at the top card of the new deck and said "we have another marked card." He flipped over the king of clubs after showing the new dealer where the card was marked with a fingernail. I repeatedly asked the new dealer if I could see the card, but he didn't understand English very well and I eventually gave up asking. He did look at the card himself, though, and confirmed that it was marked in the center about 1/3 of the way down. He didn't seem to think it was a big deal, and neither did the rest of the table. One fat girl who just sat down even said that "it doesn't matter if the cards are marked in hold 'em."!

I left the table when the blinds came around, examining the cards I was dealt and then folding regardless of what they were for the rest of the orbit. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with the cards, but I don't have any idea what to look for. Anyone have any tips on what to look for? Are fingernail grooves on that spot on the card a typical way cheaters mark the cards.

I had only played for about 2 hours, but as I was sitting down the table got a new set up, so I'm assuming the card was marked while I was there. I left ahead 5 bets, but I think it should have been more. Here's one hand where I think I was cheated:

The cards are dealt and, as I always do, I cover both cards with my hands and wait until the action is on me to look at my cards. The pot was raised in early position and everyone folded to me. I looked at my cards and saw black kings (remember, the king of clubs was marked), and I 3 bet. Then I cap my cards with a chip and place them in plain view in front of my stack as is my custom. Everyone folds to the raiser who thinks for a very long time, and then reluctantly calls. After the flop he check/folds immediately. So when my cards were out of view this guy raised from EP, but when my cards were in view he almost folds getting 6.5: 1 with a hand that was good enough for an early position raise. By circumstance I had been raising a lot, so I had a very aggressive image and the 3 bet didn't look at all out of place. My opponent in this hand was one of 3 guys who I thought were acting strangely at the table, and they all left at the same time (about 15 minutes before the marked card was spotted).

From the rant-like nature of this post, you can tell I'm still pretty pissed off about the situation. From the way things played out, I don't think the card got marked by accident (how could you accidentally make a fingernail groove in the middle of a card?). I'd like to take something constructive away from this experience, so if anyone could offer advice on how to spot marked cards I would appreciate it... I already know what I'm going to do if I spot those 3 guys at the same table again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another reason why internet poker is here to stay.

Really, these generations growing up are computer generations. They are college kids, etc. They dont want to go to a cardroom and get dealt 40 hands/hour. They want to sit in front of their computers and drink doctor pepper and listen to their mp3's...

[WEASEL45]

just because a lot of the cards have marks on them does not mean people are doing it on purpose. it just happens from handling them

[sublime]

If I understand your point, it's easier than ever to mark the cards at Foxwoods, and its happening more frequently. That would make me more worried, not less. The last time I played 4/8 there, A player 'agressively' mucked his cards. The dealer saw a nail mark; it was immediately taken out of play. The card was a rag, so I wrote it off as not deliberate.

So easy in fact it happens almost every time I play. We had the floor guy come over to us and say "we inspected a deck and found 23 marked cards" 23!!!

He then stated that they had been usuing a new brand of cards that were "sensative" and to please take it easy on them.

Its just not an issue I would be concerned with.

[oddjob]

[ QUOTE ]

Another reason why internet poker is here to stay.

Really, these generations growing up are computer generations. They are college kids, etc. They dont want to go to a cardroom and get dealt 40 hands/hour. They want to sit in front of their computers and drink doctor pepper and listen to their mp3's...

[/ QUOTE ]

what happens when people discover how to cheat online? i'm not saying it's happening now, but you gotta think that people will figure it out sooner or later. say bye bye to internet poker.

[DuggleBogey]

That's pretty funny. You just read about evidence of how people cheat in B&M casinos, yet you think that someone cheating online will kill the business. Riiiiiight.

[AKQJ10]

[ QUOTE ]
Really, these generations growing up are computer generations. They are college kids, etc. They dont want to go to a cardroom and get dealt 40 hands/hour. They want to sit in front of their computers and drink doctor pepper and listen to their mp3's...

[/ QUOTE ]

Although i'm hopelessly old for the demographic you're talking about -- i'm 31 -- i certainly consider myself part of those crazy "computer generations". Instant messaging is my preferred means of communication, outside of talking face to face i suppose. And i find online poker only a partially satisfactory substitute for the casino or even home game experience.

Don't get me wrong, i play online a lot, because i can't be in a casino every day or even every weekend. I'm also not saying that my opinion applies to everyone my age or younger. But i suspect you're understating the resilience of the B&M game.