Poker News

The Red Games of Poker, PART 3

For the past few issues I’ve been writing about cheating, which I call the red games of poker.

It’s a controversial subject-so I won’t accuse anyone-or make specific references to any casino, card room, or internet site.

I do think that poker is an honorable game-more honorable than golf, football, horse racing, baseball, wrestling, tennis, or basketball!

Have you seen the recent scandal about an NBA referee betting on games that he officiated in? There are also allegations of a betting scandal in tennis that involves players betting on matches they played.

Point shaving in basketball was going on half a century ago. Back then it was players shaving points. Now the refs are doing it. It is amazing how long it takes for the true facts to become public knowledge.

Back then the bookies would not post the line until 30 minutes before game time in the NBA, and then they would sometimes circle the number-limiting the amount that you could bet on that game.

For years I resisted learning about the computer, but now I love all the things you can do with a computer, including play poker.

But internet poker can be a very red game! So I do not recommend that you play poker on line, except for free games or for very low stakes! In other words, I recommend that you play for fun.Yes, only play baby poker on line, or play for free on the dot-net sites.

Now if you are playing on line for money pull your chair up close, because I want to whisper to you: You can be cheated so many ways that I cannot count them! I believe owners and operators of online sites can do anything to you.

I believe that they have the power to make anything happen, anytime they wish to do so. I believe they can give you a royal in hearts, give another player four 9s, and another four 7s-or any poker hands they wish.

And if you are lucky enough to win and get ahead, if they wish, they can fail to pay you. I remember a site that I requested to send me a check. They sent the check but the bank would not cash the check!

I believe owners of online poker sites can and will salt the mine. I will tell you folks that years ago in old west mining camps there was a scam called salting the mine. It went like this.

Crooks would load up several shotguns with gold dust and nuggets, go down into the mine, and shoot the gold into the sides of the mine to give the appearance of a very rich gold mine. They used this trick to help promotestock sales of shares in their mine.

Well, here is what I believe some of the Internet sites do. A new player comes on board with a code number for extra chips. They salt him, and may do so for the first two are three times he sits down to play.

Well, that player starts out winning in the salted poker game and thinks, “What a wonderful thing … I will tell all my friends and they can win a lot of money.” There’s more to come about the red games of poker in subsequent issues, but email me at www.oklajohnny@aol. com if you just can’t wait.

Until Next Time, Remember to STAY LUCKY!!

See also: Red Games of Poker Part 1 and Part 2

Filed under: Poker News