Where do you play where this is the norm? It certainly isn't the norm in Vegas and the Northeast, in my experience. Seems collusive and a blatant disregard for the spirit of the game.

Also that was more of than just not betting a nut hand.

In the place where I play it's common for people to agree that they have no action heads up and just check it down. If there are multiple streets left they will even just tell the dealer "check all the way" and the dealer will just deal the cards without waiting for the players to check.

These are limit games (I'm playing 20/40 but it happens at all limits in this room)

I don't think it really hurts me. I've never seen anyone raise and re-raise on the turn to get me out so they can check it down. Most of them are passive bad players -- if anything they are not raising the turn enough. I've only just recently returned to playing there but I'm sure I have a massive edge so I guess I don't really care.

This type of play could be used to cheat but most people just do it because they treat the cardroom as a social club and they don't want to risk losing friends over a heads up bet or raise. They do it not to cheat, but because they are not taking the game seriously, and that's a good thing for me. Complaining about it seems counter productive. The 2nd last thing that I want them to do is start taking the game seriously (the last thing that I want them to do is leave). If the status quo is profitable, why rock the boat?

Are some of them playing from a shared roll? Probably. It doesn't hurt me if they are. If anything it makes them more likely to have money to play, which helps me.

I totally agree. I once read somewhere that if you ever see a game with people pushing chips, you’re probably in a great game.

+1

I see people check down the nuts enough to shock people in this forum. Some of them just dont care