I preface this post with this comment, many of the comments are just based on here-say and my own logic based on the information I have and been told. I also am leaving out any names and places involved for many reasons. Most importantly that the how they possible cheated is more important then who and where. No need for witch hunts I won’t be answering futher questions on where just about what we can do as a community.I have also talked to many TDs about this situation and how it could have been handled and how future things like this should be handed. I hope something good comes out of this post

During the last few months it’s been a very strong rumor that something shady may be going on in the european tourney circuit. The particular incident which I’m worried about is one where some new media people peering over players shoulders to look at hole cards. I am unsure what was being done with this info but they did mention it to other media during the event and have covered many events in the recent months. I am shocked that no player noticed what was going on and it was able to go on for many events. Now the parts that really bother me about this, is the fact I personally think the media were aiding a player or players in the event to help them basically become live superusers. It really worries me that something like that could so easily happen and there is little punishment for them as well as security to protect the player.

We all need to ask the staffs running the tourneys to start beefing up security, cameras, and floor staff to protect the integrity of the tours. It’s very sad that it was known this happened and the few cameras at the event could show no evidence to add to what was observed by the TD of this event. The media people who were caught were booted from the event but sadly the information was not spread quick enough to other tourney staff around the world. There needs to be information shared between all on cheating that has occurred and cheating that could be occurring. With e-mail lists and such it should be easy for the 10-20 main TDs across the regions of the world to all share who and what they are concerned about.

Now for what I hope players will do is start being more aware of how they could be cheated. With so many diff procedures in each country watch the dealer on every deal watch the staff when doing color-ups. Use your own eyes to protect yourself, there haven’t been many cases of cheating but too much money is on the line and it’s only a small portion of your time to protect yourself and others. Now if you do see something out of the ordinary don’t be shy in bringing it to the head of the tourney staff and voice your concerns. Let the professionals investigate while you go back to playing. Also I think after this incident many places are already making changes and improvements prior to my post but hopefully the more pressure the community puts on them the more money that is put towards security and surveillance

phew luckily i protect my cards

weird, my pee pee didn't grow with excitement

That was certainly anti-climactic.

Cliffs:

-Protect your ****ing hole cards when playing live pokers

7th?

deeb grammar check skipped over the thread title apparently

Good grief, this is silly. It is YOUR responsibility as a player to shield your hole cards. I see so many players just hold them up so high and vertical that half the room can see em.

Why this is any issue at all is beyond me... unless you're going to say they were using high powered telephoto lenses to see the cards from a long way away...

PROTECT YOUR CARDS. End of story. If someone is behind you ask them to step aside before peeking.

I worry much more about someone palming a chip or two off my stack at break. I always put my highest value chips at the bottom of my stack to prevent any possibility when I leave... common sense goes a long way.

so who got thrown out??

I am underwhelmed to say the least

I don't even let my wife and kids look over my shoulder when I am playing online pokers

for guys who are saying 'duh protect your hole cards', it's a lot harder than you think to prevent someone directly behind you from seeing your cards

How was the hole card information being used exactly? Were they quickly relating what the hole cards were to someone else in the hand using signals or microphones or something? Or were they just passing along what a certain player had during a hand at breaks or something?

I don't quite get how a cameraman/media guy could scope your cards and let another player at the table know what you had right under the nose of everyone in the vicinity of the table.

WAT? Protect your hole cards when playing live??


I feel cheated.

I go to great lengths to shield, because I know how important it is. The way some peek, they might as well just turn em face up.

It isn't hard at all if you put the effort in... poker players are lazy and complainsaws...

Who was it?

They were telling other people at the table the hole cards? How were they doing this? What happened to the people who received this information?

+1. And you can easily get a bit sloppy playing hand after hand for days on end. During the $5K 6max at the WSOP a 2p2er happened to be railing someone else at my table and was kind enough to tell me he had seen my hole cards on the previous hand.

Now we'll know to tell media people behind us in Europe to back off if they're too close.

Thanks for posting this, Shaun. Seriously. Everyone criticizing him should STFU.

This just seems very....blah. With all of the people around a live tournament it would have to look so sketchy for a reporter to first look at your cards and second relay what you have to another player at the table without anyone noticing. Its kind of like the ridiculous cell phone rule at the table...which is to prevent collusion, and is also absolutely ridiculous...It would be beyond obvious for me to peek at neighbors hole cards, text buddy at other end of table have buddy at other end of table receive text in middle of hand...I mean, that stuff just doesnt happen. As for breaks...another simple one...with a minute left before break, I ALWAYS break down my stack like a blackjack dealer would be coloring up chips for example and count it. That is not done for the fear of someone jacking chips or conspiring to take chips off the table, its because alot of people are bad with simple math, and I don't want any miscues on a colorup. When you come back your stack should be on point...and if its not ya cry to the high heavens until they check the cameras.

man that would be messed up if someone was looking at my cards a bunch and nobody noticed!

i dunno why shaun won't name names if the media who did this actually got thrown out!

I always count my stack before going on break - partly because I don't trust anyone and partly because I just want to know.

people think this is a trivial issue, bla bla bla, but it's NOT...some may be disappointed by the 'hype' generated when SFD initially alluded to posting something 'big', and this may not have the juicy gossip factor, but is is a very important and often neglected issue...most live player, no matter how experienced, look at their cards like a newbie at the table, and expose themselves to potential cheating...

good post Deeb...and I for one will try to learn the Dario Minieri method of looking at my hole cards

Im a big guy, bout 250lbs and I always thought my fatass would shield my cards from anything and anyone behind me. Well i was at local casino for tournament and luckily my brother got knocked out and was sort of standing behind me, and after I folded a hand he grabbed me and said the two guys next to him watching were talking about my hands cause they could see them when I would look. I said nothing until on break those two guys were talking to someone who was on my table, and I immediately told the floor and the two said individuals were botted from casino. Lame story whatever, but if I wouldnt have had my brother there I would have never known. We do need to watch out for each other. Its just so scummy that people need to cheat.
granted deeb, i was looking for more juicy material but quality post IMO.

really took you 10 days to post this crap?

people complaining dont understand

anti climatic but important

The what?