Long Post.....
It happens Weekendalki...BUT there are 30k plus players playing on the site right now probably 16k of which are playing for money. The likelihood of you being at a table where there is collusion is slim.
I play there frequently and I would say that over 80%
of the time I sit at a table, I have never played with AT LEAST 6-7 of the players. That is at the middle/higher limits where there are fewer games and the same folks tend to play them. If you play lower limits you shouldn't be too concerned. (Would a group of guys who wanted to cheat really do it at a 3/6 or 2/4 game?....If you think so you should NEVER play online.)
I've played there (or Empire Poker) for OVER a year and logged an unmentionable amount of hours and I've seen and reported collusion twice and suspected it maybe two or three other times. Trust me that's not a lot and I look for these things.
I think what happens more than the type of collusion that you mention is soft playing. Your post isn't specific or even details what you mean by "f.ck the poor sap" but I do suspect that there is a decent amount of guys that IM each other their hands and decide to fold early b/c their buddy has them beat. That should affect your EV very little.
BTW, ALL the poker sites employ collusion detection software. Not sure how useful it is but it's used.
If you don't live near a cardroom then this is the next best thing, play without fear. If you do or decide to play here is some unsolicited advice:
1) There are people making money playing online poker.
2) There are people who earn their living playing online poker.
3) Some of the guys you see on TV during the WSOP broadcasts and WPT programs, play online.
4) Be honest with yourself. If you are losing, maybe your game isn't as good has you think it is.
5) Focus on the long term. Before you shout collusion or a rigged deck, think about the number of hours you've played offline and online and think about whether or not you have a good enough sample to make any assertions.
6) If there is a lot of raising and few showdowns (meaning no one calls the final bet) keep your eyes open since there may be collusion.
7) If anything seems fishy, PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE SITE along with the hand histories. The sites need to develop a history on the folks that are invovled in illegal activity.
8) After 7, mention the collusion suspicion in the chat box. See what happens. Somtimes the guys you accuse get pissed other times players will agree with you.
9) After 8, find a new table.
I compare places like Paradise, Party, and Pokerstars to big cities. Criminal activity (collusion, chip dumping, soft playing, probably software hacking (not so sure about this one)) happens but for the average citizen (player) he is safe from crime.
BTW, you mention "...F.ck the poor sap who gets buried every night..." Is he getting buried "every night" because he is a horrible poker player or because he is being colluded against? If he loses every night, I would argue that he sucks at poker and hopefully he plays for entertainment purposes only.
It happens Weekendalki...BUT there are 30k plus players playing on the site right now probably 16k of which are playing for money. The likelihood of you being at a table where there is collusion is slim.
I play there frequently and I would say that over 80%
I've played there (or Empire Poker) for OVER a year and logged an unmentionable amount of hours and I've seen and reported collusion twice and suspected it maybe two or three other times. Trust me that's not a lot and I look for these things.
I think what happens more than the type of collusion that you mention is soft playing. Your post isn't specific or even details what you mean by "f.ck the poor sap" but I do suspect that there is a decent amount of guys that IM each other their hands and decide to fold early b/c their buddy has them beat. That should affect your EV very little.
BTW, ALL the poker sites employ collusion detection software. Not sure how useful it is but it's used.
If you don't live near a cardroom then this is the next best thing, play without fear. If you do or decide to play here is some unsolicited advice:
1) There are people making money playing online poker.
2) There are people who earn their living playing online poker.
3) Some of the guys you see on TV during the WSOP broadcasts and WPT programs, play online.
4) Be honest with yourself. If you are losing, maybe your game isn't as good has you think it is.
5) Focus on the long term. Before you shout collusion or a rigged deck, think about the number of hours you've played offline and online and think about whether or not you have a good enough sample to make any assertions.
6) If there is a lot of raising and few showdowns (meaning no one calls the final bet) keep your eyes open since there may be collusion.
7) If anything seems fishy, PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE SITE along with the hand histories. The sites need to develop a history on the folks that are invovled in illegal activity.
8) After 7, mention the collusion suspicion in the chat box. See what happens. Somtimes the guys you accuse get pissed other times players will agree with you.
9) After 8, find a new table.
I compare places like Paradise, Party, and Pokerstars to big cities. Criminal activity (collusion, chip dumping, soft playing, probably software hacking (not so sure about this one)) happens but for the average citizen (player) he is safe from crime.
BTW, you mention "...F.ck the poor sap who gets buried every night..." Is he getting buried "every night" because he is a horrible poker player or because he is being colluded against? If he loses every night, I would argue that he sucks at poker and hopefully he plays for entertainment purposes only.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Horseshoe:
I have friends that sit in games in LV,in MS, and Nawlins, that stay away from it for that very fear..besides it lacks the human element.
....SNIP<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Good keep those types away from online poker.
I agree about the human element...I will NEVER stop going to B&M...the human element cannot be replicated online.
Unfortuantely for me, the nearest legal cardroom is 2+ hours drive away and the illegal ones I've decided to stay away from for a number of reasons. My home games are fun but very different than casino poker.
I have friends that sit in games in LV,in MS, and Nawlins, that stay away from it for that very fear..besides it lacks the human element.
....SNIP<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Good keep those types away from online poker.
I agree about the human element...I will NEVER stop going to B&M...the human element cannot be replicated online.
Unfortuantely for me, the nearest legal cardroom is 2+ hours drive away and the illegal ones I've decided to stay away from for a number of reasons. My home games are fun but very different than casino poker.
B&M games are so different, they are more fun and entertaining just because you can chat and share an experience. Online gets boring after awhile, the game is very mechanical. It is all about playing perfect strategy like you are playing a beatable blackjack game. Winning is nice, but most of us gamble and play poker for fun and online just loses its appeal quickly. That is my complaint, not the whole who might be cheating and how arguments.
The chance of collusion is higher in ring games. If you are scared about it try the SitnGos... on Party at Peek times there isn’t much chance for the collusion characters to get on the same table because they fill up in about 15s at the lower buy ins (5+1, 10+1). As of late it seems that Party has much more SnG’s at a time (i waited about 3 mins until a 10+1 was filled yesterday) so it could happen at the SnG’s too...
But the large number of very bad players coming in after Party’s Superbowl Ads... you have to be stupid to not take them for some coins, even if its on low buy in Tourneys...
greetz
forgi
But the large number of very bad players coming in after Party’s Superbowl Ads... you have to be stupid to not take them for some coins, even if its on low buy in Tourneys...
greetz
forgi
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by forgi:
SNIP......
But the large number of very bad players coming in after Party’s Superbowl Ads... you have to be stupid to not take them for some coins, even if its on low buy in Tourneys...
....SNIP<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I didn't know they were doing Superbowl Ads...pretty ballsy.
That's like saying, "US government, sure most of our players are from the US but fvck you we don't care and we're even going to advertise during one of the most watched TV events in the country."
Let's hope that the ads and Lingerie Bowl give Party a similar boost to the one it received from the WPT ads.
SNIP......
But the large number of very bad players coming in after Party’s Superbowl Ads... you have to be stupid to not take them for some coins, even if its on low buy in Tourneys...
....SNIP<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I didn't know they were doing Superbowl Ads...pretty ballsy.
That's like saying, "US government, sure most of our players are from the US but fvck you we don't care and we're even going to advertise during one of the most watched TV events in the country."
Let's hope that the ads and Lingerie Bowl give Party a similar boost to the one it received from the WPT ads.
