In stud poker games where cards are discarded, a clever
cheater can either cull or stack the deck in an undetectable manner.
Essentially, the cheater utilizes the discard to then stack a deck which
is then combined with a false riffle (shuffle) or two as well as a false
cut. Using these techniques, it is actually quite easy to both create a
stacked deck and then maintain it throughout the shuffle, cut and deal
process.
Stacking While Gathering Up Discards
This is the simplest method of stacking a deck,
especially when face up cards are discarded. Generally speaking, there
will be a number of face cards and even aces showing. As the dealer
picks up the cards that are face up, he strategically picks them
up so that he picks up a desired card then slides four or five cards on
top (four if five players, five if six players, etc.) then picks up
another of the desired cards then again gathers the proper number to put
on top. In this manner, the dealer can create a hand where he has
already created a high pair that is available for his deal, provided he
handles the shuffle and the cut in a proper manner (explained later).
Though this may sound awkward, when executed smoothly, the dealer
appears to be simply gathering up the cards in a haphazard way to best
reconstruct the deck for the next deal.
The sophisticated
cheater not only stacks the deck
during the collection process, he also examines the collected cards so
carefully that he is able to memorize them as he collects them. He does
not attempt to keep track of the suit, only the cards as he does this.
But of course, as he is doing this he is placing those cards between his
collected pair, memorizing the sequence for later recall. Now, if the
dealer is able to maintain that order with a false riffle and a false
cut, he has a second major advantage. He now knows the hole cards of
each of his opponents because they will be dealt those cards between the
two pair that was so effectively gathered up. The cheater mentally
repeats the card sequence while shuffling and while dealing to ensure he
has fully committed it to memory. Of course, knowing everyone's hole
card in stud poker creates an overwhelming advantage especially when
combined with setting up a hand with a high two-pair. In fact, the truly
clever cheater stacks the deck only at times but routinely collects the
card in the described manner so that he always knows every player's hole
cards.
Even when cards are tossed to the dealer face down, if
he is already out of the game having folded early (a common stunt to
ensure the opportunity to stack the deck), the dealer after folding may
often glance at discards feigning curiosity and do so without an
objection from the other players. But here again, the sophisticated
cheater can take those cards and place them
on top of his own hole cards to form a five or a six-card stack that can
then be used to separate a pair collection. By casually looking at cards
from time to time and stacking them
inconspicuously the cheater effectively creates a stacked deck that he
once again maintains during the shuffle and cut phases.
Defending Against Such Actions
There are several items to watch for that indicate a
player may be involved in stacking a deck. First and foremost, if a
player regularly folds early just prior to his own deal or if he gathers
the discards in sections rather than all at once, though again this
action may look natural at first, he is a candidate for such behaviour.
If the dealer glances at discards or appears to pile discards in a
certain manner, either on top of the deck or in the middle of the deck,
he could be stacking the cards. Finally, if the dealer bets in an
abnormal manner from other times during the game (more aggressively for
example) or he wins more frequently when it is his deal, often with high
pairs or three of a kind, you should be aware that the stacking action
may be occurring.
To defend against such action, there are many ways to
take preventive steps without actually calling the person a cheater.
First, whenever the suspect is next to deal, you can immediately take
charge of gathering up the discards and then present them
to the suspected dealer all at once. A second method and rather obvious
one are to fold early whenever the suspect deals. A third, but very
effective method for disrupting the deck stacking dealer is to excuse
you from the next hand at the last minute, telling the dealer to leave
you out. That action will take his stacked hand and scatter it among the
other players.
Finally, you can also insist that in games at this
location that the dealer may not look at discards any time that have
been placed face down on the table.
