Poker Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
Most professional dealers in Nevada's and California's legalized
Most professional dealers in Nevada's and California's legalized Texas Hold'em Poker rooms and those working in illegal commercialized Poker rooms throughout the country also hold the deck in this manner, but for a different reason—they do it to prevent players from glimpsing the bottom card. But when you spot a player using the mechanic's grip in a private friendly game, find yourself another game. The odds are that the player who holds the deck this way is doing so because peeking at the top card, second dealing, bottom dealing and other cheating moves require this grip. The index-finger position at the outer corner of the deck acts as a stop when the cheat is second dealing and peeking and also helps conceal a card when it comes from the bottom of the deck. It is possible that an honest, even innocent, player might accidentally hold the deck this way, but it is highly unlikely because it takes considerable practice. The only reason anyone would practice this grip is because he intends to cheat. There's one other exception: card magicians also use the mechanic's grip, but not many of them play Texas Hold'em Poker for money, for the same reason I usually give: "If I win I am accused of cheating; if I lose they think I am a lousy Texas Hold'em Poker player."
Protection Against a Second Deal
Protection Against a Second Deal One of the most common cheating moves used by both the top-notch card mechanic and the would-be card sharp is the second deal.