When people think of cheating in poker, they usually think of something illegal, like using unfair tactics to win. But there’s another type of cheating that can be just as harmful – psychological cheating.
Psychological cheating occurs when players take actions that subconsciously help them win, even if they’re not technically cheating.
There are a few ways that psychological cheating can occur in poker. One is when a player artificially raises their hand size in an attempt to intimidate their opponents.
This is known as “poking the bear” and is a common tactic used by amateur players who don’t understand how to properly play poker.
Another way psychological cheating can occur is when a player takes too many risks with their hands. If they know that their opponents are going to call most of their bluffs, they’ll often fold instead of risking it all.
This is known as “playing too tight” and can cost a player big in the long run.
There’s no surefire way to prevent psychological cheating from happening, but there are some things that you can do to minimize the risk. One important thing to remember is that poker is a game of skill, and no one is invincible.
If you know that your opponent is likely to try to cheat, make sure that you’re playing aggressively enough to counteract their tactics.
In the end, it’s important to remember that cheating in poker is never easy or safe – even if it’s just using basic strategy tricks like raising your hand size or playing tight hands. No one person can be an island unto themselves in this game, and everyone needs to be aware of the potential for psychological cheating if they want to have any chance of winning.”.
