“Trust who you play with; When to Fold Quad Fives”

Author: J. Scott Miller

This may be one of the most important articles I have written yet. It boils down to this; do you trust the site you play online poker with?

As I play another session of online poker at Intertopspoker.com, I cannot stop thinking about my unbelievable day I had several days ago. I feel like when I play, I am a good player. I know the odds to an extent when it comes to “catching” cards on the TURN and the RIVER. But this was the worst “Bad Beat” in the history of my playing cards, whether it was online or “live” play. I have played in casinos, online and even in $200 buy-in tournaments in a friend’s auto body shop on Saturday nights. Let me explain a few things first.

Catching cards can be an art form. I think sometimes it comes down to “feeling” it out, plus what types of bets are being laid out, and where you are in the order of betting. This can make all of the difference in the world. But sometimes it may just come down to “dumb luck.” You have to know when the time is right to chase. Rarely will I say it is a good idea, but just a short while ago (I am playing right now as I write this) I had 4-6 Clubs and flopped 5-7 Clubs. Okay, I was sitting on a flush draw and a straight draw. The odds are “decent” something good will happen to better my hand. But who knew the 7 of Clubs would come on the turn? Yes I won, and it was only $5.50 in a 25/50 cent no-limit game, but it was better than losing with FOUR OF A KIND (FIVES), which happened a few days ago.

Bad beats only happen to those of us who are going to hell, there is no doubt in my mind. I am sort of kidding, but this is what it feels like when it happens to you. I was playing in a 25/50 cent no-limit game when I drew a pair of fives. I made a moderate raise, and was called by one person. The flop came ace-five-ace, and there was my full-house! I bet $2 and was called by “Lucky.” I sort of knew he had an ace, and in fact, was hoping he had an ace and was chasing his money away. Then the turn comes and unbelievably it is the last 5! I am locked and loaded. I made another moderate bet of $4 and was called. I knew he had a full house, but my four of a kind was tops, no doubt about it. The river comes and it is an ace! I sat and stared at it in horror as I clicked “check” to “Lucky” sitting across from me. He bets $15 and I call to see that “Lucky the Genius” played ace-3 off-suit.

I went back to figure out the math, just to see what the odds were exactly. I even asked the VIP Services to help me with the math (Which they kindly did), and we both came to a little over 2% of being the odds of catching the sole remaining card in the deck to win a hand like that. I had a 98% chance of winning and an ace came on the river and I lost.

I could have those cards ten thousand times and not lose, even though the odds say otherwise. So then the thoughts arise of “cheating.” Right after the fourth ace came “Lucky” begins to taunt me by chatting; “I knew that ace was coming!” You see; just before the river card came an observer typed in a site to go to that claims you can gain an advantage over other online players.

How ironic (Or coincidental) was this timing? I e-mailed VIP Services at Intertops to ask about this “observer,” and they were kind enough to remove his chatting privileges.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you can Google the incident at Absolutpoker.com where a former employee broke the codes and was playing and able to see his opponent’s hands. He was playing with the “Big Boys,” and setting them up. He would lose a $1000 hand on purpose, playing sloppy. Then he would pounce when he knew he would win a big hand. He won tens of thousands of dollars by cheating.

So the title of this article leads you to believe what? I was cheated, or I don’t trust Intertops?

To the contrary; like I wrote a moment ago, I am playing right now as I write this article. They would have too much to lose by allowing something like this to happen. The encryption codes they use are incredibly complex, so who do I trust? Like their slogan reads; “Trust the first!” That is why they have been online since 1996.

- I’ll see you at the tables at Intertopspoker.com!

Author Bio:
J. Scott Miller is a freelance writer as well as a poker and sport betting enthusiast. Decades of experience as both a poker player and professional sporting news junkie plus his continued dedication to journalism has made him more than qualified to be our leading writer at OGN.

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