Poker Forum

I was playing in tonights Titan freeroll. I was getting short stacked, but still had fold equity.

There were two large stacks on the table.

With a marginal holding, UTG I shoved all in. Everyone folded to the first large stack. He asked in the chat box, of the other large stack "are you calling? Yes/no? or I will" to which the second large stack replied "no". With this news, the first large stack chose to call me with a very marginal holding (I was ahead). He hit and I was eliminated.

I was eliminated through the collusion of these two players. They are both clearly guilty of cheating.

The second large stack, has just gone on to win the tournament and supposedly the Australia Pokernews package. He got there through collusion and cheating and in my firm opinion should not receive his prize. The second placed finisher (daritata71 - who I do not know) should receive the package instead.

So the question in the title - Is collusion tolerated or are cheats kicked out of the tourney? Do cheats prosper?

Speedy reply from titan - impressive

we are absolutely committed to keep cheaters away from our site so that our players can enjoy their games with us. It will be our firm policy to deal in the most determined and severe ways available with any individual and severe ways available with any individual or group of individuals who threaten or attempt to affect the game to the detriment of others in this way.

Our Poker Specialist will check the game and players involved before any further progress is taken.

In my opinion, collusion shouldn't be tolerated at any sort of $$$ table or Tournament...especially one offering a travelling package.

Hope everything works out for you!

PokerPlayer wrote

Speedy reply from titan - impressive

we are absolutely committed to keep cheaters away from our site so that our players can enjoy their games with us. It will be our firm policy to deal in the most determined and severe ways available with any individual and severe ways available with any individual or group of individuals who threaten or attempt to affect the game to the detriment of others in this way.

Our Poker Specialist will check the game and players involved before any further progress is taken.

Sounds like a standard answer from the poker site....It'll be interesting what happens now.

Nothing further yet - maybe have to wait till office hours on Monday.

Emailed Poker News too, but not even an acknowledgement for my email yet from them.

It seems they will do nothing because he may have been lying when he colluded!!!!

Not sure why it's "allegedly" - can they not see the chat?

They've "dealt with them internally", but he gets to keep his prize!

we have received your concern with regard to a possible collusion between players adamcan888 and phoenix669 while playing at the PNEWS Cup $5000 Free tournament.

With regard to this, our dedicated Poker Specialists have performed a thorough investigation and found that apart from the hand wherein the 2 allegedly colluding players exchanged chat messages, there is no longer any other evidence of collusion. Note that the point of chat that took place did not confirm if the player would have actually called the hand or not despite mentioning it in their chat. A lot of players actually say they won't call but end up calling to annoy the other player asking them questions such as these.

Further, we have dealt with the involved players internally and can confirm that the player who tried to instigate the alleged collusion in the chat did not win the tournament.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Sorry to hear that.....but that's EXACTLY what I expected would happen....nothing.

well yeah, sucks, but the room also has its point.... perhaps someone could comment how that would be ruled in a brick and mortar tournament?

I'd think in a B&M room, it would depend on the situation. Being in a tourney it is not allowed but in a live game, you can "tell" the 1st caller without using words which is legal but not really ethical. But when playing, notice how many players (especially inexperienced ones) already have their cards ready to fold before it is their turn to act.

But I'd like to hear from someone who works in a casino for a more official answer than mine as a player.

I've noticed that some sites actually block chat for everyone at the table when a player goes all in. Perhaps to prevent just such a situation.