My review of "Dirty Poker" by Richard Marcus

[Fishy McDonk]

To preface this review, I will say that many years ago I read "Gambling Scams" (1984) by Darwin Ortiz. I would recommend that book to anyone, regardless of whether they have read "Dirty Poker" or not. It is a better book and some of the cheating techniques (like dealing seconds) are covered more thoroughly. However, "Dirty Poker" has material that involve advances in technology, like the internet and some card marking techniques. Also, I think Marcus covers signaling very well.

"Dirty Poker" describes cheating in B&M and online poker. The B&M cheating is covered more extensively and is more credible, but there is plenty about online poker as well. Most of the material is about player cheating, but he also warns about being cheated by the casinos and their employees.

Even though Marcus is a poor writer and. most likely, a poor poker player, he has many years of experience cheating, and that is what is most important in evaluating this book. Although this book might not reveal anything new to those of you who have "seen it all", for those of you who haven't, I suggest you read it for two reasons.

First, if it saves you from being cheated even once, it may be worth the time and money invested in the book. Second, the more poker players who are on guard, the more cheating will be reported/investigated, and the more cheaters will be removed from the sites or otherwise deterred.

My main gripe with his book is that he didn't give more accounts of the cheating he said he has observed over the years. For example, he said he observed cheating in major poker tournaments many times but only recited the details of his observations for one of them. I would have liked to see more detailed accounts of the online collusion as well. Also annoying was that he didn't name names, but I suppose he couldn’t do that without legal consequences.

In the end, he predicts that online poker will eventually be just bot verses bot.

In summary, this book is a worthwhile read even though you don't believe every tale he tells or agree with his conclusions.

[FrankStallone]

cheats are so cute. They try so hard with their little scams.

[LadyWrestler]

[ QUOTE ]
cheats are so cute. They try so hard with their little scams.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol

[*TT*]

This is my review, and I haven't even read the book.

sky

chicken little

falling.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[steamboatin]

[ QUOTE ]
This is my review, and I haven't even read the book.

sky

chicken little

falling.

TT


[/ QUOTE ]

^The fear of loss close still works.

[Fishy McDonk]

[ QUOTE ]
This is my review, and I haven't even read the book.



[/ QUOTE ]

head

in

sand

[Rhett]

Rename it "Riding Dirty Poker"