What are the odds there was no cheating going on here?

[DMC0627]

Okay, I am new to poker and played in my first home game. A few hands made me question the integrity of the game, and I do not know if this is just bad luck or if there is any cheating going on. Three hands in particular I am concerned with.

First, it was a 2-5 no limit game, min buy in $100 max $500. I have never played no limit cash so I bought in for the min. I sat out the first few hands, and then in the BB I picked up pocket queens. The button raised to $15 and I reraised to $45. She called, and said "I am all in on the flop either way". Flop came, no flush or straight draws or overs, 2, 6, j rainbow. I checked, she went all in, I called. She had kj os and hit running j k to fill up.

Next, another new player to this game (we had both been referred from non poker playing friends btw) raised OTB to $17. The BB (same woman who just hit the full when I was in the BB) called. The flop, 10 j q, with 2 spades. She pushes all in (he only has about $60 left) and he insta calls. He turns over ak both spades, has the nuts with the royal draw. She turns over pocket eights. I just don't know what she thought she could beat in this spot. The turn, a queen, the river, an eight to fill her up again.

My next hand was my last against the same woman. I had rebought for another $100 and again she raised my BB to $20. I looked down at pocket aces, and thought (naively maybe) it was my chance to get even. I min raise to $40, she calls. The flop, k 8 2, rainbow. I check, hoping she has ak, and she moves all in. I call, she turns over k 2 to win the pot. I leave.

I spoke to a poker playing friend about the situation (didn't disclose the game itself because it was "private") and he told me that this stuff happens all the time in home games. He said people are super aggressive and make loose calls and push all in with crap to get lucky all the time. If that is the case, I would actually give this game another chance. The casino is over an hour for me, and this game is less than 10 minutes. I am being paranoid to think there is cheating, or am I foolish to go back?

I was there less than 45 minutes and these 3 hands happened in that amount of time.

[quickfetus]

Yeah, this is just a normal swing of variance. No reason not to trust the game, I say.

[Annorax]

First hand seems like variance, second justifies keeping a closer eye on things, and the third is just variance at the hands of a moron. Nothing out of the ordinary here for home games.

[KAknight]

Most likely you are being paranoid. More info is needed. Who was dealing? Were the cards cut? Was a cut card used?

[The Bandit Fish]

Poker, poker, it's all skill. Start with the worst hand then go up hill."

[Lottery Larry]

[ QUOTE ]
More info is needed. Who was shuffling and then dealing? Were the cards cut by the shuffler? Was a cut card used?

[/ QUOTE ]

With my edits, I agree.. though why the cut card would serve that much of a purpose in these situations isn't clear.

[Lottery Larry]

Unless you see something funny in the dealing procedures, or can pick up signalling, you should plan on playing here whenever possible.... at least with her.

[DMC0627]

Sorry, I forgot to include, the man who was running the game was dealing, although I do not know her relationship to him at all. There was no cut card used, and nobody was asked to cut the deck. I wanted to suggest it but didn't want to imply anything, and look bad, especially since I was referred by a friend (kinda friend, coworker really).

[Lottery Larry]

So, a raked underground game I assume.

Tread carefully if you decide to go again, see if you can pick up any hints on relationships.

[Infi3ld Fly]

LOL 20X BUY IN WP