Poker is either seen as a magnet for shady characters and gamblers or a gentleman’s game where one’s word is their bond. Most players fall somewhere in the middle. This doesn’t necessarily mean that poker cheating isn’t a serious problem, but most players will never be cheated at the table.
The most common form of cheating at poker is collusion. This occurs when two players conspire to beat other players. This is common in tournaments when players can benefit from the elimination of other players. This type can be difficult to spot immediately, especially when done well. Players can communicate through instant messaging, telephone calls or even multiple computers simultaneously using different aliases in order to avoid detection.
Advanced players may even use a signaling language to exchange information with their opponents about their hole cards, such as arranging their chip in a particular way. This is more likely to happen when playing live, but can also be done online.
Many poker players also use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to help analyze their game. These programs aim to help players improve and increase their poker profits. They can’t replace human interaction, but they are a great advantage.