[hachkc]

I hosted a limit cash game last Friday and I noticied around the middle of the evening that the A in my DN Grand Slams appears to have been "fingernailed".

There were a few players at my table that I only know so-so but I've played with them several times at other folks games. When I noticied the card, I made a big deal of commenting that I found a "damaged" card and that we needed to bring in a new deck. Later that morning, I went through the rest of the deck and didn't find any problems on any of the A's or face cards (didn't bother checking all the cards).

Has anyone else had this happen and how did you deal with it at the time? Am I just paranoid? I managed to rub out some of the indentation but I can still feel it if I try. This deck's going to be relegated to non-poker status.

The good news, we had 16 people show up for a $1/$2 limit cash game; best showing for the monthly cash game in a long time. The bad news, I lost $80 (in addition to the card issue above).

[Pavel6969]

You pretty much handled it the right way. There isn't much you can do, since you cannot prove anyone did it nor prove anyone was cheating. You found the marked card and replaced the deck. That is all that can be done. It could be an accidental mark, or a intentional one, but you cannot prove it either way, so it is best to just switch out decks. If it happens with another deck, then I would start getting quite suspicious.

[dad604]

I think there was two way of handling it. You choose one of the way and did it properly. The other way would be to silently replace the deck and watch carefully to see who was doing it and never have that person in your game again. I think your way might have been the better method.

[Pavel6969]

Originally Posted by dad604

I think there was two way of handling it. You choose one of the way and did it properly. The other way would be to silently replace the deck and watch carefully to see who was doing it and never have that person in your game again. I think your way might have been the better method.

How do you silently replace a deck at a table with a bunch of guys? I assume you would have to try to do it during a break, and that would only work if everyone left the table. Otherwise, people are going to see you change the deck, and questions will definately come.

[jmda]

I have encountered this problem - and I don't know that it was intentional. But it could have been. WHat I believe is that some people bend the cards and untentionally make a fingernail imprint on it. It may even be a tell - they get excited seeing an ace. THese were Copag cards.

It was one or two of the aces and a 4 of spades or something like that. I don't think it was intentional but we definitely changed the deck once it was noticed (game was already over).

Personally - I would just say to the table - there is an unintentionally marked card please be a little more careful with how you bend you hole cards - we are changing decks.

[w16227]

Originally Posted by jmda

I have encountered this problem - and I don't know that it was intentional. But it could have been. WHat I believe is that some people bend the cards and untentionally make a fingernail imprint on it. It may even be a tell - they get excited seeing an ace. THese were Copag cards.

OUCH OUCH OUCH

That's an expensive mistake.

Were you able to "fix" it - or is the deck toast?

I thought that Copags and Kems were supposed to be more resistant to this. Might be more of a sign that it is intentional?????

[pager23]

Originally Posted by w16227

OUCH OUCH OUCH

That's an expensive mistake.

Were you able to "fix" it - or is the deck toast?

I thought that Copags and Kems were supposed to be more resistant to this. Might be more of a sign that it is intentional?????

Ya, I thought they were impervious to this type of damage - unless it was a deliberate effort... which raises some questions about the people you are playing with.

[jmda]

THe deck is very playable, but if you look hard enough you can still see the indent. It is slight enough that probably could still be used in a friendly game and no one would notice, but.

I am no longer running any regular games, but if I were, it could get very expensive - there is one player who bent the cards pretty aggressively - so I probably would have said something to him - he was our top suspect

[Ramstone]

For what its worth Andy Bloch made a BIG deal about nailed cards in this years WSOP. During break he basically picked out all the aces from a face down spread deck. He bent one card to guarantee he got a new deck. Harrah's used copags this year, though I suppose any card could be nicked like this.

[Joe Willie]

There is always one bad apple in the bunch. You handled it the best way and you just have to keep your eyes open.