"Soft playing\" in poker involves intentionally adopting a less aggressive approach against an opponent, which may stem from a friendship or close association off the poker table.
Soft playing is considered a form of collusion and violates poker regulations. While many might perceive soft playing as a minor infraction compared to outright collusion with another player, being caught engaging in soft playing could lead to severe consequences, including an indefinite ban from any poker venue.
In this guide, we will explore the following aspects -
Is Soft Playing Prohibited in Poker?
Engaging in soft playing, which involves applying a weaker strategy against certain players, breaches the regulations of poker and could potentially result in a lifetime ban. However, this practice is often viewed as less egregious than outright collusion, and it frequently goes unnoticed. Moreover, distinguishing between soft play and genuine poor play is challenging, which means that poker establishments typically intervene only after gathering substantial evidence.
How is Soft Playing Identified in Poker?
Detection of soft playing is primarily handled by a poker room's security team, who look for behaviors suggesting collusion. This is particularly straightforward in online poker, where extensive historical data is available, including information on hole cards. Certain actions can raise significant concerns, like failing to raise with the nuts on the river or calling large river bets with very weak hands.
Why Should You Raise the River Nuts in Poker Tournaments?
An honest player should have no valid reason to simply call when holding the strongest possible hand against a bet on the river. Opting for a smooth call instead of raising is seen as a form of ‘ soft play ’ and may lead to penalties, such as being required to sit out for a specified number of hands.
Can You Provide an Example of Soft Playing in Poker?
Imagine we possess an exceptionally strong hand on the river, yet we decide to check instead of making a value bet simply because we have a rapport with our opponent and wish to avoid taking too many chips from them. While this might appear harmless, it constitutes a kind of collusion and is against the regulations. Subtle instances of soft play can often blend in with generally poor performance, but more blatant examples can lead to severe repercussions if observed by the poker room.
Summary of Soft Playing in Poker
Soft playing is essentially engaging in a less competitive strategy against select opponents during a game. Although it may seem benign, it is classified as collusion and is not allowed.
To steer clear of soft playing, it’s recommended to avoid participating in real-money games with friends we know outside of poker (though this isn’t prohibited by itself).