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Angle shooting in poker refers to the employment of unethical and deceitful tactics designed to exploit opponents, generally those who are less experienced. This strategy typically involves:

  • To help influence an opponent’s action (for instance, by misleading them into believing that the player had different intentions than what was actually planned).
  • Gathering additional intel from an opponent during a hand (for example, by observing their responses).
  • Enhancing the angler’s chances of winning additional funds or mitigating losses.
  • Deceiving opponents regarding the actual strength of their hands.

While cheating in poker, which clearly violates the rules (such as colluding, using computer programs, marking cards, and stealing chips from the pot), is unequivocal, the actions typical of an angler fall into a more nuanced gray area. The mindset of someone who angles shoots mirrors that of a cheat: it arises from a  intent to inflict harm for personal gain. For this reason, angle shooting is regarded as improper behavior within the poker community. rules To safeguard players, numerous casinos and live poker venues have specific house rules that aim to deter certain types of angle shooting or outright ban them. (Certain rules will be elaborated upon in subsequent sections.) Nonetheless, even with these regulations in place, players often seek ways to manipulate the rules for their benefit.

In this article, we will examine common angle shooting scenarios that occur in both live and online formats of the game. We will also discuss more ethical approaches to gathering information from your opponents.

THE THREE MOST COMMON INCIDENTS OF ANGLE SHOOTING IN LIVE POKER


In live poker, the potential for angle shooting is significantly higher due to the often ambiguous nature of a player’s betting behaviors. (In online play, actions are executed at the press of a button.) Here are the three most notorious forms of angle shooting during live games, followed by additional examples provided briefly:

You might create confusion with your \"checking motion,\" as many gestures are now accepted as valid checks. For instance, if you make a slight gesture that misleads others into thinking you checked (which would give you insight into their reactions), and then claim you haven't acted yet, that constitutes angle shooting. online poker Making incomplete bets and asserting that your bet wasn’t fully executed, leading you to believe it shouldn't count. To counter this, casinos have instituted measures such as (a) requiring complete calls upon the initial action of sliding a chip into play; or (b) allowing the incomplete bet to remain in the pot with the option to fold or complete the call with the total amount.

  • Pushing your cards forward without crossing the line into the pot can also mislead opponents into thinking you folded. You could then argue that this motion did not indeed signify a fold. poker dealer Making a gesture to put in calling chips and then claiming you intended to say \"call\" when, in truth, your initial verbal action is binding and would necessitate a raise regardless. This is another form of angle shooting, where the player seeks to mislead opponents into believing they’ve made an error when actually they’ve got a very strong hand. Ivan Freitez is notably recognized for employing this tactic, and there’s a video that illustrates it.
  • Another example is putting out : This deceitful strategy aims to pressure an opponent into folding their hand before you've revealed yours. It’s designed to prompt your opponent to discard their cards prematurely, allowing you to display your winning hand and argue that you deserve the pot (since your opponent called and then mucked). Fortunately, many casinos mandate that the winning hand reveal all hole cards during a showdown to reclaim the pot – not just a verbal claim.
  • Alongside the top three angle shooting examples provided above, here are several additional instances: muck Reorganizing your chips in a way that suggests an upcoming bet.
  • If you say, “ Raise Verbally attacking your opponents for emotional manipulation.here .
  • Mis-declaring Your Hand at Showdown Glimpsing another player's hole cards if they are inadequately covered.

Claiming you haven’t viewed your hand yet (especially if you're in a preflop all-in), while, in reality, you've already looked and are fully aware of your standing in the hand. This tactic mirrors what Tony G executed against Phil Hellmuth during the televised contest ‘The Big Game’ where he held AK and Phil had AJ – here is the link.

  • Declaring that the river improved your hand or exclaiming, \"FLUSH!!!\" and then betting as if you possess it.
  • Engaging in conversation with one of multiple players still in the hand, attempting to glean a read regarding the strength of their hand. (This is considered angle shooting as it could shape the actions of the other opponents still in the game.)
  • Hiding larger denomination chips from view, causing opponents to misjudge your stack's size at first glance. Poker pro Alec Torelli faced accusations of this against an amateur on television! (Here's the link.
  • THE THREE MOST COMMON INCIDENTS OF ANGLE SHOOTING IN ONLINE POKER short stack Since actions in online poker are more transparent and less ambiguous, angle shooting is less frequent in this medium. Nevertheless, certain scenarios can still arise in which it might occur.video link .)
  • Exploiting “Disconnection Protection” Offered by Some Sites : Some platforms provide this feature allowing a player who disconnects during a hand to be treated as all-in until the hand concludes. If multiple players are active in the hand, additional bets are placed in a pot among those still connected. Players might misuse this feature to avoid stakes when unsure if they hold the best hand. They disconnect from the internet until the hand exits, reconnecting afterwards to check the outcome. In recent years, many sites have restricted disconnection time to a certain limit per day, or even eliminated this feature altogether.
  • Intentionally acting out-of-turn.
  • Going South : This term describes a scenario where a player exits an online table (often after a significant win) to safeguard their winnings and subsequently re-enters the same table with the minimum buy-in. This maneuver can also occur in live play but is prohibited if another player or the.
  • Using the Chat Function to Convey Misleading Information: For example, stating in the chat that you will go all-in when it’s your turn to act, but ultimately deciding just to check. This constitutes angle shooting.video .)


What Actions to Take When Someone Attempts to Angle Shoot You?

When faced with an angle shooting attempt, here are four ways you can address the situation:

Here’s our “Top 3” list:

  • Confront them about their actions: Sometimes players angle shoot unintentionally. However, even in the absence of malicious intent, it’s important to make them aware that they’re engaging in unethical behavior that could violate house rules. side pot Explain why it’s an issue: Rather than simply chastising the angle shooter, calmly articulate what they did to classify their action as angle shooting, and guide them on how to handle similar situations more fittingly in the future. protection Inform the dealer: If the issue persists or you wish for someone to clarify the house’s perspective on angle shooting, alert the dealer.
  • If necessary, request the floor manager's authority: In serious cases (such as repeated angle shooting or instances impacting the game while it’s ongoing), seeking the floormaster’s guidance on how to proceed in the hand is the most effective solution. dealer notices this happening.
  • Utilizing Angle Shooting to Your Advantage?


Let’s set the record straight: angle shooting is categorically unethical, and repeated attempts at it will tarnish your reputation in the poker community, leading to players avoiding tables with you. Ultimately, this must NEVER be executed with an aim to deceive maliciously, particularly to exploit unsuspecting players!

Indeed, it is true that nearly every poker player has, at some point, engaged in this form of play to varying degrees. In fact, understanding the rules well enough to navigate them—albeit generally frowned upon—could be considered part of the game.

  1. Nonetheless, certain behaviors at the poker table are perceived as more appropriate when attempting to gauge an opponent’s reads or influence their decisions compared to the sleazier angle shooting tactics we examined earlier in this article.
  2. Here’s a list of acceptable practices you might consider trying during your next poker session to aid in reading your opponents better and potentially steering certain actions from them:
  3. Counting Out Chips: When faced with a challenging decision on the river after an opponent's bet, the mere act of counting out chips as if you intend to call can sometimes give insight into your opponent's perceived hand strength. Just ensure you don’t confuse this “cutting motion” with the “forward motion” discussed earlier.
  4. Engaging in Table Conversation: When it's heads-up against another player, it’s entirely acceptable to engage in discussion in order to gain insights into their hand.


Discover why angle shooting is considered one of the most dubious strategies in poker and the reasons it draws disapproval among players at the table.

The Missteps of Angle Shooting in Poker!

THE TOP 3 EXAMPLES OF ANGLE SHOOTING IN LIVE POKER

THE TOP 3 EXAMPLES OF ANGLE SHOOTING IN ONLINE POKER

What Should You Do If Another Player Attempts to Angle Shoot You?

  • How Might Angle Shooting Be Utilized to Our Advantage? tell WHEN DOES ANGLE SHOOTING BECOME ACTUAL CHEATING?
  • Angle shooting in poker refers to the use of unethical and manipulative tactics aimed at gaining an edge over typically less experienced players. This behavior is commonly exhibited:
  • (i.e., by misleading others into believing that the angler's actions were not intended as they appeared).
  • To extract additional insights from an opponent throughout a poker hand (i.e., observing their reactions).
  • To assist the angler in increasing their winnings and/or reducing their losses.
  • To cleverly mislead your opponent(s) about the strength of your own hand. fold equity Although cheating in poker is a blatant breach of game rules, including actions like collusion, bot usage, marking cards, or stealing chips, the ethicality of angle shooting lies in a gray area. The mindset of an angler aligns closely with that of a cheater: both are driven by an intent to exploit others for personal gain. Thus, players generally do not welcome angle shooting as acceptable gameplay.
  • In order to safeguard its participants, many casinos and brick-and-mortar cardrooms have established specific ‘house rules’ aimed at curbing certain types of angle shooting and even prohibiting them outright. (Some of these regulations will be discussed in the sections that follow.) Nevertheless, players often seek loopholes to manipulate the rules for personal gain.
  • NeedlingLight-hearted In this article, we will examine common instances of angle shooting in both live and online poker settings, while also discussing more appropriate techniques to gather information from your adversaries. tilt THE TOP 3 EXAMPLES OF ANGLE SHOOTING IN LIVE POKER


Live poker presents numerous opportunities for this deceptive move due to the often unclear nature of players' betting behaviors. (In contrast, online poker offers a more straightforward method for executing bets—typically with just a simple button click.) Below are the top three examples of angle shooting that can occur in live poker, along with additional instances summarized afterward:

You can also create confusion with your ‘checking motion’, as the definition of a ‘check’ can vary widely nowadays. For example, if you subtly motion to check, leading your opponents to believe you have checked while you later defend your action by claiming you haven't acted, that constitutes angle shooting.

SUMMARY

You might present incomplete bets and claim you didn’t finalize the bet, arguing that it should not be considered a binding call. Casinos have countered this by implementing rules such as (a) requiring a complete bet to be acknowledged as soon as any chips are placed into the pot; or (b) allowing the money from an ‘incomplete call’ to remain in the pot, where a player can either fold or fully complete the call to continue playing. angle Another tactic could involve sliding your cards forward without crossing the line into the pot, which might mislead your opponents into thinking you folded. Then, you could argue that your motion did not indeed indicate a fold.

If you place chips to call but then claim you meant to say ‘call’ rather than actually intending to raise (while knowing your initial verbal action binds you), this is another form of angle shooting. You're aiming to create propaganda and lead your opponent to believe you made a betting blunder when you really have a strong hand. Ivan Freitez, for instance, has been known to use this tactic, and you can find a video demonstrating it.

This is a particularly unscrupulous maneuver intended to coax your opponent into folding their hand before you reveal yours. The goal is to cause your opponent to muck prematurely, allowing you to then show your actual hand and claim the pot based on the notion that your opponent called before folding. Fortunately, many casinos necessitate that all hole cards are revealed by the winning player at showdown to officially win the pot—not merely a verbal statement.

  • Apart from the three predominant angle shots mentioned earlier, here are several more examples:
  • Rearranging your chips to give the impression you're about to place a bet.
  • Verbally attacking your opponents as a form of manipulation.
  • Peeking at another player’s hole cards if they haven’t protected them adequately.

 
Claiming you haven’t looked at your hand yet (especially if you’re a preflop all-in), when in fact you have seen it and are aware of your standing in the hand. This scenario mirrors a move made by Tony G against Phil Hellmuth on the TV show 'The Big Game' where Tony held AK and Phil had AJ—here’s the video.