Phil Ivey in Another Multi-Million Dollar Baccarat Dispute

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Poker pro Phil Ivey is neck-deep in another casino baccarat dispute, this time involving a $9.6 million win on the Borgata in Atlantic City. After having greater than $10 million withheld by a London casino in an identical dispute, the player's use of all available information again comes into question. In step with the Borgata, Ivey took good thing about the poorly-cut playing cards, a few of which had full-circles on the end of the cardboard (at the back) and a few only had 1 / 4 or a half, and people cuts were on specific card values. This sort of scam was going-on for 100 years, with many Nevada stories where blackjack players took similar advantage and either high-lowed decks, or were in a position to guess the worth of the following card when the dealer exposed an excessive amount of of the back of the deck.

There are two major things that jump out at me with this story. The first, whether it is true that Ivey and his accomplice did even have input at the arrangement of the cards (it's alleged they told the dealer which technique to turn cards so that they could see the highest of the small circles and should have influenced their arrangement), then they're out and out cheats in my book - but after all that's for the court of law and public opinion to make a decision. The second one issue is if that is indeed what happened in London, what the heck is incorrect with the Borgata? You recognize the problem is feasible and also you keep using cards with the opportunity of theft? OMG.

As for poker play and using all available information, that is what makes a player great. Whether you're reading your opponent to guess their hand, or simply figuring pot odds to choose a call, raise or fold, that is what it is all about. Phil Ivey has shown he's the most effective poker players on this planet because he's taking in all information and uses it to his advantage. If the casino offers a game where he can see the defects and profit - well shame on them. If he steered the cards to extend that advantage - shame on him, and wow, is that disappointing!

Read More... [Source: About.com Casino Gambling]