US HoldemThe Cheater Never Wins...In The Short-Term
Cheating is as old as gaming; and gaming is as old as civilization itself. It is defined as a measure that circumvents in secret the established rules to attain the very goals provided in the game. As opposed to common belief, the target of cheating is not to deceive. The element of deception is there in that it is employed in order for the player to win. A cheater does not show off his skill; if this is happens it means that he has gotten caught doing it.
Just like magicians in a carnival, cheaters do not reveal the secrets of their trade. Unlike with the magicians, however, there are no "schools" for cheating. Throughout the years of seeking alternatives to established rules and game expectations, mental and manipular skills have developed to challenge limitations. Under the best light of viewing this subject, we can say that cheating has almost become a branch in gaming that may collect the loopholes uncovered by legitimate rules and skills.
Every game has its cheater. The presence of a cheater shows the imperfection of the gaming structure. This prompts the experts to patch it up to avoid disintegration. In a game maker's quest for cheat-free perfection, we can say that he needs the cheater to "threaten" his regulations. In doing this, weaknesses in the game are therefore exposed and can be dealt with accordingly, thereby strengthening the game in the long run.
One game that has uniquely adapted to the presence of the cheater is poker. It can be almost said that poker was made for the cheater. Instead of basically resisting alien manipulations, poker absorbed them. This is why we can behold so numerous variations of the game. These are actually mutations that had set in to suit the needs and adapt to the skills of its varied proponents. It is almost prophetic in its birth that such elbow room was provided in its gaming structure so that penetrations such as wild cards and the bluff could be employed to achieve victory.
Throughout all the novel variations, poker has magnificently retained its identity, highly distinct from the other card games like blackjack, casino, gin rummy, and others. In what other game in the world allows its player to look the other in the eye and make him believe that he has the better hand so it would be best to give up the game? It is very reminiscent of the gunfighters of the old west that challenge each other to a showdown if one of them refused to git outta town by sundown!
Now that poker is reaching a new phase in its existence, that attaining a new popularity through televised tournaments, we can only wonder what masterful weavings will the cheater come up next. For now and till then, let us behold the poker game in the light of the cheater's victory.
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