The Poker World Was Ripped Off by the Cheating Scam

 The Poker World's Cheating scandal

On another tear. The 42-year-old, who was moon-faced, was deep into a marathon poker game at Stones Gambling Hall. It is a small glass-and-steel casino that sits between Interstate 80 in Sacramento and a Popeye's in suburban Sacramento. Stones was streaming the game via Twitch and YouTube on September 21, 2019. It attracted several high-profile players to the casino's poker room, which was decorated in Old West style. One Las Vegas-based pro had flown in on chartered aircraft with $50,000 in cash. Postle was still ripping the competition, and he was comfortably the chips leader for the evening.

Five hours in, a strange hand appeared. The most popular poker game on TV, Texas Hold 'Em (the most televised), began with each player being dealt two face-down cards, the hole cards. In three rounds, five community cards would be dealt face up. Bets were possible in the middle. The flop is the first face-up group of cards. It consists of three cards. After the flop, the dealer would add one card ("the turning") and then another ("the river") cards. The best five-card player would win the pot. However, seven players folded before the flop. Postle, who was dealt the queen of diamonds, and the jack of hearts, continued to play the hand. Marle Cordeiro (a Las Vegas-based pro who has a large social media following) would be Postle's sole opponent.

Postle had the 8 of spades and 9 of diamonds flops. He was now a 10 from a straight queen-high (8-9-10-jack-queen). Two more shared cards were remaining. Cordeiro then placed a $600 stake after the turn produced a rather useless 4 of spades.

Postle, his baseball cap almost covering his eyes, reached for his left hand and clutched his right shoulder as he considered his options. Most experienced players would raise or call in such a situation. The statistical likelihood that Postle's hand would produce a favorable financial outcome was high enough for him to choose to go to the river. Postle was a unique player. He made decisions that rivals thought were too aggressive or meek. These instincts were a great help to him in recent months. Postle was in the midst a winning streak that turned him into a folk hero. Stones had become so fond of him that they called him the Messiah or even God.

Postle sat in silent contemplation for half a second, almost motionless, in his black leather armchair. After a moment of silence, Postle sighed in resignation and then folded his cards. Are Poker Cheating Programs Real?