Death of the Poker Mechanic

Death of the Poker Mechanic
The demise of the card sharp

THE POKER MECHANIC R.I.P
One of the massive benefits online play has brought to the amazing game of poker is its 99% protection from serious cheating. The big sites simply can’t afford to do it. The audits and the huge value of their “good will” make it a ridiculous consideration. Financially they have everything to lose and peanuts to gain when they’re all making millions. No motive. No desire.A random online deal from regularly inspected software is the safest way any human being is ever going to receive a fair hand of cards during a poker game. The implications of this for older and more traditional “bricks and mortar” players carry an element of nostalgia and a sense of loss. One of the great talents in cardmanship belonged to the so-called “poker mechanic”. These days the true card-magician is a dying breed who can only reliably be found in high rolling private cash games. If, like me, you sometimes find yourselves in this kind of an environment, out of a sense of adventure or because you’ve fried the PC with three days and nights of solid online Hold’em, you might catch a glimpse of this wonderful species.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR!
The best way to track the beast is to watch “the deal”. Take a quick look on the web to search out a photo of the classic “mechanic’s grip”. The back of the hand rests on the felt. The pack lies gently on the palm of the hand surrounded by all of the mechanic’s fluid fingers. Watch carefully because all poker mechanics will perform at least two or three tricks at once and you may be quick enough to catch one of them. They will at first attempt a peek at the cards they’re looking for by using a riffle shuffle with the cards angled ever so slightly towards them. This is done very quickly and with a swift downward glance usually while they’re talking as an extra distraction. If the dealer then suggests the game they’d like to play, this will be the second clue that they’ve seen something which might suit that particular suggested game. Card dexterity itself is a clue that you may be looking at a poker mechanic. Anyone who can manipulate cards at speed will at least have learned how to slip a card from the bottom of the pack under the top card being dealt in such a swift and fluid movement it is almost impossible to spot and extremely difficult to prove. Watch for any one of the above give-aways and politely excuse yourself from the table if the offender outweighs you. Or ask if everyone can please cut the cards in order to assist your paranoia. That gesture alone will be enough to have the mechanic postpone his gymnastics until the following night at a different, less sober gathering. Do however take the time to marvel at his dying art before pulling the trigger.

Source: http://www.onlinepokercolumn.com/Death-of-the-Poker-Mechanic.html