The cold deck carries a couple of meanings. It can be used to describe a player who has caught a bad run of cards, which in turn, has seen them lose a round or two. As you might expect, certain hands will be cold while others will be very strong hands, especially if you have landed a flush or straight.
Naturally, some players would be very frustrated, as they would be bewildered as to what has gone on after the shuffle, and they will be hoping their fortunes begin to change in games played.
However, the other popular reference to the cold deck in poker is arguably more sinister. In this sense, the cold deck suggests that there has been a carefully prepared deck that has been designed to manipulate the situation of those playing at the table.
In other words, it is akin to cheating as a player might be dealt a set of cards from the dealer thinking they had very strong hands, whereas, in fact, the cold decked cards would present a very different picture.
A good example of a cold deck in a game would be if one player was dealt Ace and King of Hearts in hold’em, while other players might have pocket pairs or have a 10-Jack-Queen when dealt out of the flop.
Another example might be quads, and this might cause some players to question whether there was cheating going on during a game or if the dealer managed to carry out a sneaky tactic to rob players of the chance to claim a strong hand.
Either way, there is a risk that a casino could be caught out especially if there was video footage that appears to show wrongdoing in a poker room.
Variance, as we know plays a huge part in any given poker game, and cold decked games can turn things on its head.
WHAT IS A FAKE DECK IN POKER?
With a fake deck, the cards will be stacked in a particular way after a switch is made. Stacked decks will be introduced to the game in a subtle fashion, but it is deemed illegal as it constitutes cheating.
Do note that those caught stacking decks could be thrown out of a poker game, and while switching is not uncommon, it is virtually impossible to pull the wool over the eyes of a player if they are watching intently what is going on after they have put their chips into the pot.
WHERE DID THE NAME COLD DECK COME FROM?
The notion of the cold deck originated from the idea that the deck had been meticulously prepared.
As the dealer hadn’t touched the cards for a few rounds in a game, the cards were deemed to be cooler or rather cold as opposed to warm. It is an intriguing dimension, especially as a dealer may be rotated after games or before a new deal takes place.
HOW DOES THE COLD DECK LAYOUT LOOK?
When brought into play, a player, for example, could land a pair of aces or a pair of kings, and in the Texas Hold’em version of poker, this would be considered to be a cold deck.
WHO PUTS SUCH A PREPARED DECK INTO THE PLAY?
Only those who have an existing interest in a game would risk cheating but putting a prepared deck into play, and this would stir up a range of reactions from players depending on the cards they have been dealt.
CONCLUSION
The cold deck is perhaps an unfamiliar tactic employed in poker, but it is nevertheless an important subject that needs to be covered.
When you are in the cards, you need to be wary of what hand your opponent may have or might produce. Ideally, you should use your nous to counter any hands they might pull out when the opportunity arises.
⭐ Is it possible to use a cold deck in online poker?
It is, however, it is much harder to do so than in a casino as the cards will be automatically generated to make things fairer for a player.
⭐ Is a cold deck in poker a cheat?
In short, yes, especially if the cards have been shuffled in such a way as to suggest there was foul play if decks were switched. A mechanic is a common term to refer to a card cheater.
⭐ Is there a cold deck in Texas Hold'em?
Yes, as a player, for example, might be dealt Ace and King of Hearts, while another could land pocket queens after the deal.
⭐ Is a duel of aces against kings a cold deck?
Yes, and this would be a crushing loss for a player if they were the victim.