Texas Hold 'Em: Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting in Texas Hold ‘Em doesn’t refer to anything illegal (like bogus money, extra hidden cards, or fake poker chips... these will get you into trouble, especially at the “shoot first, ask questions later” table.) Instead, it refers to one (if not more) of the community cards that doesn’t reduce/increase your hand value, but could allow another player to beat your hand. Think of it as a card that you don’t need but your opponent does and might use to take your winnings!
Precise definitions of counterfeiting in Texas Hold ‘Em differ. Some consider counterfeiting duplicating your cards in the community board. Others just refer to community cards that can reduce your chances of winning. For example, you may not have a Queen in your hand (and a Queen won’t help you any other way) but having a Queen dealt could give everyone else at the table a good hand. Either way you choose to define the term, it’s really not something you want to happen.
Here’s an example of counterfeiting in action.
You have a Jack in your hole cards and the community cards are a ten, nine, eight, and seven. Right now you have a Straight because a Jack is in your hole cards. However if the fifth community card is a Jack, then everyone on that table has a Straight (or better.) The value of your hand didn’t change either way, but your chances for winning just went down. Ouch.
Counterfeiting can result in multiple winners, or a table full of winners. In the above example, everyone has a Straight to the Jack. Unless someone has a better hand, the winnings will be shared equally. Texas Hold ‘Em doesn’t use tie breaking cards to determine the best hand and that’s why we get so many tied hands when counterfeiting happens. It’s the best five card hand you can make from seven cards and the other two cards not chosen don’t exist for you.
Now, the example I gave you with the Straight was extreme. During the fifth community card there’s not much you can do to change your situation. If counterfeiting happens during an earlier round, then you’re going to have to decide if you need to fold or stay in. Does the counterfeit card ruin your hand (or make others just as strong as you?) Can you use another card in your hand as a way out if necessary? Maybe you can try for a Four of a Kind to beat the Community Full House? If you still have a chance at a good hand with another card you weren’t planning on using, then perhaps you should go for it.
Hey, at the very least, it’ll make a great story when you tell your friends how you won the round despite the counterfeit!
