Every way you can Spot a Poker Bot at an online poker site

Playing poker online has become a source of enjoyment for millions, and has really transformed the accessibility of the game. Today, you can play poker on your phone sitting on the beach if you want, but if you take the game more seriously, and want to earn money from it, there is something that you need to understand, and that is the rise of the poker bot.

What is a Bot in Poker?

A poker bot is a piece of software that takes all the information of a hand and develops the most probably strategy to win the game from any position. Bots can offer players on screen advice to help them win games of poker, or even play the games automatically, winning hands, and money, while the player is off doing something else.

Do poker sites have bots?

In almost every poker room you will ever open an account with, it’s important to note that part of the terms and conditions of the poker site will refer to poker bots and similar tools, stating they are not allowed. Getting caught using a poker bot when you’re playing in an online poker room can lead to suspension and even the deletion of your bot account. However, the key there is if you get caught.

There is a constant battle between poker sites and poker bot users, with bots evolving to make them harder to detect in use, and sites finding new ways to identify bot use. In general, you can expect most poker sites to have some bots among its players, so you need to be on the lookout for them.

What are the ways to spot a poker bot?

The good news is, that as sophisticated as bots have become, there are still some tells that suggest you are playing against a bot, keep an eye out for these as you play, and you can avoid the challenges that bots bring to you as a player.

The player takes about the same amount of time to act every hand

Every turn of a poker hand is different, for a human player, sometimes they will know exactly what they are going to do beforehand, sometimes they will sit and think for a while. Sometimes they have no choice, but whatever the reason, they will take different amounts of time to make a move. A bot goes through the same hand analysis every turn, and will always take the same amount of time in every situation.

The player doesn’t answer to moderator in the chat or to an alert

A bot won’t interact with anyone or anything. It is designed to play the game, and its only data input is the cards on the table and the actions of each player. The bot cannot answer any chat request because it doesn’t know the chat exists.

The player plays for unreasonable amounts of time

Bots don’t need to sleep. They can run for as long as you want. While some players can get into a groove and be playing for 10 or 12 hours, it would be unusual to see someone playing for 24 hours without a break. If they do, it is likely a bot.

The player plays an unreasonable amount of tables

Bots aren’t restricted to a single game. Advanced bots can play across a dozen tables or more at once. While some players do play multiple tables, there is a limit to how many even a great poker player can concentrate on at once.

If you see a player on a dozen or more tables at once, it is likely to be a bot.

What to Do If You Suspect a Player is a Bot

There are two approaches to seeing a bot. The first is to walk away from the table and play elsewhere, if you want, alerting the poker site to the bot as well. The other is to try and exploit the bot’s weaknesses and win some money from it.

Unless you are a skilled player with experience of playing against bots, it is probably best to walk away.

What happens when a poker bot is detected?

If a site detects a bot the account will usually be suspended while further investigations take place. After that, punishment could be fines of any winning attributed to the bot, to complete account removal, depending on the severity of the situation and the poker site involved.

When a Poker Player is Probably Not a Bot

We’ve mentioned a series of tells for identifying a bot, but they are not perfect. If you encounter an opponent that shows just one or two of those traits, it may still be a human player.

The player doesn’t respond in the chat

Not everyone is talkative, and in some cases they may not be able to understand the conversation. Check a player’s location to see where they are from, if English is not their native language, don’t expect them to be in the chat by default.

The player always leaves the table, or sits out depending on the number of players at the table

While poker bots will have parameters set for optimal strategy, including the number of players at a table, the reality is that may players do this too.

If they are trying to play a specific way, too few players, or too many, can be a problem, and simply not playing is the best option.

The player always bets the same size in the same spots

Some players have a system, and they stick to it whatever is happening. It is not the best way to play poker, but it also doesn’t make them a bot. Stickling to a specific betting pattern can help people establish a baseline for how the game is going and they build strategy from, that point.

The player always joins the table you’re on, and sits next to you

It may simply be someone who has seen how you play and thinks they can beat you, and wants to keep playing against you. It is a little odd, but that in itself does not make someone a bot.

The reality is that individually, there are situations where each of these behaviors can be carried out by human players. It is when you see multiples of these behaviors all together than you can begin to see this as a bot.

What do poker sites do against the bots?

Poker sites have ongoing automated detection systems working in the background in every poker room, trying to detect bots. If they do suspect bot activity, they will suspend the account and investigate further.

This will be a manual investigation; the site will contact the account holder and also analyze game logs to see what was going on. If they do decide that the player was using a bot, the site will usually ban the player and delete their account.

Have You Ever Suspected Your Opponent is a Bot?

Now you know what to look for in identifying a poker bot, have you ever played against one? Maybe you thought something was wrong but weren’t sure, and now see that the signs were there and it was probably a bot.

What are the poker bot positives?

Bots are a great learning tool, even professional players use bot opponents to practice aspects of their game and overcome their own weaknesses. For those starting out, or anyone trying to get better, playing against a poker bot can be a really useful way to quickly learn new skills and improve your overall game.

What are the poker bot negatives?

Bots that are left to play in live games make it difficult for new players. Set to win money, they offer an unfair challenge for players on the site, with the bot owner making money while they sleep.

Conclusion

Bots can be incredibly useful in poker, representing a new step in technology and perhaps the best learning tool there has ever been in the game. However, if players log into poker sites and all they play are bots, it can drive people out of the game, because it is simply no fun for anyone.

FAQ:

What are the most obvious signs that I’m playing against a poker bot?

The bot makes the same bets, takes the same amount of time at every turn, and never responds in chat while playing for hours without a break.

How can I tell if a player is using a bot or just has a very consistent strategy?

If they player is making consistent bets that is one thing, but if they also play for hours across multiple tables without ever taking a break, chances are that is a bot.

What should I do if I suspect a player is a bot?

Walk away from the table and let the poker site know.

Can poker bots be beaten, or should I avoid playing against them altogether?

Experienced players can beat bots, however if you have never played them before, just walk away.