Poker Network Stances Vary on "Bumhunting"

We all know that various poker networks vary greatly on certain issues - particularly when it comes to the perception of players who "take advantage" of their skill when competing against recreational or casual players. One of these issues, affectionately known as "bumhunting", has created quite the difference of opinion across poker skins and their network operators - especially in terms of implenting procedures to combat it.

Pokerstars made headlines across the poker world last month when it announced a new policy towards players who "lie in wait" at cash tables for low-skilled targets. Any tables that are inactive for more than 30 seconds are now automatically closed and then reopened, thus clearing out anyone that might be sitting out, perhaps stalling for fish to swim to them. This policy does not apply, however, to heads-up tables. And according to a rep via the 2+2 forums, Pokerstars is working to remove the function for players to be able to sit out when no hands are being played, across the board.

Just yesterday, the Microgaming Poker Network (which only operates in four overseas markets) issued a press release on the subject, going so far as to completely eradicate all heads up play from their offerings. According to them, doing this and replacing it with a different variant "solves the industry-wide problem of ‘bum-hunting’, in which players park in a seat at a Heads Up table and wait for a weaker player to arrive, refusing play with any player of equal or better skill." Though their aims are large in scope, however, it seems unlikely a network as relatively small as theirs will have much if any effect on the industry as a whole - however it turns out for them.

Bringing the issue to US-facing rooms and networks, the three big operations have very distinct views and policies regarding bumhunting. Revolution (Intertops and Juicy Stakes), for starters, implemented what they've deemed "Fair Play Technology" back in March that has, according to an Intertops representative, indirectly limited the opportunity for bumhunting to exist.

"This fair play system groups players with similar poker skills to compete / play against each other. We believe that it will help to limit (bum hunting), especially since given the fact that the fair play system categorizes players, they would only have access to certain tables."

The Merge Network has a somewhat lighter stance, according to Carbon Poker rep Ryan. Via 2+2, he says that while they do not have a specific policy in place, they do not condone the activity.

"I would say that we are definitely against bumhunters. We feel they are bad for the ecology of our site, and would never do anything to knowingly assist them in their actions."

And perhaps most interesting is the way the Winning Poker Network approaches the issue. ACR Poker rep "Lisa" spoke quite candidly when asked how ACR and WPN handle bumhunting, equating it to the free will of players in how they approach their own style and ability.

"(Bum hunting) is related with every player strategy and that is something that we cannot control, since all our players are free to play in the table they want with the players they want."

She further expanded on this thought, even going as far as to offer advice on what players should ultimately be doing to benefit their own individual outcomes.

"You really shouldn’t fear these players, because when you really think about it, if they’re going to such measures to play against weaker players, they are probably doing so because they don’t expect to have an edge against better players. So how good can they really be? Focus on your own game, instead of becoming preoccupied with your opponent, (and) your win rate will thank you for it."

In any event, the issue is one that is continually debated and likely will remain so until there are more universal controls put in place to prevent it - and that is not a guarantee in its own right. It's a topic most regular players have an opinion on, and as we've seen here, it's one that many networks themselves have differing viewpoints on.

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