German poker pro Fedor Kruse has had a successful run this summer, having booked a runner-up finish in a Monster Stack event at the GGPoker WSOP Online Super Circuit back in May where he walked away with $92,767. He followed it up with a final table finish (9th, $41,566) at the $500 Mini Main Event during the WSOP Online Bracelet Series.
Now, skills have been called into question after he became the center of the latest cheating controversy to hit the world of poker.
Two-Computer Set Up
Kruse was accused of using a real-time solver while competing in high-stakes cash games, something that online poker sites strictly prohibit. He allegedly carried out the act by using two computers which enabled him to bypass poker room security. Online poker sites normally have a security mechanism in place to detect unusual mouse click behavior and the German poker pro was able to get through it with the use of two mouse devices.
Kruse, a former Call of Duty streamer, allegedly played on one computer, while also using another one where a “dream machine” was installed. That dream machine was an RTA solver, a super calculator for poker helping players to figure out the optimal solution to a particular situation. While playing hands on computer 1, Kruse would then consult computer 2 and look for the applicable pre-solved hand.
Roommates Turned Whistleblowers
The shocking revelation was made by Kruse’s roommates who posted a picture of his computer set-up alongside screenshots of their discussions on Two Plus Two forum. The story only came to light earlier this week but prior to that, there had already been speculations that something explosive would come out after partypoker ambassador Patrick Leonard gave away hints during a WSOP live stream.
The photo shared on Two Plus Two shows what appears to be a grind station with two computers equipped with two mouse devices and three monitors. Four online poker tables are open on one monitor, one on America’s Cardroom and the other three on Natural 8. An active solver can be seen open on another monitor, though it’s quite difficult to figure out whether or not Kruse was the one playing.
Screenshots of conversations offer a more concrete evidence as a screen name in one of the discussions links to Kruse’s PokerStars account. In one of the screenshots, Kruse refers to a certain “Sandro”, whom the whistleblowers believe was the person who built Kruse’s computer set-up.
In another conversation, Kruse warned his roommate that he’d have no chance with the regulars if he did not use the “dream machine”.
Some of Kruse’s housemates, including poker streamer Henri Buehler, admitted to staking Kruse for a number of his cash games which they acknowledged was utterly wrong.
Fellow German players began suspecting that Kruse was up to something when he rapidly ascended the stakes from $100NL, considering that he was initially a break-even cash games player and was more inclined to playing tournaments. From $100NL, Kruse quickly climbed to as high as $200/$400 and would achieve incredible results. His “very non-intuitive plays which are all ‘solver-approved’” also drew attention.
Kruse would allegedly choose to play 100 big blinds deep and use the same bet-sizings as those contained in solvers. In just two weeks, Kruse was able to rack up over $90,000 in winnings and managed to climb to the $10,000 buy-in games.
A Threat To Online Poker
This story will greatly affect everyone’s perception about GTO solvers, and will somehow support existing arguments that these types of software could become a sophisticated form of cheating.
While many in the community, especially those who know how solvers work, will maintain that Kruse’s use of solver isn’t cheating, the controversy will serve as warning to online poker rooms to strengthen their security as there could be a lot more players who have been bypassing security and using real time solvers.