Matt Berkey was becoming suspicious.
Berkey, a 42-year-old poker pro known for his presence in some of the highest-stakes cash games in Las Vegas, was playing in a well-known casino poker room over the summer. One player in the game who wasn’t particularly familiar to Berkey and other regulars at the table, but who was believed to be an amateur based on his play style, was displaying some strange behavior.
For one, the player was wearing earbuds—typically a no-no in these kinds of semi-private games where many players have existing friendships.