Update:
I went back to the game and got there early. I put my bag and coat to the right of the host’s usual seat, i.e. Brad’s seat.
The host looked at my stuff, and kind of made a face, but didn’t ask me to move. So, less evidence of anything fishy.
However, once Brad arrived I waited until he picked a seat (to the left of the host). Then I said I was moving one over to have a better view of the table. Brad jumped to take his usual seat to the host’s right with a speed that would make Usain Bolt jealous.
This struck me as odd because he already had a seat next to his best buddy, on the other side of him, with the same view of the TV. But maybe it was just habit, I dunno.
I did keep an eye on their play, and they definitely do not tangle with each other in big pots very often, if at all. That, too, could just be a function of them considering each other better players, and wanting to focus on exploiting some of the weaker fish at the table. Again, I could suggest some soft collusion, or it could just be a sound strategic decision.
There was, however, one truly odd hand between the two of them. It went multiway to the flop, but Brad raised big, and Don called, the other players, the rest folding. This is I understand it is a fairly common strategy for colluders.
They then checked the hand through the turn and river, with the board showing a guaranteed chop on the river (quads with an A kicker).
The host, Don, flipped over a pocket pair, a full house earlier which which had been counterfeited by the quads.
Brad then *mucked his hand* giving Don the pot that should have been a 100% chop.
My friend, who was the one who raised the seating issue with me originally, said to Brad: “What the fuck are you doing? Why would you do that?”
Brad just kind of mumbled something and shook his head. If he misread the board, I would’ve expected him to say so— it’s the most natural, and maybe the only excuse.
It looked a lot like chip dumping, but it was done in such an all the way that I almost think it must’ve been an accident. Way too unsubtle.
Then again Brad is probably the most hyperaware player in this game, commenting constantly on boards and hands, even when he is not in them. It’s possible that he was distracted, but that would be very uncharacteristic of him in a pot like that.
So, there’s that.
Don said to Brad, “Get your head in the game,” and then everything continued with no further discussion.