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Common Poker Tells A poker tell is any type of habit, physical reaction, or behavior that lets others know what your hand is. Below are some common poker tells to watch out for, both in other players and yourself. There are always exceptions to the rule, and if you play long enough with the same players you'll pick up on many other possible tells. Remember that pros will often give off false tells in order to confuse players. - The Eyes: Eye movement is critical in determining what other players have. Notice that pros often wear sunglasses to shield others from where their eyes are traveling. Some players will look you in the eye and ask questions, knowing that most people can't lie while making direct eye contact. Also, some players will stare longer at their pocket cards if they are big. If a player glances at his chips right after the flop, he/she probably has a good hand and is already planning their next bet. - Nervous Hands: If you see trembling hands, beware. This is the most obvious sign of a good hand that there is. When someone hits a big hand, the adrenaline starts to flow, and their hands usually begin to shake out of nervousness. - Betting Patterns: This is a tell that you could watch for in online and offline texas holdem games. Study the other players betting patterns in relation to their hands. For example, you might notice that a player always checks when they have a big hand. - Chip Stacks: How do the players stack their chips? If their chips are neat at all times, they are usually tight players. If their chips are loosely strewn about, they are loose-aggressive players. This is a broad stereotype, but has merit. - Posture: Does the player tend to slouch when they've lost confidence in their hand? Are they suddenly sitting upright? Perhaps they just got great cards. - Peeking at their Cards: If a player peeks at their pocket cards more than once, they are probably chasing a straight or a flush and checking to see what they still need. - Anxiety: If someone is bluffing you, they are going to attempt to hide all signs of anxiety. Watch them closely--are they sweating? Is their voice higher? Is their heart beating faster? The best way to bluff someone is to remain absolutely calm and confident, which is easier said then done. - Aspiring Actors: These players know the
common poker tells and are desperately trying to portray the
opposite. If you know someone is chasing a flush, and when they
get their card they cry out, "damnit!" their bad acting
just let you know that they caught the flush. These players try
to over-compensate by acting a certain way, and they are usually
pretty easy to spot. Let's say they suddenly act disinterested
in the hand when it's their turn to bet by saying, "Oh,
it's my turn?" Uh, yeah...they have good cards. |