Poker is as much a game of psychology as it is of cards. Even the best cards won't get the largest pot if you can't read your opponent or control your tells. There are a number of tells that involve involuntary movements, like breathing, and also those that involve voluntary movements, like the way the bet is placed. The most important thing to remember is that weak does not always mean a weak hand and strong behavior may indicate a weak hand.
Start by assessing the player when you first sit down. Look at the way they dress, their demeanor and how they handle themselves. This first impression gives you an indication on the type of cards that they play. Someone that dresses flashy, indicates they have money to burn and has a self-confident aura usually is a risk taker. These people tend to bet higher on weaker hands and bluff more frequently. The conservative dresser that has a low profile usually only bets on a strong hand.
Look involuntary signs of a good hand. If you notice a more rapid breathing pattern or their pupils of their eyes widen, there's a good chance that any bet they place has good cards to go along with it. This is also true if their voice rises a bit. These involuntary reactions usually come from the excitement of a great hand.
The poker table is also a great stage for the wanna' be actor. Those that want you to think their hand is superior tend to put their bet on the table in a strong, almost threatening manner. They announce the bet in a voice a little louder than normal. Usually you're safe to call the bet because the player is attempting to intimidate you into folding.
The weak acting player that moves their chips in quietly leans back or slowly makes the bet wants you to call. They try to act nonchalant about a strong hand in order to sucker you into the bet. Don't fall for a sigh followed by a raise as a sign that the player has a weak hand. They normally aren't bluffing. The same is true for the muttered curse word and feigned disappointment.
Watch the player for a change in behavior. The talkative player usually gets quiet when they have a great hand. The busy player, one that talks with friends, answers the cell phone or messes with their Blackberry during most of the games and suddenly begins to focus also has a strong hand. A sudden snap to attention and upright sitting position from a slouch is another indicator of a good hand.
A super tell for those live games is a betting tell. In higher stakes games watch for the black chip. If a player has four green chips (four quarters or $25 chips) and bets a black one ($100) you know the hand is extremely strong. Most players attempt to keep their black chips. If they have any fear of losing, they use the green chips for the bet.
When there's a flop that has three cards of the same suit and a player double-checks his cards, he usually only has one card of that suit. Most players that have an immediate flush already know what suit they are looking for, those with one need to double check how strong their flush card is.
The best time to learn the other player tells is when you fold early in the game. Don't waste this time but consider it a time to research, which costs you nothing. Watch for tells from the other players and then look at the outcome of the game and you can size up the players tells without spending any extra money. |
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