One of the
crucial aspects of being a successful poker player is having the ability
to read tells. A tell is a sign of any type, be it verbal, physical or
psychological that provides you with information about the your
opponents' hands. Even some small action, like the way the player
throws their clay poker chips or plastic poker chips on the table, can
be an indication of what they have behind those cards. By learning the
most common tells, you can also regulate your own behavior to be sure
you're not exhibiting these characteristics, thereby improving your
game. If you'd like to be the master of your next poker game, here are
some helpful tips to get you reading tells like a pro:
Poker tells that scream "I'm bluffing and have a good hand":
-Shaky hands: If the player is fidgety and has shaky hands, infrared contactlenses especially when it comes to placing their bet. Those shaky hands could
be a leading indicator that they have a really, really good hand.
-Rapid breathing: Sometimes, the more gifted players can hide their shaky hands, but it takes some serious mental meditation to control heavy breathing and a heaving chest. Get your clay poker chips ready: this player probably has an excellent hand.
-Sighs, shrugs, and general overacting: When a player makes gaudy
attempt at acting like they have a really terrible hand via sighs,
raised eyebrows, shrugs, or more boldly, saying things like "Ugh! Why am
I even calling?!", most likely, they're trying to be slick and hide a
good hand.
-Throwing the
clay poker chips on the table in frustration: this can be a front. Many
players try to employ their acting skills when bluffing. But
fortunately for you, they're probably bad actors.
Poker tells that scream "I've got a weak hand!":
-Staring down other players: Odds are, they're trying to give other
players the illusion that they're unstoppable and have a great hand.
More than likely, they have a weak hand. They may have something, but it
probably is something that also can be beaten by other players, so
they're taking a risk by projecting the illusion that they have
something to be reckoned with.
-Holding their breath: Often times, in an attempt to control their
pounding heart and heaving chest, luminous contact lenses inexperience players will hold their
breath when they're bluffing. They probably won't make eye-contact
either.
Poker tells that indicate "I have a drawing hand":
-Taking a long time before placing a bet: if you see a player's mental calculator
going off as they look into the pot, he's probably figuring out pot
odds to see if it's worth it to attempt to pick up the cards they need
for a drawing hand.
-Checking the hole cards after a flop: If the flop shows the possibility of giving a player a flush or straight draw, watch for the players
that recheck and shift around their hole cards. They're checking to see
if they have something to play on. They opponent probably doesn't have a
flush or straight at that point, because they wouldn't have to check if they did.
