Don't over-rely on tells
It is far better to study and memorize a certain player's betting patterns and exploit them rather than relying on reading their
tells. Great players RARELY ever show tells, but they all have betting patterns.
The same tell could mean something different depending on your opponent
For example, nervousness (from bluffing) and anxiousness (from having the nuts) can look the same. The difference is
confidence. Get them to talk and listen for any crack in their voice. If it cracks, they are probably bluffing. If they speak very
easily, then they are not afraid of losing (so you should be!).
It is far better to study and memorize a certain player's betting patterns and exploit them rather than relying on reading their
tells. Great players RARELY ever show tells, but they all have betting patterns.
The same tell could mean something different depending on your opponent
For example, nervousness (from bluffing) and anxiousness (from having the nuts) can look the same. The difference is
confidence. Get them to talk and listen for any crack in their voice. If it cracks, they are probably bluffing. If they speak very
easily, then they are not afraid of losing (so you should be!).
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Put the fear in 'em!
Poker Tells
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"Wouldn't it be great to have an invisible mini-mentor sitting on your shoulder to advise when to take a specific action?" -Peter Sharkey, The Poker Gazette*
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What is a Poker Tell?
When a player unknowingly indicates the strength of their hand.
There is one over-riding concept behind the great majority of tells...
Weak means strong - Strong means weak
There is one over-riding concept behind the great majority of tells...
Weak means strong - Strong means weak
Examples of a Poker Tell
1. Pushing chips in with authority means usually they have nothing.
2. Lazy call or worse a lazy raise ("Well, I should just call, but I think I'll raise you, just in case you're bluffing."), is usually a
good sign that they have a big hand and you need to lay it down. All tells boil down to the same basic principle. The trick is
knowing your opponent well enough to know when he is following the above rule or they are purposely breaking it.
2. Lazy call or worse a lazy raise ("Well, I should just call, but I think I'll raise you, just in case you're bluffing."), is usually a
good sign that they have a big hand and you need to lay it down. All tells boil down to the same basic principle. The trick is
knowing your opponent well enough to know when he is following the above rule or they are purposely breaking it.
Faking Poker Tells
If you want to fake tells, practice them before hand. Use a friend, mirror or video camera to study yourself. Mastery of your
own tells will win you a lot of pots. You need to approach these lessons like a professional athlete and practice, practice,
practice!
If you are only going to be at a table for a short time, definitely use and abuse your own tells. You won't have time to identify
the tells of the players at your table, but you can still sucker them into acting on your tells.
own tells will win you a lot of pots. You need to approach these lessons like a professional athlete and practice, practice,
practice!
If you are only going to be at a table for a short time, definitely use and abuse your own tells. You won't have time to identify
the tells of the players at your table, but you can still sucker them into acting on your tells.