Deciphering Poker Tells
June 9th, 2008
Deciphering Poker Tells – How to Read Your Opponent
Many people overrate the importance of tells. They figure that the best players can look at every opponent and determine their exact hand from some seemingly insignificant twitch or ostensibly mindless chip shuffle. The reality is that most tells are not nearly this obvious. In order to glean information about the strength of an opponent’s hand, players trying to decipher tells need to look at patterns of behavior.
Behavior Patterns
When looking for tells in poker games, what you will most often be looking for is the level of comfort your opponent is exhibiting. Players who are bluffing are trying to hide their discomfort. It has to go somewhere. Whether it’s a shaking leg, crossed arms or something else, look for signs that your opponent is “holding it in.”
Conversely, a poker player with a strong hand will be trying to hide his glee. Looking disinterested, sighing, or looking away may be some examples that your opponent is trying to redirect his excitement over the strength of his hand.
Deviations from the Mean
Some tells may indicate different things for different players. A shaking hand may mean a player is excited about his hand or simply that he has a nervous condition. You should make an effort to verify your tells by noting how the behavior deviates from the way the player normally acts. Once you have done this, note why and when the behavior deviates and you may have a useful tell. Then, you can start going with intuition.
Reevaluating Your Read
Always be prepared to reevaluate your read based on new information. A player may be giving off strong tells when he is weak because he doesn’t have a good understanding of hand strength. He may be coming down from a strong jolt of caffeine. He may have been drinking. Remain vigilant and be prepared to tailor your read to the specific poker situation.