Building Poker

Poker Tells

Reading Poker Tells

When I first started playing poker I lost more than a few rounds because I couldn’t read the other player’s tells. Tells in poker means a players body language. Body language and sounds which are clues as to what type of hand the player is holding. We all have involuntary actions that we are not even aware of. Being able to recognize this body language will help you win and keep you from losing.

• The first thing you need to know is how long your opponent has been playing the game of poker. Seasoned players have had enough experience to control their tells while a new player is probably not even aware of his own body language.
• Keep in mind that your opponents hand is probably either better or worse than they let on. A good rule of thumb is that a player acting like they have a good hand probably has a very weak hand. A player acting like they have weak hand probably has a very strong hand.
• If a player has lost interest in what other players are doing it is probably because they have a winning hand.
• Look for clues that a play may be excited but pretending not to be. These clues include tapping of feet, cracking of knuckles, or rapid eye movement.
• If your opponent seems nervous than they probably have a good hand. Notice is they are sighing or sweating.
• Watch the person’s chest. Heavy breathing is an uncontrollable tell. The player most likely has a hand that is either far worse or far better than they are letting on.
• A player with a good hand may say things such as, “I’ve got nothing,” and then ante or they may say “I guess I’ll stay in but I don ‘t know why.
• If a player keeps glancing at their hand and their chips they are most likely calculating how much they can afford to bet on their hand. This is a tell that they most likely have a good hand.
• An aggressive player will try to bully other players when they have a bad hand. One way they do this is to stare at his opponent as they play their hand.
• A player with a very bad hand may hold his breath. This is an excellent example of an uncontrolled reflex that your opponent may not even be aware of. Players usually hold their breath when they have a bad hand and are trying to bluff.
• If your opponent seems to be doing math in their heads it is because they probably are. The odds are in your favor here because they are most likely trying to figure out what, if anything, they can make with their cards.

Be aware of your own tells. Play against a trusted friend and ask them what they notice about your body language. Practice looking in the mirror as a way to learn to control your facial expressions and body language.

Find out some simple poker tips that can help you improve your game.