Poker Tells
Getting the hang of poker tells is super important in Texas Hold’em. Many beginners miss out on this, and they can really gain from some poker coaching.
Poker tells are these little signs, kinda sneaky, that can give you a clue about what cards your opponent has. Whether they mean to do it or not, these cues are like secret hints in their hand. First things first, you’ve got to know your own tells. Being aware of your own tricks gets you ready to figure out and make use of what others are giving away.
What’s a Poker Tell?
In poker, a tell is like a hint – it’s something a player does without meaning to, that gives away clues about how good their cards are. Tells can be things the player does on purpose, or they can be things they don’t even realize they’re doing, like changing how they sit, talk, move their eyes, or bet.
These tells can tell other players if someone feels confident about their cards or if they’ve got a really good hand. Some tells might show if someone is pretending or if they genuinely have strong cards.
Understanding these little signals helps smart players figure out what their opponents might do next. It makes deciding what to do and having a good strategy in poker even more interesting and fun!
Poker Tell Examples
A tell could be something lots of players do or just a unique thing one player does. Now, what are these tells? Well, it could be leaning forward or back, pushing chips harder or softer, fidgeting, showing off with chip tricks, having nervous habits, or even changing how you breathe, talk, look, or handle your cards, chips, smokes, or drinks.
Now, there’s a golden rule for many tells that go beyond poker: “Act weak when you’re strong, and act strong when you’re weak.” So, if someone’s holding a not-so-great hand, they might act all tough, giving you the stink eye, slamming chips into the pot, hoping you’ll chicken out. But, if they’ve got a killer hand, they might act all cool, not making much eye contact, gently tossing in chips, being all chatty and friendly. They’re trying to keep things low-key, so you don’t catch on and make the call. Isn’t that a smart thing to do?
Poker Tells [LIVE POKER]
Hesitating or Taking a Pause While Betting
When someone makes a big bet, pauses and hesitations can signal strong hands. On the other hand, players with weaker hands or bluffs tend to bet straightforwardly, without any pauses.
Here are a couple of examples of hesitating behaviours:
- Moving hesitantly while collecting or placing the bet.
- Saying “bet” or “raise” and then waiting a bit before mentioning the amount or putting in chips.
Now, why does this happen?
Players with weak hands or bluffs don’t want their opponents to study them for too long. The longer it takes to make the bet, the higher the chance that an opponent might notice something (even if it’s incorrect) that could be seen as a sign of a weak hand. Those with weak hands or bluffs want to appear confident.
Making straightforward bets is a way to show confidence. Players with strong hands might have a reason to appear uncertain. Therefore, you might observe hesitations and uncertainty from those with strong hands. Similar to other signs related to betting, it’s easier to spot signs of relaxation and strength in bettors than to find clues of anxiety or a weak hand. Players with strong hands often reveal themselves by doing unusual things that bluffers typically avoid or feel uncomfortable doing.
Defensive Staring
Some players, when they’ve got a not-so-great hand and are waiting for an opponent to make a move, might look directly at them more. They do this to play defensively, trying to stop the other player from betting, kind of like how they handle chips defensively.
On the flip side, players with strong hands, who are okay with their opponents’ betting or even want them to, will usually avoid things like staring that might stop the action.
Just like after someone places a bet and makes eye contact, this behaviour is more likely to happen when players are sitting right in front of each other.
The way they look at you is also a clue. For instance, some players waiting to make a move will stare at you very intensely. The intense gaze suggests they’re playing defensively. When the same player has a good hand, their eyes might be softer and less confrontational.
In general, if the eyes of players waiting to make a move look sharp and ready for a confrontation, it’s a sign that their hands are not that strong.
Calling Quickly Than the Usual Speed
Among the various signals in bet-timing, quick calls stand out as quite useful. Typically, quick calls suggest hands of weaker or medium strength.
Here’s why:
When a player swiftly calls a bet, it indicates that they’ve promptly dismissed the idea of raising. Strong-hand players usually aim to maximize value and play their hand optimally, making an immediate call less likely for them. If a strong-hand player does opt for a mere call, they usually take a few seconds to reach that decision.
Immediate calls are most applicable before the flop and on the flop, where bets are usually small enough for players to call without much thought. On the turn, with larger bets, most players tend to ponder longer, regardless of their hand.
Before the flop, a speedy call of a 3-bet or 4-bet often signals a player holding KK or QQ. These are hands players might consider too strong to fold but not strong enough to raise. With other hands, like AK, most players will at least think about folding or raising.
Remember that ‘quick’ is subjective, depending on what you perceive as normal for a player and situation. Depending on circumstances, a quick call might take several seconds.
A player’s overall aggression can help narrow down their hand range. For instance, if an aggressive player rapidly calls a bet on a flop of K♥ 8♥ 3â™ , it’s less likely they have a flush draw because an aggressive player usually considers raising, even if they end up just calling.
Another aspect to consider is the time that has passed during the round. A quick immediate call soon after the last cards are dealt is more likely to indicate a weak hand. If a player has had ample time to think (for example, if their opponent takes a long time before betting), their immediate call is less likely to follow the general pattern.
The Aggressive All-In
The all-in move is a classic case of being “strong when weak.” In no-limit Texas Hold’em cash games, players often go all-in on the turn or river. When this happens, pay attention to how they’re putting their chips in. Is their body language intimidating? Do they maintain eye contact with you? If the all-in move doesn’t quite match the way they’ve played the hand so far, there’s a good chance their hand is weak, and they’re just pretending to be strong. Trust your instincts and make the call.
Checking Hole Cards For Long
Players who spend time looking at their hole cards probably don’t have strong hands. Why? When someone has good cards, they usually glance quickly and then look away. It’s like they don’t want anyone to know about their awesome cards. On the other hand, if players have weak cards, they don’t really care about hiding them.
This is super helpful before the game really gets going, like before the flop. Imagine two players behind you staring at their cards, and then someone from the front makes a big bet. Now, you can feel safer either betting more or just going along with a wider range of hands. You know those players behind you probably won’t make a move.
Let’s look at another situation. Someone in a late position looks at their cards for a bit and then decides to raise. If you’ve already figured out that this is a signal for this player, you can change your game plan. Maybe challenge them with a raise or decide to only bet big when you’ve got really good cards.
This trick is the most useful preflop, but sometimes it helps postflop too. For instance, if a player looks at the flop and then takes a few seconds to look at their hole cards, chances are they didn’t get a good match with the flop or have a strong hand.
The Laid-Back Player
This is the flip side: when being weak means being strong. A player in an early position goes all-in, and as you contemplate whether to call, you glance across the table to read the player. They look completely non-threatening, slouched comfortably in their chair, eyes fixed on the TV across the room, casually playing with their phone —seemingly disinterested in the hand. Typically, when someone is at ease in a significant pot, they believe they have it under control & are trying not to make you fold by not appearing intimidating. Surprise them by deciding to fold.
How to Spot Poker Tells?
Here’s the main idea: “Act strong when you’re weak, act weak when you’re strong.” In simpler terms, players often try to trick others in poker. They may act like they have a strong hand when it’s actually weak, and act like they have a weak hand when it’s strong. This happens because many people mistakenly think poker is all about bluffing. But the game has changed, and bluffing is just one of many strategies. If you bluff too much, experienced players can take advantage of you.
For tells to be reliable, you usually need to have played with that player for a while to be sure their actions are consistent. Since there’s been info about this for a while, smart players might purposely do the opposite (make tricky moves on purpose)— you mustn’t get fooled by that.
Your Guide to Online Poker Tells
Poker Tells are often glamorized in the world of poker. The subtle twitches or tics that give away the strength of your hand create the iconic image of a “poker face,” a term now widely used. Many believe that the ability to interpret opponents’ gestures is a crucial skill that separates poker winners from losers.
Some folks view online poker as less authentic because there are “no tells” – you can’t see your opponents, and therefore, you can’t figure out what kind of hand they’re holding.
However, online poker players are aware that betting patterns and ranges provide a more reliable method of reading hands. Still, it’s worth noting that there are some tells to be aware of at the virtual poker tables. Let’s explore three common ones.
Bet Sizing Tells
This tell is applicable in both online and live poker. Some players make larger bets with their bluffs to discourage a call, while others bet more with their strong hands to maximize their winnings or to make it seem like a bluff.
New players might reveal their inexperience by betting an odd amount with a bluff, leaving them with a round number in their stack. For instance, a player with ₹53.59 might bet ₹13.59 on the river, thinking, “If I get called, at least I’ll still have ₹40 remaining.”
Timing Tells
This tell is useful for both online and at live tables. If a player takes an unusually long time to act before the flop, especially before raising or calling, it suggests they have a speculative hand. When a player hesitates before raising after the action folds to them, it indicates they likely don’t have a big pair or complete trash, narrowing their range to suited connectors and other speculative hands.
After the flop, the opposite logic applies – a quick call often signifies a draw or a medium-strength hand. A very strong hand might consider raising, while a weak hand might contemplate bluffing.