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ONLINE POKER: Live Tells

Shaking hands

This is a tell that is very commonly misinterpreted.  Many players mistakenly conclude that a player with shaking hands is nervous, and more likely than usual to be bluffing.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  When a players hand shakes while making a bet be afraid, be very afraid. This is not nervousness you are seeing, it is a great release of tension, coupled with excitement.  This is the sort of thing that happens when a player is in a big pot and is nervous about their holding but then is lucky enough to make quads or a straight flush on the last card.  Perhaps they have gotten over involved with a mediocre hand and on the last card make an unbeatable hand.  Whatever the situation, it almost always represents a very strong hand.  This tell is reliable and very difficult to fake.  This tell does not occur that often, but is very valuable nonetheless.  It will generally be exhibited in only large pots, or while a player is making an especially large bet, which creates the opportunity to save a lot of money by making a timely fold.  Pay attention, as some players are shaky by nature, particularly older players, but when a player who is usually steady bets with a shaking hand, run for the hills because the player is holding a very strong hand.

Double Checking Hole Cards on a Monotone Flop

When the flop comes all of one suit and a player double checks their hole cards, it is very likely that they do not have a made flush.  They are much more likely to have two off suit cards, because if their hand was suited they would almost certainly remember their holding.  This tell is not a 100% accurate as some players will routinely double check their hole cards throughout a hand, and others will be sophisticated enough to fake this tell.  It is however, a fairly reliable indicator when playing with unsophisticated opponents.  A clever ruse that can occasionally lead to a big pay day is a reverse tell that can be used in these situations.  For instance, if the flop comes with three spades, and you know that you have the A6 of spades in the hole, you can try to look a little uncomfortable and then pretending like you got caught say “spade check”, while you take a quick peek at your cards.  This may convince your opponent that you do not have a made flush.  Do not over act while doing this as obvious acts provoke suspicion.

Staring at the Flop

Sometimes after the flop is dealt a player will stare directly at it for an unusually long period of time.  When you encounter this tell it is more likely than usual that she has missed the flop completely.  Sometimes they are genuinely trying to find some way in which their hand fits with the flop but more often it is classic strong means weak.  Subconsciously, they think that aggressively staring at the flop may make their opponent check and give them a free card.

Looking away from the Action

If a player staring directly at the flop indicates weakness, what do you think a player absently gazing away from the action indicates?  You got it, this player is more likely than usual to have a strong hand.  There it is again, weak means strong.  There is always a chance that the player is genuinely uninterested, but you should proceed with caution.  If you make a bet and the player looking absent mindedly away from the table responds with a raise, then the jig is up and unless you have a very strong hand yourself, you can make a timely fold.  While it is always possible that a player gazing off into the distance is truly disinterested, it is very unlikely that he will suddenly become emboldened to bluff.  This tell is regularly exhibited by some players and it can be very valuable to identify those that exhibit it.

Deep Breathing

Often when a player picks up a big hand they will have trouble controlling their breathing.  Look for the chest to be expanding slightly more than usual.  This tell is far from 100% but it is a piece of the puzzle that is a poker hand, and can be valuable as such.  Many times people will link difficulty in controlling breathing with bluffing but players will generally be very composed when bluffing.  In fact…

Barely Breathing

Players breathing almost imperceptibly are more likely to be bluffing then they otherwise might be.  Players that are bluffing do not want to call any attention to themselves and sometimes it will appear that their breathing has actually stopped.

Look Left for Information

This is not so much a specific tell as advice towards picking up a number of tells.  Before you act, look to your left to see what is going on.  There are many players who look at their cards as soon as they are dealt.  Often, if they do not plan on playing them they will get them prepared to fold when it is their turn.  Some players, if they plan on playing, will cap their cards with a chip to protect them.  When you have a player on your left who looks at their cards immediately when they are dealt and caps them every time they plan to play, it is a rare, but extremely profitable situation.  If you know the opponents behind you are ready to fold then middle position is often essentially late position.  You can steal the blinds much more liberally since you are effectively in late position.  Conversely, if you know that a player behind you is planning on playing his hand, then you do not want to attempt to steal the blinds with rubbish.  Make it a habit to glance left before you act pre-flop and you will be surprised with how much information you can glean from your opponents.