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Reading Online Poker Tells |
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Written by Thomas Kearns
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Sunday, 13 December 2009 09:38 |
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When information concerning an opponent's hand is revealed by body language this is called "a tell" or "tells". It is something you should learn to keep an eye out for, it's a challenge and keeps you from fidgeting as well. It also may decide the outcome of game to your favor like nothing else. Systematic observation may yield invaluable insight and earn you cash. Watch for your opponent tossing their chips vigorously in the bank, licking their dry lips, glancing aside, or scratching behind the ear during a live game. To the uninitiated it may seem more like black magic than technique but many professionals rely heavily upon it.
by ThomasKearns
When information concerning an opponent's hand is revealed by body language this is called "a tell" or "tells". It is something you should learn to keep an eye out for, it's a challenge and keeps you from fidgeting as well. It also may decide the outcome of game to your favor like nothing else. Systematic observation may yield invaluable insight and earn you cash. Watch for your opponent tossing their chips vigorously in the bank, licking their dry lips, glancing aside, or scratching behind the ear during a live game. To the uninitiated it may seem more like black magic than technique but many professionals rely heavily upon it.
Things look differently online however. At first glance all that represents a player may be a blank, a photograph (not necessarily of the player) or an image of anything else. So is "reading" even possible online?
You must realize that online your own hand is likewise readable, even if your online image is Homer Simpson with a hand of pink glazed donuts. The speed with which a player makes his bets is the primary tell online. Clicking the appropriate box to raise, call, or pass when it's a player's turn is the most basic available way to bet. The box can also be marked beforehand (bet/raise, etc.) so that the move is made instantly and automatically when it is your turn.
Online when a player takes a long time to "think" and then says check they are probably trying to convince you that they have good cards. A weak hand may be suspected by "pondering". It's as if investing a significant sum was considered. So they can have the next card for free they are actually in hopes that you will check as well. Normally a person will say check after a natural pause if he really intends to "check/raise", and then make a raise equal to the last bet. Strength may be implied after prolonged pondering of a bet. A player suggests weakness by "wavering" while making an aggressive bet, enticing you to call.
Players are likely to have a strong hand when they make immediate bets or raises. Weakness can be detected by deliberate aggressiveness, but in many cases the situation is the reverse. A player may raise "rashly" in hopes that you will be bullied into thinking he really has worthwhile cards. It' a show usually meant to intimidate you into an unnecessary call, a trick called "reverse psychology".
With deceptive gradualness, some players use the "check/raise" button to play what is probably a very strong hand. While you are enticed to make an aggressive move when what seems like a hurried check is followed by a raise. Beware, the opponent's hand was probably much stronger than you thought it was and the check was more than likely a trap!
These mere tips may give you some idea of how to observe your online opponent's habits and mannerisms. Take the time to observe players carefully, they probably betray other more individualized tells, especially those with whom you have been playing for a while. Some players may also try to make it impossible to guess their hands by deliberately timing their response or by persistently taking equal time to respond in all cases. For you to learn to do the same may be a good idea.
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The author has played poker full time since 2005 and makes the majority of his income from online poker. He currently plays poker online and gets RakeBack at Cellsino Poker. |
