The Top Ten Poker Tells (Part 1)
Poker tells are the habits, behaviors and physical actions of your opponents in a poker game that will give you insight into what kind of hands they are holding. The top ten of these tells are:
1. The Eyes. Watch the eyes of your opponents, unless they are wearing sunglasses. Many players will stare at their cards when they have what they feel may be a winning hand. Those who are not quite sure of having a winner but want to try to steal the pot may glance to the side to see if the remaining opponents have looked at their cards and are likely to fold. If you are new to the poker scene, some experienced players make ask you questions about your hand to see if they can gain any information about the cards you are holding. This is a strategy you can also use with your opponents.
2. Facial Expressions. When you have a good hand, it is often hard to hide your glee and will likely give it away through a smile or a satisfied expression. This is why being able to maintain a "poker face" is of extreme importance. This is why many poker players were a hat with a large brim or a sun visor so that other players cannot see and read the expression they have on their face. If you have a weak hand, signs of nervousness can also be depicted in your face and disappointment when you have a weak hand.
3. Acting Disinterested. This is one of the ploys often used by novice players, but veteran poker players can use it quite well. When you look at your cards, you appear to be disinterested in what you have so that others may think you have a weak hand. On the other hand, you can also appear very intimidating to the other players by actions that make them think you have a good hand, when in fact you are intending to bluff.
4. Becoming Nervous or Agitated. When you have a weak hand for several deals, your disappointment may cause you to become nervous or frustrated. Other players can really pick up on this and use it to their advantage. Some of the signs include sweating, having a dry throat so that you need something to drink, increased heart rate and dilation of the pupils of the eyes. Such players may take deep breaths or their chest may expand abnormally. When playing the game, if other players sense that you are nervous, you may notice them staring at the veins in the top of your face to determine if you are really nervous or just putting on an act.
5. Trembling Hands. A player whose hands are trembling probably has the best hand of the night and is trying to decide how to play the hand to get the biggest take. On the other hand the player could be betting with nothing and is very worried that he/she will lose and be put out of the game.
1. The Eyes. Watch the eyes of your opponents, unless they are wearing sunglasses. Many players will stare at their cards when they have what they feel may be a winning hand. Those who are not quite sure of having a winner but want to try to steal the pot may glance to the side to see if the remaining opponents have looked at their cards and are likely to fold. If you are new to the poker scene, some experienced players make ask you questions about your hand to see if they can gain any information about the cards you are holding. This is a strategy you can also use with your opponents.
2. Facial Expressions. When you have a good hand, it is often hard to hide your glee and will likely give it away through a smile or a satisfied expression. This is why being able to maintain a "poker face" is of extreme importance. This is why many poker players were a hat with a large brim or a sun visor so that other players cannot see and read the expression they have on their face. If you have a weak hand, signs of nervousness can also be depicted in your face and disappointment when you have a weak hand.
3. Acting Disinterested. This is one of the ploys often used by novice players, but veteran poker players can use it quite well. When you look at your cards, you appear to be disinterested in what you have so that others may think you have a weak hand. On the other hand, you can also appear very intimidating to the other players by actions that make them think you have a good hand, when in fact you are intending to bluff.
4. Becoming Nervous or Agitated. When you have a weak hand for several deals, your disappointment may cause you to become nervous or frustrated. Other players can really pick up on this and use it to their advantage. Some of the signs include sweating, having a dry throat so that you need something to drink, increased heart rate and dilation of the pupils of the eyes. Such players may take deep breaths or their chest may expand abnormally. When playing the game, if other players sense that you are nervous, you may notice them staring at the veins in the top of your face to determine if you are really nervous or just putting on an act.
5. Trembling Hands. A player whose hands are trembling probably has the best hand of the night and is trying to decide how to play the hand to get the biggest take. On the other hand the player could be betting with nothing and is very worried that he/she will lose and be put out of the game.
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