Live Poker Tells

When you play in a live game, there is a lot more information available to you than in an online game. This article is going to outline some common tells in live poker, and other subtle things you should be looking for. This will give you some aid in making your decisions at the tables.

The first thing you need to know is that your opponents are always acting. When your opponent is trying to show strength, they are weak, and when they try to act weak, they are holding a strong hand. We'll talk about some examples of this now.

Trying to Show Strength

One sign that your opponent is bluffing is when they put chips into the pot forcefully. If they shove their stack in or slam the chips down into the middle of the table, this is an indicator that they are weak and are trying to scare you out of the hand.

Also, if your opponent is staring you down when you are making a decision, don't be scared, because they're bluffing. Why would they want to intimidate you if they hold a great hand? They'd want you to call, so the only reason they'd be trying to intimidate and scare you is that they have nothing and want you out of the pot.

Trying to Act Weak

The opposite of before is also true. If your opponent is seeming very meek and passive, they probably are holding a monster. A prime example of this is how they put their chips into the pot. If you make a bet, and your opponent thinks for a while, then tosses his chips in a nonchalant way, beware. Also, if they make a comment like "What the heck" or "We'll see another card" when they call your bet, then you can be almost positive they are holding a strong hand.

Another sure sign of your opponent having a great hand is when they pretend to ignore the table. If you are in a hand with a player who is staring off into space, or is chatting with someone away from the table, then it is likely they hold a great hand. They are trying to act like the hand disinterests them, and remember, poker players are always acting, so you can be sure they are actually very interested in the hand.

More Subtle Tells

Besides the big signs that a player has a great hand or is bluffing, there are less obvious tells that can be equally effective. We'll discuss those now:

Looking at their chips after the flop is dealt - If a player immediately glances down at their chips after the flop is revealed, you can be sure they hit the flop. This is something that you can't even control as a player, it is just instinct, so it is a very sure sign of a strong hand.

Staring at the flop - If a player stares at the flop for a long time after it is dealt, they have nothing. They're trying to make it seem like they're admiring the flop, when really, they didn't hit it at all.

Checking hole cards after three to a flush - If the flop comes down three to a suit, and a player immediately checks their hole cards, you can be sure they don't have the flush. If you have suited cards, you are very likely to remember, but if you have unsuited cards, you won't remember their suit easily. So, if someone checks their cards, it is a sure sign that they are unsuited, and therefore didn't make a flush.

These tells are some sure indicators of your opponent's hand. Use these in live games to make your decisions easier. Good luck!

If you're an online player, click here to learn about online poker tells.