Live Game Tells

I wrote this as a response to another thread down below but figured I'd give it its own home. Feel free to add/comment/criticize as need be.

Here are a few tells I watch for when I'm playing in a limit game:

Player makes a big bet (e.g. $6 in a 3/6 game) on the flop

I've found this gives away that the flop hit them hard in some way(straight, set, something like that). They are anxious to get as much money into the middle as possible. I'll usually fold even decent holdings like top pair.

Look of disappointment when betting

I've found most people if they look pained on the river they're showing they missed their draw but still think they have a hand. I once flopped a set of 7's on a flushed flop and had a guy betting into me. I was sure he didn't have the flush yet so I called. When the fourth flush card didn't come it was obvious on his face and I raised him on the river for value.

Except sometimes it can mean they WANT you to call. But it's not that hard for me to tell the difference, as I can generally pick up that they WANT me to see they're disappointed. I usually won't call in this situation unless I have a lock.

TALKING about how the card didn't help them

This falls into Caro's "strong is weak/weak is strong" maxim. When a player is saying they're disappointed, the opposite is usually true.

Uncomfortable shift in his seat by a player

Again, this is probably more of an honest reflection of how the player feels Perhaps they have 2 pr but a 3rd flush card came, etc. If the player can be bluffed and the pot is sufficient size, I'll bet or raise here if I don't think the flush helped anyone else.

Timidity in putting in a bet

I saw this one last weekend. Player raised prelfop, then with a flop of K42r she looked pained at putting in a bet on the flop. I thought she might be afraid of the K, and also might be bluffed out later, so I called. Then I check-raise bluffed her on the turn. She didn't lay down but I still think I made the right play here. (She showed QQ)

Overcalling

Say the flop comes Q77. You have a Q in early or middle position and bet out to see what happens. You get 2 callers. Now, what I've found is that the 2nd caller most likely has a 7 and is attempting to slow play it. If I don't improve on the turn card here I'll check-fold.

Now if I'm in late position, same scenario, and it's bet to me I'll raise (a player with trips isn't likely to bet in early position here). If I don't get any other callers, I'll assume my top pair is best. But if I DO get a caller, the ONLY thing that caller could call with is a strong hand, most likely the 7. On the turn if I don't improve, I'll fold if bet to me and check-fold if it's not.

There are others, but really it comes down to "feel" more than anything. You've got to observe the other player. Don't necessarily LOOK for tells, as you may convince yourself that ANY action the player is making is a tell. Rather, just "feel" why they are doing what they're doing. To me this is one of the most interesting and fun aspects of poker, and I find that I'm right quite often.

I found this unanswered post of yours and liked it a lot. I'll take some time to read your stuff. Live games are great. What a player does or, does not do with their cards is very telling. Leaning toward or, away from the table is also a hint. Buy, Read'em and Reap by, Joseph Navarro and Phil Hellmuth. You'll be glad you did...

Honestly i find that if you really just look at someone throughout the hand you can tell (in general) what most people have.

I agree with both LockLow and you. You can feel it in your bones. You can tell just by looking. You know what you know cause, you know it. It takes me a while to get to that point because, I always play with strangers. That is, when life itself allows me to get to a table. That isn't very often. I'm under a time restraint knowing I have to eventually get back to some ship. I might be thinking about a detented three positional directional control valve at the same time I'm checking my cards. (Doesn't everyone?) You guy's aren't lucky at putting people on hands. You're, just plain good at it. My day will come.... Ever heard of some place called, Nevada?

One of the most consistent tells that I've seen is that many players who hit the flop will look away from the board quickly, often looking at their chips. And players who missed might stare down the flop, as if it's supposed to improve.
If someone has a tendency to do that, I think it's a very strong tell.

Navarro, Agent, FBI (retired). Co author. A watcher of people. Nice work, agent oskar................" Say Stranger, what did you say your name was?"
.............."I didn't."

i've played pretty extensively live, but the most consistent live tells i've seen are

- looking at their chips nearing action (strength)
- intensily staring you down (fine line from being a stone cold bluff to very strong hand)
- moving their chips very accurately and precise, as opposed to a bluff throwing them into the pot.

"Oh, is it me?"

THANK YOU SOUPIE!

Poker Forum

Join Our Poker Community!

Poker Forum Index

Live Poker

Live Game Tells

Poker Forum Index

Live Poker

Live Game Tells