www.flopturnriver.com

Poker Forum

Over 1,247,000 Posts!

Already Registered? Username: Password: Remember Forgot Password
Tweet

Live Game Tells

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display Modes

LockLow34

10-18-2004, 04:52 PM Post subject: Live Game Tells

#1 (permalink)

Flush

Join Date: Jun 2004

Location: Ashburn, VA

Posts: 266

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.

Play for FREE and practice your game at...

Join the FTR Poker Forum to disable these banners and start posting!

showboatlou

03-28-2008, 09:59 PM Post subject: Good eye..

#2 (permalink)

Guest

Posts: n/a

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...

Numbr2intheWorld

03-29-2008, 02:46 AM

#3 (permalink)

Moderator

Join Date: Aug 2006

Posts: 3,561

Numbr2intheWorld will become famous soon enough

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

Check out my blog http://suited-aces.com

showboatlou

03-29-2008, 03:31 AM Post subject: I ain't tellin....

#4 (permalink)

Guest

Posts: n/a

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?

oskar

04-01-2008, 02:54 PM

#5 (permalink)

4-of-a-Kind

Join Date: Apr 2008

Location: in ur accounts... confiscating ur funz

Posts: 2,452

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.

The strengh of a hero is defined by the weakness of his villains.

showboatlou

04-01-2008, 10:12 PM Post subject: Have gun. Will travel._ Paladin ( Richard Boone)

#6 (permalink)

Guest

Posts: n/a

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."

jmontis

04-22-2008, 01:49 AM

#7 (permalink)

Full House

Join Date: Dec 2004

Posts: 1,296

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.

take your ego out of the equation and judge the situation dispassionately

Fnord

04-22-2008, 01:53 AM

#8 (permalink)

Moderator

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: I'll Do You Like A Truck

Posts: 19,334

Fnord is an unknown quantity at this point

"Oh, is it me?"

THANK YOU SOUPIE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBvge-c2_Xg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Xz8aLuD7Y

Latest Poker News
KoRnholio	05-26-2012, 03:08 PM Australia Legalized Online Poker coming up in next 6 to 12 Months
According to an email sent out by Mark Bryan, a gaming analyst at Merrill Lynch, the Australian government plans to legalize online poker sometime in the next six to 12 months. This move will coincide ... more at Poker Blogs »

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Trackbacks are On Pingbacks are On Refbacks are On Forum Rules

All times are GMT. The time now is 03:37 PM.

Play Texas Holdem Online, Online Texas Holdem Strategy, & Poker Forum

This is not a gambling website.

Poker Forum

Over 1,247,000 Posts!

Poker Forum

Live Poker

Live Game Tells

Play for FREE and practice your game at...