Online timing tells

Originally Posted by kb coolman

Originally Posted by iopq

so like I said, he has a polarized range he either has the stone cold nuts or like a gutshot

Yea, but is that really a tell? You've boiled him down to two options:

1) He has it
2) He doesn't

You have to make the decision based on EV and player history. You don't have in person information, so any perceived 'tell' is most likely wishful thinking.

Actually it tells me if I have a medium strength hand I can fold to any raise. Also, he's more likely to fold if I bet because nut hands occur less often. I almost always tripple or double barrel as a bluff if my opponent thinks for more than 5 seconds before calling. Of course I'm going to get trapped once in a while, but it's probably still EV+ to bluff hands that have no showdown value in this spot.

Say you raise UTG with QQ and the BB calls. The flop is 2TT, he quickly checks and you lead for 2/3 pot. He thinks for 15 seconds before calling. The turn is a 3, and he quickly checks. This is a spot where you shouldn't bet because any hand that you're beating will insta-fold and his range is a lot of tens. Checking behind is correct.