I started as a very 'reads' oriented player. I knew little of poker and all i had going for me was that i'm generally pretty perceptive.

When I started incorporating other things into my game, like odds and position and such, I payed less attention to the player and more to my game.

now that I've incorporated the other factors into my arsenal, I made a conscious decision last month to get back to making solid reads, and honing those skills. At first I seemed to be (for lack of a better term) forcing reads. Consciously looking for very specific things and over analyzing them. I would then talk myself into or out of bets/folds and be badly mistaken. I'd get frustrated saying, "but i had a read"... I then remembered that most of my good reads in the past appeared to be mostly 'instinct'(i use this term loosely and will qualify it) through observation.

Basically, I think there are two types of poker players. Those who make conscious reads on opponents based on specific observations. They can usually tell you exactly what they saw that gave them the read.

Ex. UTG took 10 seconds to decide to raise, last time he did that he had he had a junk hand but this time he raised less. He's also pretty tight and likes action on good hands, so a small raise likely means a good hand. I'm folding this one.


The second type, of which i think i belong, are those who make 'unconscious' or 'instinctual' reads. You don't have to define each move your opponent makes, just observe (always observe, distraction will cost you information). When you come to a decision, you'll have a feeling about the situation based on what you observed. You may not know why, but you just know.

Ex. Last night i was playing in a SnG, blinds at 50/100 level. With 4 of us in the pot its gets checked around to the button to an aggressive player i've been observing closely. He pushes all-in very quickly. He hasn't shown down a hand but has taken down a couple pots. I'm in early position, flopped middle pair w/ top kicker, normally an instant fold to a push. I played extremely tight up to this point, only showing down one strong hand. I quickly move all in over the top to isolate. The two others quickly fold and the original raiser shows nothing, my middle pair holds up and puts me in the chip lead.

How did I know? After all I haven't seen him turn over a hand yet? It may have been the quick all-in move on the button against what he know where tight opponents. I'm not sure. I folded a hand to the guy earlier when he raised my top pair on the flop and I felt I was beat. I had observed him closely and when he pushed the first that came to me was.. I'm ahead, i know it, but will it hold up? The only other 'conscious' thought i had was that I knew other two in the pot, both weak/tight would fold instantly.

So, for me if I'm taking notes and consciously telling myself to remember certain aspects of a persons play. I wind up making bad decisions against my instinct. I may talk myself into folding to a tight player when, something 'unconsciously' tells me he's on a steal and just using his table image. I find that if my 'gut' reaction feels strong, it's usually right.

I think you should determine what type of 'reader' you are and use it to the best of your ability.

I hope all this babbling made sense.