Reading Online Poker Tells
“A tell” or “tells” are body language which has the potential to reveal information concerning the opponent’s hand. Keeping a good eye open for it is a fun challenge and something you should learn to do. It may decide the outcome of the game like nothing else and it keeps you from fidgeting. When your opponent vigorously tosses their chips during a live game, or fidgets with their chips, licks their dry lips, glances aside, or scratches behind the ear you may earn cash with systematic observation which may lead to valuable insight. Such a technique to the uninitiated may seem like black magic, but it is heavily replied upon by many professionals.
Things look differently online however. At first glance all that represents a player may be a blank, a photograph (not necessarily of the player) or an image of anything else. So is “reading” even possible online?
Primarily the speed in which a player makes his bets are the “tells” online. The first thing you have to remember is that your hand can be read online as well, even if it’s Homer Simpson with a hand of pink glazed donuts that you have uploaded as the image of yourself. To bet , raise, call, or pass you click the appropriate button when it’s a player’s turn in an online game. When it’s your turn the move can be made instantly and automatically by marking the box beforehand.
Online “pondering” may mean a weak hand: when a player takes a long time to “think” and then says “check”, they are probably trying to convince you they have good cards when they don’t in reality. It’s as if they were considering investing a significant sum. Actually, they hope you will check as well, so they can have the next card for free. When a person really intends a “check/raise”, they will normally say check after a natural pause and then make a raise equal to the last bet. A bet after prolonged pondering implies strength: making an aggressive bet, the player suggests weakness by “wavering” for a while, enticing you to “call.”
Players are likely to have a strong hand when they make immediate bets or raises. Weakness can be detected by deliberate aggressiveness, but in many cases the situation is the reverse. A player may raise “rashly” in hopes that you will be bullied into thinking he really has worthwhile cards. It’ a show usually meant to intimidate you into an unnecessary call, a trick called “reverse psychology”.
With deceptive gradualness, some players use the “check/raise” button to play what is probably a very strong hand. While you are enticed to make an aggressive move when what seems like a hurried check is followed by a raise. Beware, the opponent’s hand was probably much stronger than you thought it was and the check was more than likely a trap!
These are mere tips which may give you some idea how to observe the habits and mannerism of invisible online opponents. Take the time to observe players carefully, especially those with whom you have been playing for a while: they probably betray other, more individualized tells. Be aware that some players may deliberately time their responses randomly or persistently take equal time to respond in all cases, making it impossible to guess their hands. It could be a good idea to learn to do the same.
The author has played poker full time since 2005 and makes the majority of his income from online poker. He currently plays poker online and gets RakeBack at Red Star Poker.
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