A Mike Caro Tell - I need a bit oif help

[VinnyTheFish]

<font color="blue"> “One tell that rewards me in this way happens when an opponent makes a subtle move toward his chips as I begin to bet.

A player who does that is invariably trying to prevent my bet. Usually, the opponent holds a hand he will reluctantly call with, but is hoping I won’t bet.

That’s exactly the type of hand I want him to have if I make a daring wager with medium strength.

So, when I see a person subtly trying to prevent my bet, especially by reach slightly toward his chips, I go ahead and wager. It’s a profitable choice. But, if the opponent
doesn’t do anything to prevent my bet, I usually check. It’s often not a safe bet, and I’m saving money in the long run by passing on these opportunities.” </font>

The above passage was taken from a Mike Caro article in the January 24, 2005 addition of Poker Player Magazine.

I am a bit confused. I tend to believe that if a player reaches for their chips, this means that they have a quality starting hand, may have hit the flop, or just simply intends to bet. I may be confusing the actual “grabbing,” “counting” or “reaching” or what Mike Caro refers to as “a subtle move.”

Can someone elaborate?

[paulish]

Let's say you're in the CO , and everybody folds to you at a full table. You pause and look at your hand and your chips. If the Button starts reaching for his chips before you've made a valid bet. He is giving you information he doesn't need to give you. Why is he doing this? To appear strong, and deter you from betting? strong means weak...

<font color="blue"> paulish </font>

[BUD]

the first key to any tell is whether the person is acting (bluffing) or not. many low limit players are giving you honest information, not trying to manipulate you. so as all the poker writers have said b4 "it depends". and in the present climate many new players are too green to be tricky.
bud

[BluffTHIS!]

This is a good comment. In fact it is more experienced players who will try a bet stopping move like that, but you also have to be aware of from previous observation of a player, those who 'reach for the trigger' fast and may in fact be ready to raise you. The key here to me is how consistent is this action with the previous observed actions.

[TripleH68]

I do this and it is usually when I don't want to call a bet. Let's say I have a gutshot on the flop and I have the button...I will often get my chips ready in hopes of catching a freebie and it works sometimes.

OTOH I often check my cards again when I am actually preparing to raise. I notice many players give the "check the cards once more" right before folding.

Live low-limit is fun.

[E Hanhan]

Live low limit is the [censored]. I think a great way to hone basic poker skills like pot odds.

Does strong always mean weak? In my local game, invaribaly it seems that strong does indeed mean strong. The chip touching trick has worked to get people to check/fold when they are first to act.

But we are saying that someone doing that (reaching for their chips prematurely) is a sign that they do not want you to bet? That they are bluffing? Is this right?

[tech277]

Caro has a book out called 'Caro's Book of Tells'. It's a great book and pays for itself from the information that you can pull out of it.

The "reaching for the chips" trick is a common one in the games that I am part of. Sometimes it is all a player in front of you need to fold. If they have a doubt as to whether they want to call or fold and you "flex" like you're going to bet, it just might push them into passing.

In relation to it meaning that someone has a quality hand and is about to bet, that can also be true. Unfortunately in reading players, the exact same motion (or tell) can one thing for one player (weakness) and the opposite for another player(strength). You just have to watch them and learn their habits.

Try to focus on just one player the entire session. Just watch whether you are in the hand or not. See what he does, how he does it, and what he had (if you can). Then try to replay the hand in your head and see if you can figure out why he did what he did. It will pay off if you work at it.

Hope it helps,
Tech

[TheJunkyardGod]

While this doesnt work in casino games, i've found that in home games, if i'm last to act and it's heads up, simply grabbing a large stack of chips will force people to fold out of turn. As soon as I noticed I could do that, it became a regular trick I would use.

[bernie]

I see this all the time. Usually they'll reach for chips out of turn while watching you. Another one is when they check to you while they have chips in their hand. However, this is not the case for all people. Some will check with chips but are in calldown mode. Know the difference if you're planning on exploiting it a bit.

Observe more at the table while not in a hand to really see these things and differentiate between someone having a hand and likely to call, and someone trying to get you to check.

b

[theRealMacoy]

IN THE LOW LIMITS:
my observation is that players exhibit the most tension, not when they are bluffing, but when they have a really strong hand. this is why the often mentioned hand-shaking tell is in effect. but watch for other signs of tension such as stiffening up, widening of eyes, trying to look away but stealing a quick look.

i beleive that at the low limits the bet is often not enough to make people sweat, even if they are bluffing (other than a really big pot on the river...they were going for a hand but missed...this can cause some tension)

cheers,
the Real Macoy