Movements at the Poker Table..

[vexvelour]

I've got a well-balanced poker system for myself going. I'm relatively successful in the league I play in. I'm a female player who's earned respect.

However, I find controlling my game to be difficult.

Let me clarify. I don't pay much attention to how I act, where my hands are, where I'm looking, what my voice sounds like during different hands throughout the game. It seems entirely too consuming to be 100% aware of every action I make, plus playing my cards and other players. Don't get me wrong...I have a poker face...but I dont have poker shoulders and hands too. Any suggestions on training myself or any pointers you might have on conrolling your own game?

Thanks and poker luck,
vexxi

[bohemian]

Yeah. Play online. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[RiverDood]

Legitimate question -- deserves a legitimate answer.

1. This issue only get acute if you're playing NL and making a lot of daring plays at the pot. If you're playing limit, or a sane-and-sober version of NL (is that possible?) there just aren't that many situations where everything hinges on a tell. So if you feel this is a weak part of your live game, stay out of kamikaze no-limit games at stakes that make you nervous.

2. If you think you're somehow giving away your strongest hands and not getting called, take a moment before betting to tell yourself: "I'm doing this with 7-2o. I'm sure hoping everyone folds." Don't make the bet until your mind's eye can see that pitiful little 2 sitting face down in front of you.

Obviously if you make that exact play five times in a night, it will create a new tell. But the basic principle holds. Visualize different cards at times. Don't overact; just play as if you're really trying to take down the pot with something else. Your overall body language will adopt nicely.

3. If you think everyone knows it when you bluff, don't bluff.

4. Settle on one basic pattern when you're being stared down, no matter what you've got. Eyes, hands, breathing, talking vs. not talking. Do it the same way every time, whether you've got quads or a Q-high.

Good luck!






2.

[jedi]

You might want to practice looking at the cards the same way, then breathing the same way before making an action. It will slow you down slightly, and you won't be seen as rushing bets and raises in certain times and not at other times. It's really not as hard as it sounds. Just take an extra second if you're going to play a hand to calm yourself, whether you're limping with JTs or raising with AA.

But if you're just playing at a local low limit B&M, you don't really need to bother. Donktards aren't paying attention anyways.

[bkholdem]

You might find Mike Carro's poker tells video helpful. It's centered around figuring out your opponents but will give insight into your own behavior at the table as well.

[The Antagonizer]

pat yourself on the head and rub your tummy after everytime you act

[diebitter]

I suggest you start reading up on tells (Caro's got a book about it), and start watching others. Start with the easy stuff - watch how people hold their hands preflop to start spotting the folders, say. Or watch people's faces on the flop, not the flop itself.

You'll realise how much you give away yourself, and will help you stop it!

[vexvelour]

Thanks! I really appreciate the honest advice.

I will def work on this part of my game...and it is important to me because I'm playing more and more NL tourneys around town and also...the regulars I play with in cash games have grown too accustomed to my movements/actions.

Thanks again! Good luck to you. /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[Mikey]

i'm going to say something that may come as a shock to you. I used to put a lot of emphasis on tells and sensing weakness, that type of stuff, I would say that the majority of players that I've played against in a casino as high as 20-40 don't even pay attention half the time.
If you are getting into a game where players are staring at you all the time and trying to get a tendency of your actions then I can say its important to practice putting chips in and such.

A good way to do this would be to sit at a table, kitchen is fine and practice putting in chips into a pot exactly the same way over and over and over.

Another good way is to count to 3 each time you make an action. Don't rush into anything.

There are probably a few hundred more things you can learn at poker before you start correcting body language.

[vexvelour]

That is great advice....I will definetly practice the way you suggested.

I don't necessarily find myself in stare-down games every night, but I feel that improving my game by working on my weaknesses will only help me. Again, thanks for the great advice. /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I thought this post was going to be about taking a dump on the felt or something.

[WWJFergusonD?]

Hi, vex --

Great question! My background is in clinical psych, and the one thing I would add (beyond the valuable "always take your time" and "imagine that you hold a 2-7o" advice previously offered here)is don't do anything that is inconsistent with your natural personality at a poker table: the energy required to maintain that kind of facade will eventually do you in.

For example, if you are not normally a boisterous person, do not try to be a boisterous person at the table. If you are not a Zen master, do not try to be a Zen master. If you are not a fidgeter, do not try to be a fidgeter.

In the meantime, however, try to become more aware of your hands, your shoulders, etc. and how your typically use them. After you discover this, you will be able to control them in a way that is *consistent* with your personality. That is the key to being able to bluff. Or not.

Until you're able to do that, you might also just stare at the center of that table or down at your cards, so that no one can see your eyes.

[vexvelour]

thanks wwjfd! /images/graemlins/cool.gif

i appreciate all the help on this post.
my next step: getting a sweatshirt with a big hood. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[DoomSlice]

[ QUOTE ]
my next step: getting a sweatshirt with a big hood.

[/ QUOTE ]

Say it ain't so! (It is my opinion that the large hoody actually makes people pay attention to you)

[vexvelour]

is it really an eyecatcher? i don't really interpret clothing in a poker game much..i just like the idea of hiding if i want to.

[TheCroShow]

watch mike caro's videos on poker tells and see if those tells apply to you. some of the most common tells at so many levels are the staredowns or look aways, etc etc.

definately work on the counting in your head, checking your cards the exact same way, etc etc.

one tell i have picked up on, maybe it's just a personal thing but when this one guy checks his cards, if he snaps his cards as he releases..he has dogxxxx, so when i hear the snap i know he has xxxx! stuff like that, work on being consistent as everyone else has mentioned.

[TheCroShow]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought this post was going to be about taking a dump on the felt or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL POTD

[vexvelour]

you know, I read the Caro book, but it seems so outdated....is the dvd better?

I can't believe you picked up on something like that. I need to practice picking up on things like that as well.

[goofball]

i think the biggest thing is what you do when someone is staring you down. If you are wearing sunglasses it's not a problem (and i'd just close my eyes), but my standard approach is to just stare at the pot. Soemtimes I'll imagine what i could get if i spent the pot on hookers.

[vexvelour]

lol! that's great. i usually just busy myself if i'm being stared down, whether i want to be called or not... i'll shuffle for the next hand, etc. i hate stare downs.

[TheCroShow]

go to caro's website, mcu.com or whatever...google it. he has some of his video's there. the thing about facial/body expression is that it's universal...his book may be a little dated, but the tells are all the same.

just work on consistency, i try to do the same. if any of your preflop play is inconsistent, someone may pick up on it "ie, snapping of cards as guy checks his cards."

[diebitter]

[ QUOTE ]
lol! that's great. i usually just busy myself if i'm being stared down, whether i want to be called or not... i'll shuffle for the next hand, etc. i hate stare downs.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just start laughing, and say "sorry, I was just thinking of my friend who has a t-shirt that says 'staredowns are gay'"

[vexvelour]

lol!! that is so great.

[diebitter]

[ QUOTE ]
lol!! that is so great.

[/ QUOTE ]
You could always get the t-shirt made up for yourself /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[El Cuchara]

I like to look up, wink, and then look down at my cards again. This could be bad though.

[TheCroShow]

just do what i do, pick your nose or do something blatantly obnoxious to get them to bust that staredown and possibly even smile. talk him down, make him laugh...i did that tonight..some dude bet aggressively into me while i held top pair bad kicker..i got hime laughing as he tried to look all serious..as soon as he busted out laughing i knew he had dogxxxx and went all in. he folded. WEWT Cro 1 gasbag 0

[vexvelour]

Nice play.

Staredowns really are obnoxious, but I can totally ignore it if necessary. I usually wear sunglasses and because my eyes are covered, you know, its some sort of shield. Most of the time I'll stare 'em right back in the face without flinching for a few before I act. I've also noticed in a couple of new games I've played in (meaning with different people) most aren't even looking. They're busy acting or staring down or something.