The best and/or most unique TELLS in poker...

[snowbank]

I would like to start a discussion about the best tells in poker. I got this idea from a post by Little Fishy. In his post it said:

"How did he know what I had? I talked to him later. he knew he had me beat because I 'couldn't keep my eyes off his chips' when he was counting them. he figured, if I had confidence in my hand I wouldn't have glanced at his chips even once or twice because I wouldn't be worried about them, rather I'd look at my apponent because my greatest concern would be what he was thinking, not where his chips were going."

I play almost all online right now, but would love to hear unique tells anyone has.

[bigdmajor]

I bet too fast when I'm bluffing/semi-bluffing. I bet too slow when I've got good cards. Perhaps this opposite to what a normal person would be, but to those who know me, its my easiest tell.

[jpym84]

I only play online, so I'm not sure if this counts as a "tell", but I've noticed that alot of players make a huge pause before betting/raising when they have a big hand.

[Mikey2k4]

That's actually what "normal" people do. When you bluff, you want to act like you've got something. So alot of people act too forcefully. When you've got good cards, you want people to think like you've really got nothing, so you play sheepishly.

Reading tells may or may not work. It depends on the level of people you're playing against. If you want to reduce your telling ability, play with blank cards. Get in the habit of doing things the exact same way. After you bet, whether you've bluffed or not, do the exact same thing.

[kiemo]

[ QUOTE ]
I only play online, so I'm not sure if this counts as a "tell", but I've noticed that alot of players make a huge pause before betting/raising when they have a big hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldnt rely on this tell.

Multitabling, lag, kids yelling, etc.. all may contribute to the pause.

[Fnord]

I find that a stall before betting means they have a close decision to make. Perhaps call/fold a lukewarm hand. Perhaps they flopped a monster in NL, you bet into them and they're trying to figure out how to get more money out of you.

With a really fast reaction, they didn't have a tough decision. It could be a bluff or a strong or straight-forward hand.

Then factor that with the other circumstances and sometimes it can help with a close decision.

[IlliniRyRy]

I think a lot of good players are aware of the "pause" you're referring to. It's for that reason that I bet slowly when I'm bluffing and bet all quick like a maniac when I have the nutzzzzzzzzzz. Ship it.

[LetsRock]

Reliable tells are unique to individuals. If you want to learn about "generic" tells to watch for (and avoid yourself) get Caro's Book of Poker Tells. The pictures are a bit hokey, but ti gives you a guideline of things to watch for. Nothing is reliable until it is repeated many times by an individual.

[theBruiser500]

I found it hard to use the pictures in Caro's books since they were black and white and blurry.

[Lafortezza]

Personally the best tell I've found and used on somebody is if they bet into you and then stare at the flop, not moving very much, keeping their eyes fixed on one spot on the table, then they don't want a caller. They're weak and don't want to do anything, or say anything that would trigger a call by you. I'd call or try a semi-bluff reraise if I had a good chance to improve on a medium strength hand.

[surfdoc]

I wouldn't count on this one too much. I always stare into the middle of the table and wait for a caller so I can show down the nutz.

[Pokergod]

-If they cover their mouth or part of their face after a bet they're prolly bluffing.
-Flop comes, they look away immediately, the flop hit them.
-Flop comes, they stare at it, they got nothing, take it from them.
-Turn card comes, and your opponent looks at his chips briefly, he has a hand (This is tried and true).

In fact, all of these are tried and true. They're all from Caro's book, but they all work to some extent.

Once you move up in limits though most folks know these and put some reverse tells on you, like I like to do. Watch out.

-PG

[RoyalSampler]

The number of AA I've seen flipped by shaking hands has taught me this lesson well.

Also, any opinions on watery eyes? My experiences suggest it leans towards a bluff. I'm talking eyes that weren't watery before the hand.

[Lafortezza]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, any opinions on watery eyes? My experiences suggest it leans towards a bluff. I'm talking eyes that weren't watery before the hand.

[/ QUOTE ]Maybe he's got the nuts, but they're just a bit itchy and he can't scratch cos that'd be rude /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[gibs]

[ QUOTE ]
"How did he know what I had? I talked to him later. he knew he had me beat because I 'couldn't keep my eyes off his chips' when he was counting them. he figured, if I had confidence in my hand I wouldn't have glanced at his chips even once or twice because I wouldn't be worried about them, rather I'd look at my apponent because my greatest concern would be what he was thinking, not where his chips were going."


[/ QUOTE ]
This is a great tell. In my home game most of the players are fairly new to poker and thus aren't that great. But one of my good buddies is also my biggest competition at the table. I have seen him bluff at me a little more than others since he knows that I am just about the only person at the table who has the ability to lay down a hand. I noticed this tell from him early in the year. When he was bluffing, he wouldn't look directly at me. While I would be counting my chips trying to decide what to do, he would stare at my chips out of the corner of his eye. But when he actually has something, he stares at me in anticipation of a call. Of course, like all tells this is not universal. Have to study your opponent first.

[BarronVangorToth]

[ QUOTE ]
I found it hard to use the pictures in Caro's books since they were black and white and blurry.

[/ QUOTE ]


They're like bad 60's porn ... even worse since all the people are ugly and clothed.


Barron Vangor Toth
www.BarronVangorToth.com (http://www.BarronVangorToth.com)
"Ugly + Clothed <> Good Porn"