Do Online Players Going B&M Have a Lot of Tells?

[Luv2DriveTT]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, I guess it doesn't matter too much at the entry level. I won't worry about it.

Just out of curiousity, does anybody ever make any conscious effort when playing online to not show tells as a sort of practice for playing B&M, or to avoid developing a bad habit that might show up unconsciously when playing live?

[/ QUOTE ]

First your first few B&M visits ignore tells completely, just play solid SSHE style limit hold'em. Then once you feel comfortable start paying attention to your own body movements and expressions, as well as your opponents. You will learn a lot about yourself this way both as a player and also as an individual.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[TomBrooks]

[ QUOTE ]
your first few B&M visits ignore tells completely, just play solid SSHE style limit hold'em. Then once you feel comfortable start paying attention to your own body movements and expressions, as well as your opponents. You will learn a lot about yourself this way both as a player and also as an individual.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi TT,
That's an interesting comment.

I started playing poker about a year and a half ago only because a guy I know who is the author of a book about Body Language recommended it. He said as well as being a good social activity, it was great practice for reading body language which leads to understanding people in general.

I've been playing on line ever since to get ready for the time I would play live. It's taken me this long to get up to playing 2/4 and 3/6, the minimum stakes you can usually find in a live game.

[ QUOTE ]
OK, I guess it doesn't matter too much at the entry level. I won't worry about it.

Just out of curiousity, does anybody ever make any conscious effort when playing online to not show tells as a sort of practice for playing B&M, or to avoid developing a bad habit that might show up unconsciously when playing live?

[/ QUOTE ]

My guidelines for playing online

- Only use auto-function to fold. B&M, I always hold my cards until it's my turn to act, then I fold. No pitching motion, nothing.

- Try to take the same amount of time to act. It's easy on Paradise because the player in front of me acts, his name fades out and is replaced by his action, then his name comes back....takes about two seconds. I usually act right after this. I try to do the same thing B&M. Guy next to me acts...one...two...I act.

- Never type responses while in a hand. Was in a SNG yesterday, found myself chip leader and was bullying everyone around. Four-handed, I raised as a blind steal...and one guy typed "I have a good hand....and you have been a bully." He folded. I'm almost positive if I had said anything, he would have called. I had A7 and did not want a call. Likewise, B&M, I don't say a word when someone's fishing for a tell.

ScottieK

If I want them to call my river value bet and they are thinking, I sometimes start giving off strange mannerisms weird behavior to try and spark their curiosity.

[TomBrooks]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
does anybody ever make any conscious effort when playing online to not show tells as a sort of practice for playing B&M

[/ QUOTE ]My guidelines for playing online
- Only use auto-function to fold. B&M, I always hold my cards until it's my turn to act, then I fold.
- Try to take the same amount of time to act. do the same thing B&M.
- Never type responses while in a hand. B&M, I don't say a word when someone's fishing for a tell.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi Scott,

I was thinking more along the lines of showing emotion when playing on-line such as exclaiming something out loud or drooping your head and shoulders or openly smiling etc.

Online those things don't matter, and it would seem like it's taking some of the fun out of playing if you tried to surpress your emotions while sitting in front of a computer. But I wondered if these kinds of habits can get ingrained to some degree and backfire on you when you go to a B&M? It doesn't sound like an issue for a beginner at the mini-stake tables.

I wonder if the guys who play for mid and high stakes though, make a disciplined effort to play online with their poker faces, so they don't inadvertantly let something slip when playing live because of bad habits that didn't matter when online.

[ QUOTE ]

Hi Scott,

I was thinking more along the lines of showing emotion when playing on-line such as exclaiming something out loud or drooping your head and shoulders or openly smiling etc.

Online those things don't matter, and it would seem like it's taking some of the fun out of playing if you tried to surpress your emotions while sitting in front of a computer. But I wondered if these kinds of habits can get ingrained to some degree and backfire on you when you go to a B&M? It doesn't sound like an issue for a beginner at the mini-stake tables.

I wonder if the guys who play for mid and high stakes though, make a disciplined effort to play online with their poker faces, so they don't inadvertantly let something slip when playing live because of bad habits that didn't matter when online.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting. Never thought of it that way. I don't talk a lot to the monitor, throw crap around when I lose or get all excited when I'm ahead online...I just figure I'm getting paid to make good decisions. Haven't had a problem with tells at a B&M...at least that I know of. There is one tell I think I exhibit sometimes, and it is something I'm working on. I can usually differentiate between online and B&M, as far as how to act at the table. Maybe it is a good idea to practice your game face online.

You're right though...most of the guys at the LL B&M tables won't notice what you're doing because they're too busy watching the game or ordering drinks or whatever.

ScottieK

[juanez]

[ QUOTE ]
Does the typical online player who plays at a B&M for the first time typically give off a lot of tells?

[/ QUOTE ]

Subtle things like the Party Poker t-shirt or the Full Tilt visor might make a few folks nervous. J/K man [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[MookieBlaylock]

To answer your question, yes. Please refer to season one of "Tilt".

[MediaPA]

Darn you beat me to it. 'Internet finger' or something, lol.

Nope, don't worry too much about tells, just try to do everything pretty much the same. I hardly bother looking for tells at this level, mainly because I really don't want to look at the people I'm playing with.

I'll give you one example. Any time a guy I played with would say 'Raise,' he had it. When the raise was just with chips, it was a much weaker hand. Stuff like this should be avoided.

Oh yeah, don't say 'Check/call', ;Bet/Raise', etc. before it's your turn. J/K

Yes, for the most part. This typically doesn't matter in the limit games, but can in the NL games if you are playing high enough. A few things to remember are:

-Don't look at your cards until it is your turn to act preflop
-Take the same amount of time each time you bet/raise (but don't take too long and hollywood it up)
-Speak clearly when declaring a raise, bet, or all-in

Act natural. Talk to the players if you like to talk and be social, or just look down at the felt if you are afraid of giving off a tell. Whatever is most comfortable and repeatable in all situations is what I suggest you do.

Good luck!