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What are Common Poker Tells?

Recently updated on August 23rd, 2023

Poker tell is an action or behaviour a player exhibits that gives away clues about their hand. If you can read poker tells, you are at an advantage. Well, this is if the other player is unconscious of their behaviours.

A poker tell is a verbal or physical sign another player exhibits during a game. So, what are the different types of poker tells? How are they essential in a game of poker? And, should you bother trying to understand them? Well, we answer all those questions and more here.

poker tells

Types of Poker Tells

Whether you are playing at a real money casino online or a land-based casino in provinces with casinos, poker tells can be an important part of your strategy. Of course, not every tell should be taken seriously.

Some tells are just a fun part of the game. After all, who said gambling should be serious all the time?

Poker tells can be divided into two categories: physical tells and betting patterns. Not only can you get a lot of information about a player’s hand during a game, but you can also get information before a game starts. This is all from the physical tells and betting patterns.

Physical tells

Physical tells work in a live poker setting rather than online. When you play poker online, you do not see the other players. Therefore, you cannot pick up on any mannerisms. Of course, if you are playing live dealer poker games, it is possible to pick up on physical tells.

These types of tells include determining if your opponent is bluffing. You could focus on the following physical signs:

  • how the player is seated
  • shoulder movement
  • flinching

Of course, playing with such a player can be hard as most players spend some time perfecting their poker faces.

Betting patterns

With betting patterns, you are looking at how your opponent bets and reacts to cards. From this, you can pick up on a pattern that should influence your betting decisions. Of course, if you have watched any poker movies, you may have noticed that they use physical tells, such as acting nervously or sweating. Betting tells are similar as these are the most obvious signs of bluffing.

reading poker tells

Top Five Poker Tells

 

1. Making Eye Contact

Eye contact can often tell you a lot about an individual. Likewise, the lack of eye contact can also be telling.

Players will be a lot more relaxed and confident if they have a good hand. In turn, they will be making eye contact with other players. Players with a less favourable hand will avoid eye contact; this is a nervous reaction.

2. It is about the Posture

One’s posture or body language is another way you can learn about a player’s playing patterns. A straightened posture will tell you if the player is interested. Therefore, they could possibly be holding a strong hand.  Also, impatience can be a tell-tale sign of the player having a strong hand.

When a play fidgets or can’t seem to sit still, this can be a sign of them being uncomfortable. Generally, this is associated with weak hands.

3. Check out the Bet Size

This is a poker tell that has nothing to do with a physical movement. Whether you are playing online or at a land-based casino, the size of the bet can tell you the type of hand your opponent has.

If they have a weak hand, they are more inclined to making smaller bets. An opponent that has a strong hand will make bigger bets.

4. Look for Freezing

Some players will freeze after making a bet, and this is a classic tell of bluffing. The player will avoid talking as they could trigger a call with a gesture or by saying something. With a freezing tell, a talkative player is trying to lure another player into calling.

5. Table talks

Chatting at a poker table is not always bad, but being overly chatty during a hand can get confusing. It could mean you are excited about a good hand or trying to distract other players from your lousy hand.

So, take notice of how players are chatting during hands. Also, look out for contradictory statements. Some players will try throw you off by saying things, such as “today is not my day” when in reality, they hold a strong hand.

Poker Tells Online

There are many other poker tells, but we would be here for days if we were to go over all of them. It is simply about observing our opponents. This will be easier in person as you can tell how a player acts before and after they get their cards.

With online poker, betting patterns tell you the strength of a hand. Online poker tells are limited because you cannot see your opponents. Apart from the size of bets, look out for how long it takes them to wager.

If you could give one last piece of advice where poker tells are concerned, use live poker games to test your skill. You can learn more about your opponent’s betting strategies and more!

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