One of the most interesting things about poker is the psychological aspect of the game. It is also very important, especially at amateur level. A habit, behavior or physical reaction of a player can give other players information about his hand. These signs are called poker
tells. Being a good player involves knowing to read other players poker tells and to hide ones own. It is also possible to simulate poker tells, so, apart from learning the theory, it requires a lot of practice to differenciate between false poker tells and the real ones.
The Eyes
It has been said that eyes never lie. It is also true for poker. Therefore, many poker players wear sunglasses, visors or caps. People can not help staring at big cards, so if a player glance at his hand quickly and moves his sight away, it probably means that he has a poor hand.
The Face
A face can express nervousness, excitement, displeasure or any other emotion.
Poker face is a common expression for a face that does not display anything. That is how the face of a poker player must be, but in practice, far too many players do not to control their feelings. Do not expect anyone to smile widely when he has a good hand, but a touch of disappointment or a bit of worry can easily appear on a face after receiving a wrong card. Wearing sunglasses or a cap and staring down is also useful to hide facial expressions.
Bluffing
Bluffing is more common at amateur level, but professionals may also bluff when they think it is necessary. However, bluffing requires a dramatic talent. Lousy bluffers are recognizable. They tend to exaggerate the emotions they want to show and do not look 100 percent realistic. For example, a player who bluffs raises his voice to intimidate the opponents, which is not really natural if he has a good hand. This tell can also be simulated. A good actor, having a good hand, can behave a bit unnaturally to let others think he is bluffing, so there is no sure way to detect bluffing.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a sign of confrontation. An anxious player is ready for confrontation. So, he either has a good hand or believes he has it. However, this player will hardly fold. The symptoms of anxiety are flexing of muscles, pupil dilatation, palpitating heart rate and dry throat. An anxious player can be recognized by an abnormally expanding chest, trembling hands, higher voice, or even enlarged veins on the face and on the neck.
Betting Patterns
Probably the most effective poker tell is not connected to the players physical appearance. It is the way the person bets. Most players have more or less fixed betting strategies and will act equally in equal situations, therefore even more important than telling the emotions is paying attention to the bets and the hands behind the bets.