Tells

[The_Gunt]

Just thinking about the process of trying to read people and I seem to put my tells into 2 categories. The first would be specific motions or actions that people do in certain situations. An example would be someone playing with their chips using their left hand when they are bluffing. I know there are several books and sections of books that speak to these types of tells. Are there any no player specific telld that you guys pick up on a regular basis?

The other would be the the non-specific tells, the general feelings I get from their overall behavior. A lot of time this is just touchy feely stuff like their general overall expression or how they hold themselves at the table. Not sure that there is as much written about this subject. I may be able to better explain it by saying the sum of all the reads are worth more than the individual specific tells by themselves.

Any thoughts on tells or stories that you guys can tell about reads you have picked up and how you used them to your advantage?

[Talking Poker]

Have you read Caro's Book of Tells? I believe it is the definitive publication on the subject (even though the pictures are SO outdated):


Last night, I thought I picked up a tell for the first time on one of the guys in my regular game... Haven't confirmed it yet (not enough showdowns), but it would be huge if I was right. It has to do with the way he places his chips when he has a big hand or just a draw...

[jimmym]

Poker Tells are a very important part of poker, I am currently on the verge of turning pro. After some good advice I recieved from this forum I decided to wait until I learn a little more about the game of poker. Apart from the obvious 'keeping notes' about all players I come up against, I have now started to really work on how to read Poker Tells, I am currently reading a few books and not just poker but body launguage for when I play live games.

This is some points that I have noted, that may help.
In Live games look for these points.

The eyes – the length of time a player stares at his cards, his willingness to look you in the eye, his eye pupil dilation

Facial expression – does a player show a noticeable tic, or obvious unhappiness when a hand is weak, obvious confidence when a hand is strong?

Weak is strong, strong is weak – with a strong hand a player tries to look disinterested, with a weak hand a player tries to appear intimidating

Anxiety – physical clues such as flexing of muscles, changes in voice, chest expanding

Trembling hands – showing nervousness by hands shaking, usually indicating a strong hand.

Glancing or playing with chips – Indicating a player is already planning his attack.

When playing online keep these points in mind.
Automatic play – a lazy approach to the auto buttons lets a player slip into a set pattern of play – a break in that pattern is a clear tell

Slowness to respond – a pause followed by a check can often indicate weakness, a delay followed by a raise often indicates a strong hand

Quickness to respond – a very fast check can often indicate a weak hand, quick bets on the turn or the river can often indicate a strong hand.

Chat panel - talk gives clues, silent types often play hard, holding good hands when they raise; chatty, friendly players tend to be looser.

Player's names - screen names like 'The Gambler' and 'Mad Dog' tend to be loose and aggressive while players with names such as 'The Rock' tend to be tighter players.

These points I have gave you for Online plat actually are very good, I have really started to notice that certain players allways follow the pattern and I am starting to pick up on the tells more and more.

Jim

[The_Gunt]

I sat at the local book store and spent about 30 minutes looking at Caro's book but I didn't buy it because of all the other books I have to read at this time. Man, they sure could use some new pictures in that book. Some one also has a DVD out on tells but I haven't seen that yet.

[The_Gunt]

Jimmy,
Agree with most of your online tells but one that I think is getting overplayed is the name tell. Any person who plays online for a week figures out that they need to adjust their name to try and fake some type of an attitude. CreamPuff1 or All_In678 are so common they almost mean nothing anymore.

[PShabi]

Yeah, the name thing doesn't seem very relevant.

To me you should go with the weak=strong theory here as well.

People who refer to themselves as "chasers" or "loose" players are probably just the opposite in my experience.

[Talking Poker]

Agreed.

ESPECIALLY when someone is trying to come off as loose/reckless with their name. Those are more often than not the solid/tight players. Not as many wild players think to call themselves Rocks.

[Kidd7138]

Does anyone else ever try to intentionally show tells like this online to try to trick other players. Like purposefully using the auto buttons or betting very quickly to try to show more strength on a bluff, or stalling before you check or call when you're slowplaying a hand to try to show more weakness. It's something I try every so often, and if you try it at the right table it can pay off more than you'd probably expect.

[jimmym]

The Online 'Tells' list I am working on is hit and miss unless you really get to know the players you are up against, this is were keeping notes on players you meet is so important.

The Names being used as a 'Tell' sounds strange but actually does work quite well, allthough I am finding The name 'Tell' only seems to actually work on very small cash tables.

'Tells' are what you interprate as a strenghth or weakness and other players will have read someones actions more than likely different, but any info you can use to some advantage to your game should be used including keeping notes on what you think may be a 'Tell' on a player.

[Talking Poker]

Yes, I use the auto-play buttons to my advantage all the time.