POKER TELLS

What are poker tells?

A tell is any habit, behavior, or physical reaction, that gives other players more information about your hand. The following are tips supplied to PokerTop10 by the pros, and can apply against novice or advanced players. Remember, in poker there are many contradictions and exceptions to the rule. Also, experienced pros will give out false tells to fool players.

Chip Stacking:
When you first sit down at a table, study the way the players stack their chips. Although it is a generalization, loose aggressive players typically maintain unorganized/sloppy stacks, while tight conservative players keep well organized/neat stacks

Trembling Hands:
Also, a byproduct of anxiety, beware of a player whose hands are shaking, this nervousness can represent a big hand.

Pauses:
Pay good attention to how long your opponent takes to call or raise you. If a player purposely stalls and then raises you, they often have a very strong hand and are trying to lure you in. If they stall and then just call, they frequently have weak, marginal hands, or drawing hands.

Word of caution:
While poker tells are a very potent tool that will take your game to the next level, they should be viewed as a supplement to (not a replacement of) the solid fundamental game that you learned as a player at beginning level. Do not, for instance, call an opponent all the way down with a queen high just because you know he is bluffing. Do, still, use the information you learned to make tough and marginal decisions easier and more profitable.

Table Talk:
A good number of online poker rooms have chat boxes that allow players to talk to each other. You can utilize the chat boxes to determine the strength of your opponent's hands. You can do this in the same way you would in a live casino. Online opponents who hold strong hands would often try to win over you into calling. Don't ever fall for it. Be less ready to call an opponent who is challenging you online.