A tell is a clue or hint that a player unknowingly
gives about the strength of his hand. Many of the best world players
state that in no limit holdem knowing your player is equally important
as the mathematics. Some top players, like Doyle Brunsen, have played
a round of holdem without even looking at his hand just based on
his opponent's reactions.
In limit holem poker games tells are not as important as in no
limit holdem. There are times that a certain player gives off a
particular tell that gives you a clue to his hand. All players give
off tells no matter how good they are, but the weaker players give
off more tells than professionals. Some players identify their own
tells and use reverse psychology on other players to make them think
they have a certain hand when they don't. Here are some player specific
tells I have seen. Please do not apply these as general tells:
Looking at the flop: One player I know always
looks at the flop when he has a strong hand even when there is raising
around him. If he has a marginal hand and there were bets and raises
he would begin looking at the players instead.
Eye color change: One player told me his tell
was that his eye color changed when he held a strong hand.
Tone of voice: There are many players that have
this tell. When a player bets or raise with a calm relaxed voice
that signals a strong hand.
Eye rolling: There is one player in particular
I know that, when raised, always rolled his eyes if he was bluffing
at the pot.
Announcing: I came accross an unusual player once
that always announced "I guess I bet" when he had a strong
hand. When he had a weak hand he was quiet.
Please remember that tells can give away what a player's intention
are but they are not an absolute for a given situation. Many good
players use tells to their advantage tricking opponents into thinking
they have the opposite of what they truely hold. In just about all
cases weaker player tells are more accurate than good player tells.
Player looking at their hand on the flop: When the
board comes 2 suited and you see a player look at their hole
cards it usually means that they do not have 2 of that suit
in their hand. It is easier to remember a single suit than
2 different suits within your hole cards.
Also a long look at their cards usually signifies weakness
while a quick glance means the opposite.
This can also apply when a inside straight draws or a double
inside straight draw, also know as a double belly buster straight
draw. |
| The quick check: This usually implies a poor
hand on the part of the player. Players with some sort of hand
will generally take time to think about what they want to do,
even if it is just a second. |
| Strong means weak: Players on a bluff or
a marginal will usually bet with emphasis throwing their chips
into the pot. They don't want callers and are trying to buy
the pot. Watch for players that always throw their chips in
the pot. At times they will throw chips higher when their hand
is weak. |
| Weak means strong: Players that place a bet
or raise very meekly are really representing a strong hand.
They are trying not to draw attention to themselves. As above,
if a player usually tosses in his chips look for a lower toss
or a change in his toss to a more passive method. This signifies
a strong hand. |
| The cold caller: When a player quietly cold
calls 2 or 3 bets cold, especially on the flop, in a large multiway
pot watch them. This implies they may have made a powerful hand
like a set and are slowplaying it waiting for the turn to raise.
|
| Betting a lot of small chips: I have seen
players in no limit tournaments make a bet and use many or all
of their smaller chips. While this stack is physically menacing
it may represent a bluff. Why would not they toss is the largest
denominations chips to make the bet as small as possible? |
| The quick call: If you see a
player do a quick call on the flop and even on the turn this
usually implies they are on a draw. If you see a player not
look at their hole cards and do the quick call when a draw comes
on the board then there is a decent chance they are on the draw.
|
| Holding their cards before the flop: If a
player intends to fold their hand before the flop they sometimes
might hold their cards so they are ready to muck them come their
turn. Especially if they stop paying attention to the action. |
| Pushing cards away before the flop: If you
see a player push their cards away from themselves before the
flop and perhaps start looking away or talking to someone else,
then they probably are looking to fold their hand. |
| Interest: if you see a player look at their
hole cards and then start watching the other players till its
his turn to act it usually means he likes his hand. |
| Holding chips:
A player holding their chips at anytime sometimes means they
intend to call or raise. Some players even hold enough chips
for their raise giving off their intention before it even comes
to them. |
| Bluffer's Action: Bluffers like to maintain
their posture and composition. They don't want anything to be
different from the normal. If their chips get knocked over they
might fix them back into a stack. They might site so still they
will hold their breath. Generally they also will not be able
to maintain eye contact. When you make a bluffer feel uncomfortable,
by talking or looking like you are going to call, they might
just start gibbering. A forced smile indicates a bluff. |
Stong Hand's Action:
Players with strong hands are relaxed, can hold conversations
of any type. A genuine smile indicates strength. If they are
genuinely laughing that indicates strength. Their hand might
shake from excitement. Watch for all these clues.
In the 2005 WSOP Steve Dannenmann was giddy after he flopped
top set vs Joseph Hachem. He couldn't stop smiling or laughing
at Joseph's questions. His tell allowed Hachem to lay down
a flush draw with 2 overs, which is a very strong hand. |
The Double Raise: This tell applies to
a weak player in no limit games. Almost every time you see
a weak player raise two times the blind, especially if he
is short stacked and the right move it to go all in, it means
he has aces and wants action. This is also always combined
with the quiet bet.
At times when both of our stacks are large and I one of the
last 3 to act I will call with any two cards, if my read is
right. Weak players just can't lay down aces and you are almost
guaranteed to get their whole stack if you flop two pair or
better. Since you know what their hand is then your hand is
an easy play.
In the 2005 WSOP Sam Fahra did this against a player who
raised 1000 chips UTG when the blinds were 25/25. Sammy identified
the tell and promplty called with 33. The opponent had raise
1/9 his stack. Sam knew if he hit a set knowing the opponent
has aces he would make the appropriate implied odds for his
set. Since the other player was an amatuer at poker Sam knew
he would get paid off. |
| Peeking at Hole Cards on the Turn: I find that bad players usually look at their hole cards on the turn to see if they picked up a draw. Good players I find tend to look at their hole cards when the have made a draw for verification and deception. |
Flop thinker: I have found that players
will usually identify their hands and outs on the flop. They
usually take a 1-5 seconds to think if they have something
worth betting, calling, or raising. Usually on the turn their
action is quick because they know what they have to do if
they hit or miss, unless a scare card comes down. Then they
think a bit more. |
| Even timed thinker: I have found that when
a player is slowplaying a strong hand they seem to think an
extra long time on the flop, and then the same amount of time
on the turn, then they raise. Sometimes they wait till the river
to raise. |
| Preflop auto raiser: In most cases if a person
has their raise button prechecked before the flop this means
aces or kings. Especially if you see 3-5 auto folds and then
this autoraise. |
| Preflop double bet raiser: In no limit tournaments
when a weak player consistantly raises preflop 2x the big blind
this usually indicates a small pair or a weak ace. He is afraid
of his hand and does not want to invest too much into the pot.
He just hopes to steal it. |
| Headsup board auto-raiser: When you have
a hand worth betting or raising and another player INSTANTLY
keeps reraising you it is a fair sign he is bluffing. Even if
a player hits a set of aces on the flop he still will take time
to think about his actions before he bets or if he gets raised
(call, reraise, or trap). |
| The quick check: This usually implies a poor
hand on the part of the player. Players with some sort of hand
will generally take time to think about what they want to do,
even if it is just a second. |
| The cold caller: When a player quietly cold
calls 2 or 3 bets cold, especially on the flop, in a large multiway
pot watch them. This implies they may have made a powerful hand
like a set and are slowplaying it waiting for the turn to raise.
It might also mean he is on a draw. |
| Betting a lot of small chips: I have seen
players in no limit tournaments make a bet and use many or all
of their smaller chips. While this stack is physically menacing
it may represent a bluff. Why would not they toss is the largest
denominations chips to make the bet as small as possible? |
How to help yourself with tells: I like to develop
a pattern for what I do. I like to make the same motions in every
hand I play, the same time to think (even if you intend to fold),
the same way to place my bets. This helps to not give anything away.
Another tactic is to identify your tells and use them on others.
Let them see you do certain tells and then do these tells in the
reverse situation. Many professionals do just this to confuse opponents.
They reverse their tells, mix them up, and change them around. Some
players are so good at this that it is hard to place them on any
hand.
Poker psychology: Always evaluate your players
and how they think. There are some players that think on a single
level, there are others that think on multiple levels "he thinks
that I think that he has aces..." Generally the poorer the
player the simpler the thinking "I have top pair with a 7 kicker
therefore I bet" (as they ignore the 3 hearts on the board).
Although you will find some loose aggresive players that do think
at a higher level. They use tricks to get you to fold a better hand
or represent a better hand than they have. You usually should try
to match your opponent's thinking level to understand them better.
One problem some good players have is that they overthink their
opponents and make the wrong play. For example, a simple old lady
that plays holdem for fun will call when she has something that
might win, will bet when she is pretty sure she is ahead, and raise
only with the nuts. When that 3rd club comes down and she raises
your bet she has flush and is not semi-bluffing you.
One thing I like to do in no limit tournaments, when a player makes
an odd play, is ask them why after the hand is over. People love
taking about themselves and why they made a move, especially a good
one. This will give you an idea of how they think.
One thing I recommend to all players is to always be nice to any
player at the table, even when they bust you with the most rediculous
bad beat. Always say nice hand. Never insult or correct their play.
Online, people tend to insult and use foul language against other
players a lot more often than live play. Their words puts Phill
Hellmuth's brat nature to shame. Why be nice you might ask? Well
if a player gets upset or annoyed at you because of a comment you
made they might take it upon themselves to put you in your place.
They will try a play that is different than their normal style.
This may cost you a pot. You want your opponents to stay predictable
and to fear you. |
