Poker is a classic casino favorite for many around the world, with individuals enjoying the game for a variety of different reasons. Naturally, there are many that enjoy the fact that there can be a lot of money to potentially win if successful, while there are others that have become enthused with it because of how it has been depicted on the big screen.
Movies have played a huge role in helping the game to become extremely popular because of the way that they are portrayed. There is a range of emotions that can be experienced, with many interested in the psychology, strategy, and body language that is typically utilized with each session that is played.
As there is so much going on around a table, interest in these areas has become magnified, as players know they need to master each skill themselves if they are to be successful the next time they play a hand.
What can be considered poker tells?
Despite knowing the rules and how to play the game itself being the most important facet, being able to get into the minds of their opponent and reading body language, as well as identifying potential body ticks and trends, has become a vitally crucial component of poker, too.
There are numerous different tells that trained people can spot and use to their advantage to increase their chances of winning the prize pot. Things advanced players will look for include (but are not limited to):
- Body posture
- Fidgeting & eye contact
- Decision-making
- Bet sizes & checks
Body Posture
Body posture can tend to be one of the biggest tells behind a player and what they may potentially be holding as a poker game is commencing. It can be unnatural to try and hide any emotions that you may have, with facial expressions typically being among the hardest to keep to yourself.
You may involuntarily smile, grin, or frown when you receive your hand and start to see the cards be turned that form the river and more information is made available. Experienced players will look out for these tells immediately.
Fidgeting & Eye Contact
Fidgeting and eye contact are two other body language ticks that experienced players will also continue to look out for, as inexperienced opponents may not realize just how much info they are giving away.
Fidgeting and a lack of eye contact can potentially suggest that there is a lot of anxiety and nervousness around the hands that they have, while those that are continuing to engage in long durations of eye contact may feel very confident about what they have, compared to those that do not want to keep a gaze going.
Decision-making
The decision-making process a player goes through can be a huge tell, and one that those who enjoy playing online poker at top poker sites can also look to analyze and take advantage of.
The longer a player takes to decide what their next move is, there is reason to suggest that it can be due to the strength of their hand and its strength.
It is a common theme for players who make quick decisions to have weaker hands than those who make long decisions, as they have more to think about. This is not always true, though, but it can be a great way to analyze whether an opponent is confident about their chances.
Bet sizes & checks
Another aspect of poker gameplay that could reveal more information about whether a player is confident through the use of their body language is in regard to the bet sizes that they make, as well as how often they may ‘check’ during each round played.
Individuals who make large bets can often give the game away as it suggests they are confident in the hand that they have been dealt. While players can be aggressive in this nature, the most experienced will not jeopardize their position quickly or so easily. Those that continue to ‘check’ could be looking to lure players into a false sense of security, or they could be testing the waters to see what others are doing.
Understanding body language is vital for poker success
Body language is a huge aspect of poker, and once it is mastered, it can be a great way to enhance the overall experience of this casino game. Experienced players will look for as many tells as possible, and if their opponent does not work on them, then there is every chance they can use them to their advantage and be successful around the table.
