I usually don't tell people which reads I use on them, i guess not to have it used against me, but it seems like it's unlikely that I'll be playing live with anyone on this site. Anyways my favorite read is when people stare right at you for a couple of seconds usually, right after making a bet. They are pretty much always not nearly as strong as they represent, often complete bluffs too. The same people usually look away (like im not interested in this) after betting with very strong hand. I've been using this for a while and it works great, I even used it as a ploy at last years PCA, I reraised a guy all-in with aces, he thinks, first thing that comes to my head is stare straight at him so he thinks you are bluffing, as soon as I do that he says "call". He had AJ on small blind I was big.
Anyways the question is what are some of your favorite reads live?
Joined: Jan '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 1204
It's really weird I don't even know where I gained this ability I just seem to be able to do it naturally. But I don't really look at peoples faces when I'm playing live, I watch everyone's hands and what they do with them. I'm not going to give away the secrets, but everything you need to know is there and the more they try to hide it the more information they give away.
yep some people have it some people don't. In regards to sharing secrets its kinda the point, everyone could learn something new as long as they are willing to share, but if you prefer not too its fine. cheers
Joined: Jan '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 1204
I don't really know how I do it, I just think about what I think their body language is telling me. It seems to be right more than wrong. But I don't think many others do hand watching. Oh yeah another one is the way they put the chips down. If its aggressive, get out unless you have something good. Another one is the way they are sitting in relation to the chips. Does it look like they're protecting them.
Joined: Mar '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 6714
There are a few tells that are fairly easy to spot, looking at the cards for longer than normal tends to signal a strong hand, tone of voice and as mentioned above how people play their chips. There are a few regs were I play and we all talk about each-others tells, some of it in jest but some real, then a few weeks later you catch one trying to chuck in a fake tell. Myself, my eyebrows lift and I have to keep them there LOL..
The eyebrows thing is not that uncommon, you should wear snowboarding goggles to cover them up
here is another one that i'm gonna share, many people often see a flop they hit really well (two pair, set, flush) and look away as quickly as possible.
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
i'm not sure about tells at all- same tell can work on one guy and mean totally different thing with other...and one more thing- i believe the bigger stakes you play, the better players you encounter- the less tells you will spot, or even go into trouble with them out-telling you...so the moral is this- play with drunk donks- just spot them for half an hour or so and you can spot more tells than you need
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Canada
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 1660
This is an interesting thread, I like your suggestion sadaman, I've never really looked at hands I'll try that. Lots of good stuff in here, thanks for all the comments. Personally I've found that I'm not that great at reading people by watching, I play similarly to online.
Joined: May '11
Location: Canada
Age: 34 (M)
Posts: 979
this is a great thread imo usually all my reads come from bet sizing and consistancy but i also always watch the person im most interested in when the cards hit the board, the eyes and mouth give away a lot
Joined: Jun '10
Location: Belgium
Age: 51 (M)
Posts: 1457
reading players...
For some people it could be usefull to have some acting lessons. I did some amature acting in school and learnt quite some emotions expressions. So I use them now in live poker plays and it works most of the time. But be aware that you change the acting on time and maybe the most important don t overbluff yourself
