The Tell-Tale Hand: Types of Poker Tells
The Poker Tell refers to certain behavior and mannerisms displayed by poker players which may tip off other players about the strength of their hand. Usually, players would act contrary to how strong their hand actually is. That is, they would act like they're holding a strong hand even though they have a weak hand, and vice versa.
It is vital that one knows what the various poker tells are, as being able to discern them gives one a distinct advantage in the game. More importantly, being conscious of the many common poker tells can prevent one from making those very same actions themselves.
A player with a good poker hand would try to trick their opponent into believing that they have a bad one. They would shrug and give out a sigh, and they would make themselves appear generally indifferent about their hand. A tendency to make quick looks at the chips after they have examined their hole cards indicates that they might be contemplating placing a bet. A bit of their confidence shows when they shake hands as they make their bets.
A poker player with a bad hand would attempt to convince their opponent otherwise by staring them down. Rookies tend to give themselves away by holding their breath when they bluff. When the flop evinces a potential straight or flush, the desperate player would constantly inspect their hole cards, hoping to have hit a straight or flush. Players who take their time to make a bet are probably computing the pot odds to ascertain the merit of completing their hand.
The manner in which one stacks their chips may also indicate the kind of poker player they are. Players who stack their chips carelessly and shoddily are generally thought to be aggressive, while those who stack neatly tend to be more conservative.
Online poker players cannot of course see each other, but there are still some poker tells that can be identified. For instance, the time that a player takes in betting is proportional to the strength of their hand. That is, betting quickly indicates a weak hand, and taking too long to place a bet indicates a strong one.
Poker players don't need to be psychic or possess x-ray vision in order to have an edge in the game. All they need is to be observant of the player in front of them, or in the case of online poker, have sharp instincts. In order to detect poker tells one needs to have an awareness of their environment. And in order to avoid giving some away, one needs to have an awareness of their self.