Tells

Tells are all the things you do that reveal to others what you are holding. Think of that look that a sibling makes when you know that he or she has something you might want, or that face your mom gets when she is really ticked off. Those are tells and all poker players have tells hidden in the hands they play and their attitude at the table. Tells are everywhere: in the amounts you bet, in your timing, in your gestures and body language, in your reactions, hesitations and emotions. There are thousands of things that you need to be wary about and pay attention to. Here are some rules of thumb:

• Be careful with the information you receive from others, as some players will try to trap you by sending you false tells.
• Always keep your guard up. During play but also AFTER YOU FOLD. After you fold is the perfect time to observe your opponents, as you no longer need to concentrate on your game. Use these precious minutes to learn about your opponents by reading their body language, betting patterns, hands selection, etc.

Reading players is also an art-form. But before jumping into things, a word of caution: some players love to act, so you will never be 100% sure that what you are reading is correct. It's up to you to be sharp in your reads and to avoid being lead to the wrong conclusion. Experience and instincts are the key.

Here are a few examples to give you an idea as to what to look for:

General concepts: a player who's acting strong is usually weak. And vice-versa. A player who suddenly sits straight in his chair and looks you directly in the eyes, probably has a weak hand. A player who keeps reaching for his chips when it is not yet his turn to probably does not want you to bet. If a good player seems distracted or uninterested, put your guard up. This player is probably holding onto a monster. In other words, it’s often a good idea to reverse the messages you receive.

Eyes: someone who's looking at you directly in the eyes wants to persuade you to fold your cards. Call him! On the other hand, someone with sad eyes often has a good hand. Run away!

Hands: the most reliable tells are the ones you can find by looking at your opponent's hands. While it's easy to disguise your facial expressions, the hands often betray. Shaking hands or lack of confidence in the way the player moves his chips are often signs of a weak hand.

Breathing: if your opponent breathes quickly, he is not relaxed and is probably bluffing. The same applies to a player holding his breath. He knows you are watching him and wants to disguise his discomfort.

Talk: At poker, it's perfectly fine to talk during a hand. Chat with your opponent. Ask him how much he bet, even if you know the answer already. By doing this you might pick up something, like a change in your opponent's tone. A strangled voice is often a sign of a bluff.

Unfortunately none of the above can be set in stone, as no universal rule exists for tells. Everything depends upon your opponent’s skills and your skills. When playing a novice, things should be relatively straight-forward. However, experienced players will often use tells to trap you. Against a world class player… don’t even try to read him!

What about yourself? You need to pay attention to your gestures, your body language and what you say. Do not let your opponents read you like an open book.