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On Line Poker Tells
In this article I am going to discuss certain online "tells" to look for when evaluating an opponent's hand. When I first starting playing poker on the internet, I never even fathomed there is such a thing as a virtual or on-line "tell". How wrong I was. If you are new to poker, a "tell" is an act, gesture or mannerism that a poker player displays when trying to disguise the strength of their hand. In a live game, for example, a player may act weak when he is strong, say various things, stare at you, throw his chips in the middle etc... All of these actions are "tells" and can provide you with valuable information about your opponents hand. While many tells may be subconsciously executed, they are nonetheless subject to interpretation by opponents. Many players exhibit the same kind of "tell", so the trick is learning to distinguish its implications accordingly since it's meaning for one player can easily differ from that of another player. The question is how can you pick up on these subtleties when playing online? For the most part you can't. Nonetheless, there are a few "tells" that are useful to know when playing online. The following is a list of the most common online "tells": Speed of Play If you have played online poker you have noticed that there is a set number of seconds that each player has to respond before he is declared either all-in or folded. The speed of play can be a good “tell”. The insta-call after you bet: Most players who call your bet immediately have a weak calling hand. These players want you to believe they have a stronger hand and hope that you will not bet into them again. The delayed check: Most players who take longer than normal to check to you do not want you to bet. They are attempting to display strength because they want to see the next card for free. The delayed bet: When an opponent thinks for a long time and then bets, they are usually holding a strong hand. They want you to believe they are weak so that you will call/raise. The insta-bet/raise on the river: The player who utilizes this move will usually be holding a very strong hand. By raising or betting so quickly, they are trying to make you think they are bluffing. This move can also be used on the turn and generally, though not as frequently, denotes strength. The insta-check: A player sitting in late position who uses the "in turn" check/fold button is usually weak. Often, they are playing at multiple tables and are hoping to save time by using the "in turn" buttons. The bet into on the turn: When a player has checked and called on the flop and then bets into you on the turn, it usually indicates weakness. This type of bet often means that they picked up a draw or that they are semi-bluffing with a draw they picked up on the flop. Strongly consider raising even though you might be bluffing yourself. Pay close attention to how much time it takes the other players to act, and mentally make a note of it. If you get a chance to see their cards at showdown, see if you can determine what they “slow bet” with and what they “fast bet” with. Also, think about your own play and whether or not you exhibit these "tells" by your speed of play. A good strategy is to try and take the same amount of time for every action, so that observant players cannot draw any conclusions from your own speed of play. Use of Check Boxes/Auto Plays The vast majority, if not all, online poker rooms have check boxes such as “fold” “raise any”, or “call any”. You can usually tell when a player has used a check box, because his action comes within the blink of an eye of the player before him. USE THIS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE!!!. If a player has checked “raise any” it should be obvious he has a strong hand. If a player uses the check box to “check” his hand is probably weak. If a player uses the check box to “call any”, he probably has a draw hand he has not completed, but is definitely not ready to fold. While these are not 100% accurate, the observant player can over time, begin to draw conclusions and make assumptions based on an opponents use of the check boxes. The fact that a player feels strongly enough about a hand to make a decision before even seeing the actions of the players before him, might be a “tell” as to what that player is holding. Opponents Fold/Flop Percentage Over the course of several games you will get a sense of whether or not the player folds a lot of trash hands (a tight player) or if he is staying in almost every pot (a loose player). This “tell” can be used both online and offline to help you determine the strength of a players overall game. If a player folds a lot of hands, be careful when you play a hand against him. If he stays in almost every pot, you can probably run over him if you play only good cards. Most online poker rooms give you the option of making permanent notes about other players. If you play often like I do, you will come across the same players. If you take good notes on how someone plays, you can refer to these notes if you see a familiar name at your table. It will save you from having to figure out someone's playing style. Chat Box Just as in brick and mortar casinos, the “chattiness” of a player can be an obvious "tell". Generally, if a player who is chatting all of a sudden gets quiet, it is more likely than not he has a good hand. He is spending every ounce of focus on playing his cards and squeezing out the biggest pot possible. On the other hand, if a player is betting and becomes antagonistic in the chat box, he may be bluffing and hoping his show of “confidence” will aid him in bluffing you off the table. Watch the chat box also for players who are “steaming” or “on tilt.” A whining player or one who is using lots of abusive language is probably emotionally unable to play good poker until he or she calms down. Waiting for the Big Blind When you first sit down at a Hold 'em table, you may have the option of “waiting on the big blind“ to get to you, or posting a matching big blind and start playing immediately. This a good "tell" on how patient an online player will be. If he is not patient enough to wait on the big blind to get around to him, he might not be very patient about waiting on good starting hands. Expect him to be a loose player. The opposite holds true for players who "wait on the big blind". Either they are patient or cheap. Both are pretty good qualities to have if you are playing online poker. Cheap players, even when they are not especially skilled, will tend to wait on better hands since they are loathe to throw away their bets! In conclusion, when playing online you can't see your opponents, but you can see what they DO. The betting actions and chat behavior of opponents offers a goldmine of information that you can use against them. Pay close attention to these things and your game will improve dramatically. http://holdemcorner.blogspot.com
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