As many followers would attest, poker is more than just a game of luck. It requires having to deal with uncertain in-game situations by reading into other players’ own habits and mannerisms, be it in the way those players bet or on how they physically and emotionally react on the table.
Here are five of the most common weaknesses or “tells” in poker to give you an upper hand psychologically in your next round of play.
Cash In on the Best Online Sportsbook Offers Now at TopBet!
Take note of the player’s overall demeanor before the cards have been dealt
How a player appears in real life can say a lot about how calm he or she is at the poker table. Loud personalities with garish attire are just as aggressive in the game as they are in person, whereas the more conservative players reflect their more timid way of playing the game. Take time to take note every player’s unique characteristics to get an edge on what you can expect from all of them even before the real battle begins.
Chip-counting and betting habits
More often than not, when you notice a player start to count his/her chips while in the midst of the action, there’s an underlying intent already made that he/she will call or raise in the current situation. Watch carefully how players interact with their stack of chips mid-game to determine how they’ll react after doing so. How a player bets is just if not more important than the actual amount he/she is about to bet.
Staring contests
When players stare you down during a particular hand, it means that they mean business and are put in a tough position that they’d rather not be in. Staring is a good form of intimidation, but it’s also a sign of indecisiveness. Use this knowledge to your advantage when you come across normally speedy players that suddenly put on the brakes. Maybe even put on a pair of shades (like what a good number of pros actually do) to get rid of the stare factor from your end altogether.
More is less in terms of dressing for the occasion
Some players just can’t get enough of their fashion accessories when they want to have a go on the poker table. While vanity is no crime, players with thingamabobs all over their body tend to fixate on those objects as the game goes along, leaving plenty of signs for others to pick up on their elation or frustration. Check often for mannerisms players have with their earrings, watches, headphones and whatnot.
Emotions can’t be running wild
What makes poker such a fun game is that you can win with nothing in hand for as long as you know your enemies more than they know you. Learn how to keep your emotions in check and physical reactions in certain situations to a minimum. Getting rid of your personality on the poker table leaves others with just your betting habits to work on. Half of the battle in poker is won with how you express yourself in the game as an individual, so present yourself as an enigmatic riddle to others without going through your usual tendencies to the best of your capacity.
If real-life poker and all its mind games are too much for you, why not have a crack at online poker instead?
