Top Ten Tells
by Sherry Nixon

I look at tells as either weak or strong, period.  That is really all I need to know.  Of course there is the tell, the reverse tell, and the reverse-reverse tell.  Tells between the amateurs and the pros can be night and day. So be careful, watch and learn.  Ask yourself, “What do they WANT me to do?”  When an opponent turns up a bluff or shows one card, ask yourself “WHY are they showing me that card?”  Tells can be many things.

 1. The Hands

We all know that if you see your opponent’s hands shake, you should consider throwing your hand away.  But the hands to tell me more.  If fingers are closed when waiting for a call or fold, it may mean they are being guarded and on a bluff.  If hands are open and palms down on the table, they are relaxed and just waiting for a call to take the pot.  Finger tapping, fidgeting, rubbing together of forefinger and thumb are all things to look for.  Try and observe what they mean in early play so you can use the information later in the game.

2. The Eyes

The favorite eye tell is, if they look at their chips when a card hits the board, they are subconsciously thinking they should bet because they have hit the right card.  But, the muscles around the eyes are very expressive.  Research tells us that as humans perceive and react to eye expressions more so than any other expressed body language. For me looking at the area around the eyes tells the story.  When eyes are puckered even slightly it suggests pain, missed cards, on a draw, etc… when the eyes are wide, the player is interested in the situation.  I use this observation most when an Ace is on board.  Do they have it or not?  The eyes tell all.   Blinking indicates nervousness, and looking away indicates a desire to be out of the situation. 

3. The Face

The face is a plethora of information.  There are 57 muscles in the face.  Good actors spend hours and hours in the mirror trying to control each muscle and the discernable expression it can create.  Mastering the right expression can cause subconscious impulses or reactions in your opponents.  When you hear someone say “I don’t know why but I just knew he had quads.”  I attribute it to the subconscious ability we all have to read the situation in the face of our opponents.  We are not always consciously aware of what we see, we just know subconsciously what we need to do.  Every serious pro I know spends some time in front of a mirror, learning his own facial expressions and applying that information to his opponents.

4. The Posture

Easy read.  If they are sitting slumped over and asleep, well you can be sure they are playing just that.  Do they look ready to attack playing every hand, ready to play their opponent, not necessarily the cards in front of them?  Or do they look sleepy, and uninterested, just waiting for pocket Aces to come their way? 

5. The Chips

This one gets broken down into neat or sloppy and indicates what kind of player they are?  But really think about how much information is there.  Are they building a fortress with their chips?  Are they doing chip tricks?  How are they matching the chips up? Where are they placing their big chips?  How you build your house tells a lot about who you are. Also watch for chip riffling.  Do they riffle when they have a hand and don’t when they are on a draw? 

6. Betting Patterns

Does your opponent over-bet the flop when he has a hand or does he check and try to slow play?  Try to find a bit of information that indicates the strength or weakness of your opponent’s hand by watching him bet the same in the same situations.   When you have the key, you know all. 

7. The Heartbeat

Observing tells related to an elevated heartbeat or high blood pressure can be very accurate.  It is very difficult to control heavy breathing related to excitement.  Being on a bluff can be one of the most adrenalin filled experiences a poker player can have, and when someone is staring you down and you feel like you are running a 100 dash, well external expressions can be impossible to control.  Look for heavy breathing, sweating, shaking hands, and popping veins in hands and neck, these can all be signs of a bluff.

8. The Voice

Listen!

When a player speaks when relaxed it is very different from when he is concerned or full of anxiety.  In tense situations it is common for players strike up conversations with their opponents, such as asking how much chips someone has.  Relaxed indicates a strong hand, higher voices or broken words indicates anxiety or concern.  But the best way to treat this is ask the question, “What do they want me to do here?” And do the opposite. 

9. Body Stillness

When a player gets very still it usually indicates a bluff or a huge hand.  Past patterns will help you to discern which is correct.  I mean very still, like ice.  It is just like the way a dog gets right before they attack.  They freeze, focus, and then bet. 

10. Toys at the Table

We are human and we will play and fiddle with anything that is in front of us -- card-cappers, chips, cards, and lucky charms.  Whatever is there, will find a way to play with it.  Psychologists say we transfer emotions with our hands.  We reach out for comfort or touch for victory our little lucky charm sitting on our cards.  We riffle chips for relief of tension, or we riffle to show strength?  Find out your opponent quirks and you will have your opponent beat before he even knows it.