Poker Articles

By Jennifear | Published Dec 31 2006, 11:11 AM
The perception of online poker is that it is a game of mathematics, and that people skills are not involved.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Next time you are in your favorite live place to play, look around for pre-action buttons, screen names, an avatar, and a chatbox.  Chances are you won't find any of these things.  The people aspect of the game is more apparent online with every feature added to our online cardrooms, and furthermore, unlike live play, where the players take great pains to disguise their actions and try to act the same every time, online these players often let their guard down, figuring that this "people aspect" has been eliminated from the game.  If you are attentive, you can crush these folks, and I'm here to tell you how!

Betting speed tells:

- The Instant Call After a Bet

Your opponent is trying to convey strength by calling quickly, but in reality, likely does not have the goods....yet.  Your opponent is more than likely on a draw, and beware of any turn card that might complete his hand.

- The Instant Raise After a Bet

Your opponent has the goods this time and was looking to raise no matter what you did.  If you have queens preflop in position after a raise and a reraise that fit this category, strongly consider laying them down.

- The Quick River or Turn Bet

Your opponent hasn't given much thought to whether he wants to bet his hand, because he is strong and does want to bet.  Most bluffs or plays take at least a half-second to develop in the brain, and if this time isn't being used, it's likely a good hand.

- Pre-action Check/Fold Button

Your lazy opponent who uses this is almost certainly weak.  You will see him instantly check, and you'd better believe that you can bet the next street.

- Pause, then Bet

By pausing, your opponent is subconsiously trying to get you to believe that he is just thinking about betting before deciding to make a borderline bet.  Don't be fooled, he has the goods.

- Pause, then Check

By pausing, your opponent is subconsciously trying to get you to believe that he is just thinking about betting before deciding to make a borderline check. He is trying to scare you into checking behind.  Don't be fooled, bet right now!

- The Quick Check

An instantaneous check also indicates weakness, but if followed by a raise, it's deception.  Bet at will, but be prepared to fold to a check-raise.

Table Chat Tells:

- "I'm Allin, It's Bedtime!"

He has the goods.  Call with the strongest hands only.

- "Let's Party!!!" (allin first hand of MTT or SNG)

He has the goods.  Fold anything less than KK.

- "Next Time You Raise My Blind, You Are Allin!" or "Just Wait Until I Have a Hand, Sucker!"

He doesn't know how to combat your aggressive style, so rather than fighting you on the table, he is trying to scare you into changing the way you do business.  Continue putting the heat on this guy until he proves he can play back.

- Idle chatter by the person in the Big Blind

This guy has nothing, as someone with a real hand will prepare themselves for their action, watching intently.  Raise this blind at will with anything.

- Chatterbox Who gets quiet....all of a sudden

This guy may very well have the goods, use some of your time bank to see if he resumes chatting, and if not, proceed with caution.

- "You Guys Are a Bunch of Donkeyfish!  I Haven't Won a Race All Day!!!"

He may as well wear a sign that says "I AM ON TILT!"

- "How Can You Play That Crap!"

This player plays the "right way".. and in his mind, the right way is weak-tight.

- A player who comments on a hand he wasn't involved in

...is paying attention to the game when he's not in a hand.  Same player who gives his opinion is the old "professor" type.  Chat this guy up, and tell him how super-awesome he is at poker and ask him if you did the right thing on several plays.  He will proceed to drop his entire strategy in your lap.

- "Call me You Chicken!" or "It's Time For You to Fold!"

If an opponent is trying to influence your decision in the chatbox, whether he is trying to get you to call, raise or fold, he likely has the goods.  A bluffer will not say anything in the chatbox for fear of giving someone a clue, and although you can't see it, a bluffer is silent behind the computer screen, frozen solid, and won't answer his wife's question until the hand is over, or breathe for that matter.  He certainly isn't typing.

Cash Game Tells:

- Failure to Wait For the Big Blind

Your opponent is careless enough that he doesn't realize the value of half of a big bet.  He is impatient.  Stick around and take his cash.

- Failure to Auto-Post in a Game With Antes

Your opponent is likely new to this specific game or just wants to play one or two hands.  Most likely a fish.

- Buying In With a Weird Amount Like $40.98

It's probably his entire bankroll.  He is playing over his head.  Fish.

Name/Avatar Tells:

- Child as an Avatar

It's probably really your opponent's child, and you can deduce his age within a few years by the age of the child.

- PocketFives.com, Training Site Avatar

Not your opponent's first rodeo.  Be wary of these guys.  However, your opponent also doesn't have the wherewithal to disguise the fact that he knows his stuff.

- Staking Site Avatar

Your opponent needed to be staked before because he went broke.  Plays over his head.

- 420 Inside Name

Your opponent smokes pot and is proud of it.

- Avatar of a Lesser Known Poker Pro

Your opponent follows the game and probably has more than a clue.

- Avatar of a Grizzly Bear, Shark, Fisherman, or Mean Dog

Your opponent sees himself as a predator.

- Avatar of Opponent Wearing Sunglasses or Staring You Down

Your opponent is paying attention to his reputation and will avoid looking stupid.  He thinks he is good.

- Birthyear in Name

Chances are that Johnny1975 was born in 1975.  Older players are generally tighter, less aggressive, and less prone to overvaluing a hand.  Younger players are often playing by the seat of their pants.

- Recent Year in Name

Chances are Johnny04 created his account in 2004, and he has some experience.

- Name in All Capital Letters

Chances are that your opponent, YOUAREDINNER, is aggressive.

- Picture of Girlfriend

Your opponent is likely about the age of the girlfriend.

- A Trick in a Name

"Time 11 Secs," "Seat Empty," or "Screen Name" are most likely tricky players at heart.

- Rude Name

Most likely, IOwnYourA$$ is a young, immature player, without any true skills.


Weird Bet Amounts:

- Bets 2222 with 400-800 blinds.

Your opponent is trying to get away with risking less than 3x the big blind with this tomfoolery.  If you have Fold Equity, throw a reraise at him!

- Bets 999.

Your opponent is trying to make his bet "look" big, because the stack will look large.  Don't be fooled.  He doesn't have much.  Someone with AA preflop, or the nuts, will try to not look deceptive in any way.

- Betting 2.1x-2.9x the big blind in position (bets 410-590 with 100-200 blinds)

This player is trying a cheap position raise, and, in most cases, he has a marginal hand.



I hope this gives all pocketfivers an insight into the heads of their opponents.  Remember that the ability to fake tells is out there as well, and many of these tells aren't 100% reliable.  People with poor connection or multitablers may give off a false alarm.  Be sure to not give off these tells, and have a screen name and an avatar that tells people nothing about your true self and isn't likely to irritate others. 

Be observant, and you can pick up a whole heck of a lot!

Hope this helps!

(Special thanks to Tim Lock for inspiring me to write this)

Jennifear

Jennifear teaches small stakes SNG private lessons for $119 for four hours, and will give a discount to any player who signs up for a poker site through pocketfives.com.
Go to Jennifear.com for details!