Much has been written on the subject of poker tells. You can find books by FBI agents, psychologists, and poker pros, all trying to explain how to read minds. These books are really useful if you’re looking for an in-depth analysis of poker play, but to get you started, here’s a few simple tips.
Start with the eyes. They’re called ‘the window to the soul’ for a reason. Your eyes give away a lot about what you’re thinking. That’s why a lot of players choose to wear sunglasses – to hide their eyes.
Facial expressions give away a lot too. Not just wide-eyed shock and gleeful smiles either. You might blush, furrow your brow a little, grit your teeth, or have a nervous tick that shows up when you’re bluffing.
The body language tells are the easiest to read for a lot of people. Open, relaxed poses are an indicator of confidence. Leaning in towards the pot could indicate a bluff and you’re likely to slump when you have a bad hand. You can use this knowledge to con and you can practice hiding this by adopting a neutral posture at the table. Sit up straight, but comfortably at all times – feign back injury and say the doc told you to adopt a good posture if you need to – and you have a nice, neutral posture.
Acting may seem like a good idea. Feigning disinterest, or confidence, will only work if you’re a GOOD actor, though. Most people, unfortunately, aren’t good actors, and instead of achieving your desired result and winning the hand, you’ll most likely be read like an open book. Don’t act unless you can make it believable.
