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Bluffing and lying are fundamentally the same thing. Even though lying is intellectually second nature for most people, the body itself rejects a lie like it was a piece of undercooked chicken. Most people will behave differently when they are lying (or in poker terms, bluffing). Bluffing may manifest itself on the body of player in the form of an itch, sweating, a tickle, or anxiety. The “tell” is how the player deals with this sudden discomfort or pressure brought about by situation they find themselves in. Watch for repetitive motions such as scratching, or subtly wiping away sweat. If a player repeats a motion consistently, such as itching the side of the face, it is a good bet that this behavior will coincide with when the player is bluffing.
There are some common tells that plague even the most experienced players. For example:
1. Watch the eyes – A player with good cards will tend to stare at them a bit longer then they would an ordinary hand. Also a player who is being dishonest will be hesitant to look you in the eye. Casually question someone about their hand and watch what their eyes do.
2. Read the face – Expressions tell a story. Disappoint, anger, elation, excitement all inadvertently flash across a person face despite their efforts to control it. Anxiety may also manifest itself in the form of a facial “tic”.
3. Reverse psychology – Instead of behaving consistently with all hands, many players will behave in a way that is the opposite of how they actually feel about their cards. In other words, they may act overly excited or aggressive when holding bad cards, or seem disinterested with good cards.
4. Muscle control – Anxiety does strange things to the body. Normally steady hands may begin to shake. A player holding a good hand and preparing for a confrontation may also flex some muscles. Watch the upper arms, chest and shoulders for this sort of behavior.
5. Checking the Bet – A player who has absolute control of his body, may not exercise the same control over their money. Look for repetitive betting patterns that coincide with the type of cards a player is holding.
6. Posture – Emotions not only show themselves in the face, but also the body. Happiness manifests itself in an upright, alert posture while disappointment causes one to slump. Watch for the shoulders for a slight droop if the player is holding cards they are less then excited about.
7. The Clothes make the man (or women) – In many cases you can judge a player before the game even starts. Somebody dressed in a sloppy or casual manner may be more apt to risk taking with their chips. Someone dressed conservatively may be more cautious and calculating.
Just as you are looking for somebody else’s tells, the player across the table will be dissecting your behavior as well. Good players know their own tells. That is why so many world class players hide their faces with sunglasses and hats. This fashion risk may pay off in the form of better performance and more wins.
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