Tells

[Pokey]

I've got to reiterate the Caro's Book of Tells as the bible on this subject. It's worth reading. A few key points:

1. Weak is strong, strong is weak. If someone is acting like they're a superpower, they're full of crap. If someone is acting like a mouse, fear them.

2. Hands are important -- that shaking thing is key. Related to this is how they handle their chips. Often, people will bet with force when they've got nothing and bet very gently when they're strong. Also, you can often find "telegraphs" of what a person will do by watching their hands before it is their turn. Some people pick up chips or start to touch their chips or reach towards their chips when they're planning to bet; others will fondle their chips very deliberately when they are looking to check/fold and would rather have a free card. If a player covers his mouth with his hand, he's more likely to be bluffing.

3. Eyes are important -- check where they are looking. Someone willing to stare at you while you're deciding if you should call a bet or not is weak; someone who looks away and pretends they are uninterested is usually quite strong.

4. People who stack their chips sloppily tend to be loose players; people who stack their chips meticulously tend to be tight players. People who (re)buy loudly and openly tend to be loose players; people who (re)buy quietly and subtly tend to be tight players. (People who don't HAVE to rebuy tend to be good players. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] )

5. Anybody who shrugs, sighs, *tsk*s, groans, or sags their shoulders before they bet/raise has an ungodly monster. Get out of the damned hand.