How to Hide Your Poker Tells at the Poker Table
March 17th, 2010 | Published in Gambling Games
Professional poker players have spent years learning their poker face. Unfortunately, most of us amateurs still have one or two “tells” that give us away at the poker table. The problem is, more experienced players know how to use these “tells” to their advantage. If you are acting out of character, it will be noticeable and it is unlikely that the betting will play out in your favor. Since it is incredibly difficult to overcome a poker tell, as it is typically a natural habit, the next best thing you can do is to learn how to hide it.
How to Spot and Hide Your Poker Tells
Nervous Movements
Some players have a nervous twitch, tapping their fingers on the table, blinking uncontrollably, or shifting in their seat to name a few. Players start their nervous movements for two reasons. Either their hand is very high and they are anticipating a big win, or more often, their hand is poor and they are trying to pull off a bluff.
An experienced poker player notices these movements right away and then uses them to their advantage by hedging their bets against the other player’s nervous twitch. When you hit a big hand, or want to bluff, keep your physical movements in mind the entire time you are playing the hand. You will be less likely to show them off this way. If you must move, try moving your feet around under the table, it is much less noticeable.
Acting Over Confident
When a player is trying to appear that they are not the fish at the table, or trying to pull off a bluff, they can sometimes start to exhibit some strange, overly confident behavior. For example, a player may be very loud at the table. Talk uncontrollably, or try to draw the attention off of himself by chatting with cocktail waitresses and other patrons. Outlandish behavior labels you immediately as an easy target. Keep your talking and behavior in check.
Not Making Eye Contact
Another obvious “tell” is a player who refuses to make eye contact with the dealer or their opponents. They will stare intently at their cards or look around the poker room. An experienced player will notice you are not looking directly at him right away. To curb this, practice making eye contact every time you are at the table. Look directly at the other players when they are speaking and make eye contact with the dealer.