by Poker Intensity Senior Editor Hillary LaClair
Poker is a battle of the wits. While there is a great deal of chance involved in the game, the key to winning is understand the psychology involved. It doesn\\\'t matter what hand you have in the game if there is someone at the table who can make you feel self conscious about it; at a poker table, everyone is out to get you. One must enter into a game prepared to take the mental beating of a lifetime and to dish it out twice as strong. The emotional tempests that take place at a poker game are far more intricate than most people imagine. Anyone who plays with the big dogs will tell you: They\'re not out for money. They\'re out for blood. These people are ruthless, especially when playing online poker. It is important that you be equipped for an all out psychological attack. As they say, the best defense is a good offense. Let us therefore discuss some offensive strategies for the battlefield.
TELLS:
The first thing to be wary of in yourself and your opponent is what we refer to as a "tell." A tell is simply a physical gesture of some kind that gives a player an idea of what another player may have. You absolutely will not advance in the game until you are able to detect these things, and keep your own under control. A tell is usually so subtle that the person doing it doesn\'t realize he is. That is why when playing poker you must keep a sharp eye on you opponents. It is more common in live play, and is one of the few advantages that a live poker player has over an online poker player. For those who many be transitioning from online to live play, keep these tips in mind. You want to watch for any sign that your opponent is anxious. It is important that in the first few rounds, you play it slow so that you can get an idea of what your opponents\' tells are. Throw a few hands just to see how he reacts.
The most common live tell you will notice is a hand gesture. A player may put their hands or cards over their mouths to hide their facial expression. You may see your opponent biting his nails, playing with his chips, tapping his fingers or cards on the table, grabbing for a drink, rubbing his forehead or perhaps playing with his security blanket. In Doyle Brunson\'s case, the security blanket was a lighter. Watch for any shakes, twitches or frequent eye movements. These are all signs that the player is anxious, but not necessarily that he has a bad hand. You must study this person for a few hands and watch what hands these gestures follow.
If you notice a novice player staring intently at you after having made a substantial bet, you can usually be certain that he is bluffing. This is a scare tactic that many amateur players use. Think logically about these tells. If a player has a good hand, why would he then feel the need to scare you out of calling his raise? You cannot allow other players to intimidate you. A good player can smell fear from a mile away.
It is also important to watch how other players react to the flop. Someone who repeatedly checks what is in their hand almost never has anything worth playing. Generally when someone glances at their chip pile you can count on them having a decent hand. This is a surefire sign that they plan to bet and are debating how much they think they can get away with putting in the pot without scaring others off.
Online poker, however, is a much different experience. Tells become more difficult to detect. Much of the reason for this being that its players generally do not compete against each other more than one time. Online poker rooms can be extremely challenging in that aspect, and those participating must hone their ability to read people.
The most obvious tell in online poker is the time that it takes for a player to act. Opponents who make use of the auto-play buttons almost always have something worthwhile. If there is a flush or straight draw on the table that you cannot make use of and another opponent calls/raises within a millisecond, it would be wise for you to fold. If there is an opponent who takes a minute or two to act, this person is most likely chasing after the draw. In the event that there is no straight draw, flush draw or pair on the table, he\'s probably at least got a high pair, or perhaps three of a kind.
The most painful aspect of a poker game is pre-flop betting. I personally do not advise doing this unless you have a substantial chip lead. Unfortunately, there are not many online players who don\'t bet before the flop anymore, so watch for tells in this instance as well. If you can afford to call a pre-flop bet, do so regardless of what you have in your hand. Anything could come up on the board. Many times betting on a high pair before the flop will backfire. However, if the chips are down, make note of the person making the bet. When the opponent frequently raises before the flop and then folds when a bet is made afterward, it is likely that he is on the "tilt." A quick raise afterward would usually indicate that he has a high pair. Observe how often your opponents bet pre-flop. Someone who rarely bets before seeing the board but raises before the flop has a great pair or kicker.
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