Most common and identifiable tells...

Anton81 · Mar 14,2005, 10:42 PM

I was just wondering what everyone thought is the most common or the most seen tells at the casino. Personally i notice the vein in the neck often (something I picked up from caro's book of tells) and found this one to be extremely useful.

Anyone else?

ScottyZ · Mar 14,2005, 10:56 PM

Here are some of the most reliable tells I've found. All are well known.

1. Player who has already folded becomes visibly upset when the flop comes down trips. Meaning: The player would have flopped trips.

2. Player looks at hole cards during a hand when the board is 3-suited. Meaning: The player does not have suited hole cards. (Caro #13)

3. Some form of a "What the heck?" motion, followed by a bet. Meaning: The player has a monster hand and wants a call. (Caro #23)

My favorite to fake is Caro #13.

Incidentally, I've always loved the photo that goes along with Caro #23 (Photo # 47). It's like the guy is saying, "I can still afford another haircut and nice suit like this one even if I lose this bet."

ScottyZ

all_aces · Mar 14,2005, 11:03 PM

If someone looks at his chips, quickly, after he looks at his hole cards he usually likes his hand.

If someone strikes up a conversation with his neighbour after making a bet he usually doesn't want to be called.

If someone's hands are shaking he's probably a new player with a big hand, and his adrenaline response is giving him away. Or, he's had too much coffee or he suffers from some sort of condition.

None of these are hard and fast 'rules'; rather, things I've noticed. There are other things but they're too player-specific to mention.

Soup66 · Mar 14,2005, 11:37 PM

The checking hole cards when a 3 card flush flops is one I find is always true. People always remember if they have suited cards, but with a flop like that they are checking to see if they have a high card of that suit.

Chugs · Mar 14,2005, 11:50 PM

http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/videos/ledqt.html

Phippo44 · Mar 15,2005, 12:46 AM

My favourite is the newbie showing his hand to someone during the hand...its usually a monster. Why would he risk someone smirking or laughing.....saw this at Fallsview 2 weeks ago...the guys hand was shaking too. I called out 'show me aces' this dumbass woman called his raise and he threw down his set. Way too funny. This is a Caro tell as well. Especially in limit poker. PLayers bluffing want as little attention as possible.

Iron · Mar 15,2005, 09:46 AM

At the lower limit games (that's all I play live) the shaky hands tell has been the most reliable tell I can think of. You will also see not only the neck throbbing but their heart pounding right through their shirt sometimes, even sometimes their faces become red.

Psi · Mar 15,2005, 09:55 AM

Alot of those tells I was showing for my first time sitting 10/20.
I was shaky whenever I got a big hand (Ks, A/K soooooooted), both of course I lost, tho I played them right.
I don't know what it is, chips are chips, I can sit 5/10 and not move, but when I sat that 10/20 game I went haywire again.
Ah well, for someone like me who's still getting started in the mid limit games, I guess it's understandable.

magithighs · Mar 15,2005, 09:56 AM

I haven't read Caro's book, although I've seen many of his suggestions online. One word of caution is to put the tell together with the story the betting action is telling you. Then you'll get a more rock solid tell.

I had an earlier post, where I was shaking when I was on a semi-bluff because i was cold. I mentioned you should check my nipples when I'm shaking. Probably good advice, especially if you're playing Annie Duke. I could see that sending her over the edge. "Floor (whining voice), FLOOR (whining higher pitch voice), did you see him stare at my nipples (smug, I'm soooo beautiful, how could he not look demeanor) casual comment to someone willing to listen next to her, come on Floor (can't u see the travesty of his actions whining voice)..... I could go on.

Cheers
Magi

sinc · Mar 16,2005, 02:19 AM

The shaky hands thing isnt 100 percent i dont think. I have naturally shaky hands because i beat the crap out of my hands/wrists playing 15 years of hockey/football and my hands shake quite often when playing, so hopefully people are picking up false tells off this lol.

Flint Bones · Mar 16,2005, 07:53 AM

My hands shake either way if I am bluffing or if I have a monster. It actually worked for me the other day (mostly because I was really cold). I went all in on a stone cold bluff (10 4o) with a flop of (K Q 7)and bought the pot. The other players said, "Look at him shake! I'm out!" I just smiled and took my pot.

Tilter · Mar 16,2005, 11:01 AM

I look for the heavy breathing. Ie chest is going IN and OUT, IN and OUT, its like they're gasping for breath. For those, usually expect a big hand, either overpair ot better. I saw this a lot when people hads Kings, Sets, straights, works great.

Yorkpoker · Mar 17,2005, 11:21 AM

The more you play, the less big hands and exciting situations affect you. I may be pointing out the obvious, but long time pros have seen it all, won with it all and lost with it all. That's why they are so hard to read.

If you REALLY want to learn something, check this out. I took a second city improve course (it was a blast) and I learned about self image and how portraying something specific will alter people's reactions to you (ie, saying the same thing to various people will mean different things depending on who sees you one way or another). I am talking about body language - how you sit or stand, whether or not you fold your arms, chin tucked or chin out. Do you swallow alot - are you a loud breather. If you get bored and look off into space while waiting for something. This type of stuff.

I found it a huge help in both my professional and personal life, as I like to keep careful control of how I am seen by others. This applies ESPECIALLY to a poker game. If you want to control yourself, find a reason to study yourself and your manners very closely. Then practise practise and keep it up.

Dan808 · Mar 17,2005, 06:20 PM

there's a guy at our game who has shakey hands when he has a good hand. he's a decent player for sure, but since most of the guys are starting to figure this out, i'm afraid he may start coming out less. was handy (pun) to spot a tell, but i wouldn't want to lose him...any of you shakers found a way to handle it?

Yorkpoker · Mar 18,2005, 10:15 AM

Don't hold your cards or play with chips. Sit with hands in lap and declare bets and raises, that way if you're a shakey playre people see less of it. I always keep cards and chips flat on the table so less people look at hands and wrists and all that.

Just a thought.