Lesson 6: Poker Tells
In this lesson, you will learn about some of the ways that players tip off their hands. You will also learn how to observe players and their mannerisms.
Lesson Objectives
- To understand player body language
- To be able to interpret the non-verbal signals given by players and apply them to a hand
There will be a multiple-choice quiz at the end of the lesson that will test your understanding of the lesson’s concepts.
Introduction
A “poker tell” is any habit, behavior, or physical reaction, that gives other players more information about your hand. A tell is when a player gives some non-verbal information that can be used by another player to determine what kind of hand the player has. It might be a nervous twitch, a pulling of the hair, or a change in voice inflection.
If you are playing face-to-face with people, it can be a very important tool. Watch someone’s facial expressions and movements every time they have a hand, and then note how strong their hands were after the hand is completed.
If they are an amateur player, chances are they will be giving some kind of information just in the way they play or by certain movements. More advanced players will go to great lengths to either not show any information at all, or to purposely switch up their giveaways to confuse their opponents.
