One of the advantages live games have over their online counterpart is the quality and extent of information available over the poker table. When you sit on a poker game live, you can see your opponent physically, and you can see more than just betting behavior and patterns; you see their reaction, their mannerisms, and the way the actually play. This level of information available for the players can help them make the best decision, something that can’t be done easily on a computer monitor.
Despite its advantages, the information you get in live poker games is double-edged. If you are gaining information about your opponent, chances are, your opponents are also snooping on you. Maximize the information you can get from your opponent by following these easy tips.
Look at Them and the Things They Do on the Table
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in poker, the beauty is the quality of information you get. Many of the information you can get over the poker table are the visual ones, including most of the poker tells your opponent have. Careless poker players are victims of their own involuntary bodily reaction to stress. Check for redness, headshakes, hand movements, pulses, muscle contractions, and eye movements. Reaction towards a dealt hand can also be an indicator of a weak or a strong hand. Always remember that good players often mix these indicators up, so it is important not to judge an opponent after just one hand. Study them for a couple of hands, and if he’s showing some pattern, own him. While at it, make sure you keep unnecessary movements to yourself, and if you can help it, wear a hat or some shades.
Hear Them Out
Not all indicators have to be seen, and this is especially true for poker players who want to keep his presence as loud as possible. This kind of players is the one of the easiest to predict, and they don’t even recognize it. These players normally give themselves out to their opponents in terms of changes in the pitch and rate of their voice, the presence or absence of rattling, and the hint of patience or impatience that comes with it. Sonic tells, however, not only includes the voice of your opponent; you should also check for other sounds like breath, grinding teeth, constant beating of knuckles, chair squeaks, and other seemingly innocent noises you can hear from your opponent. Depending on the way your opponent play, these indicators can help you tell whether or not your opponent is holding a strong card. Use this to maximize the utility of your hands while preventing similar noises from emanating from your side of the table.