Successful poker players have mastered the art of observing and analyzing their opponents’ actions to determine the strength of their hand.
Some tells in poker can clearly show weakness, while others can show power. Making sure your demeanor at the poker table doesn’t give away too much information will help you improve as a player.
In the end, it’s hard to conceal tells completely. However, you may undoubtedly learn how to cover the most obvious ones.
What are Poker Tells and Why You Should Hide Them
Tells in poker are unintentional behaviors that may reveal details about a player’s hand or intent.
For instance, players may have a straight or flush draw if they check their hole cards following the flop.
Almost every poker player has their tells. Although skilled players have mastered the art of concealing the most apparent tells, they are still human.
Poker tells are typically broken down into verbal and physical tells based on the player’s words, timing, and delivery. And it is essential to hide them because if you don’t, you’re just helping your enemy win against you.
How to Hide Poker Tells
Learn to Spot Your Tells
It’s challenging to conceal things you are unaware of. Actual poker tells are unconscious, even though certain players have mastered using false tells.
Therefore, the player who, for instance, consistently moves their poker chips in a particular direction when they bluff is unaware that they are doing so. They are unaware that they have a tell and that their opponents might see it.
So, the first advice would be to observe your actions at the table. Although it is difficult, with practice, it becomes more straightforward.
If you’re committed, you could even videotape yourself playing a game (for instance, if you play online, although it won’t be the same as playing at a real table).
Be as Emotionally Detached as Possible
Some poker tells, like the size of your stake or how you arrange your chips after winning a pot, might reveal more about your personality. It also hints at your playing style, so you should consider it.
But at the poker table, emotions matter a lot, and plenty of tells could be avoided by just lowering your involvement.
A typical illustration of a player who usually shows strength is one whose hands are shaking or who appears frightened.
You’ll discover how to become as emotionally distant as possible with practice and discipline. It will help you become a much stronger player and cover up potential tells.
Be Consistent
Create a daily regimen and try to follow it.
Always use the same method while examining your hole cards regardless of whether you have aces or 7-2 offsuit.
Whether you are bluffing with a king-high or betting for value, always bet similarly.
After a few sessions, it will almost certainly become second nature. It will not only help you conceal potential tells, but it also helps you maintain composure and reduce tilt/frustration.
Once your body learns how to relax in certain situations, you can use this to conceal any of your tells effectively.
When in Doubt, Avoid Speech Play
Some seasoned players have mastered the art of using speech play—talking during a hand, which is often only permitted in heads-up—to their benefit.
For instance, a skilled player might have a solid hand and use particular language to get their opponent to call.
The most significant suggestion would be to avoid speech play if you’re a newbie or don’t feel comfortable doing it.
Unless you know what you’re doing, what you say, and how you say it could potentially work against you. When in doubt, keep your mouth shut.
Once you have mastered controlling the tone of your voice and what you want to say, then you can proceed with talking to your opponents. However, it is still advised to keep quiet to avoid any slip-ups.
Ask Your Opponents
And finally, this is a bit obvious: ask your rivals.
If this happened, for example, at the final table of a significant event, it would be absurd.
But if you’re at a friendly or at least cordial table, several of your rivals might bring up things that you do or say that might provide information.
Please don’t ask them directly; instead, you could inquire as to why they called your bet and whether you appeared anxious or showed any emotions.
You might be able to identify one of your tells with just one inquiry, and you can then learn to disguise it.
Final Thoughts
Do not underestimate the significance of poker tells. You can view a given hand movement or stake placement by your adversary as a tell that points to vulnerability.
However, occasionally those are only coincidences.
Furthermore, no poker tell is entirely accurate. It also holds true for your tells.
Even if you’re facing a skilled opponent and think you may have accidentally revealed your hand because of a facial expression or another tell, it doesn’t mean you actually did. You still have to consider if your opponents are smart enough to notice your tells.
If you wish to join a tournament or play wsop online, it is essential to identify your poker tells. You can play online poker at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, and play with some of the best players so you can apply what you have learned here.
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