Use of Time Limit to Make Decisions Online

Hello CC!

I was wondering what people's thoughts were on the amount of time that people take to make decisions online, are there any general patterns and tells I should be looking for? Or is it totally individual based? I multi-table so it's hard to keep tabs on all players tendencies in this area. So yeah, give me your wisdom.

(Dunno if this has already been covered, a search for 'time' returned far too many threads)

Cheers

I don't think there's anything to online tells. Just focus more on the poker then how long you make a play.

Don't play so many tables if you can't keep track of the action IMO. If you can't keep track of how much time a player is taking how can you keep track of betting patterns?

I would say it's based on the individual. I certainly wouldn't want to alter my play based on a broad generalization in this area. Sure, some players go into the tank to disguise a big hand, if not the nuts. And others might do the same to cover a bluff they're about to make. But unless you've got some solid data on a particular player, I wouldn't want to fall for a false tell.

As humans, we seek patterns even where none exist. My personal experience suggests that there is not much to it, but often I get surprised. If my villain takes a long time the first thing I think about is that he is most likely multi-tabling.

Many will take a moment to calculate pot odds, or consult tracker info, but in my experience the number one reason is in tourney play, near the bubble, where shorties are trying to let some other guy, on some other table, bust before he does and get him into the money.

If you're multitabling, you probably don't even notice the timing to bet, but you can get some info if you're paying atention to the table

There are a few fairly reliable tells imo (but of course it's player read dependent).. ie. the quick check on a two-tone flop or a J-T-x flop, etc. is more than likely a draw (talkin' MTTs & of course it depends on the player).

some time I do use the time limit just to get in to people heads. I would wait until the timer get to the 2 sec mark to bet or call a bet. you be suprise how good this works when people are on tilt and there screaming throught the text box to come on. I have won many MTT this way too.

If you are in a tournament, some individuals feel that the longer they play the more people will drop out. Some people like to take their time to ensure they are making the correct decision.

I have noticed and use this method myself. I you flop the nuts use of the time clock can be very effective. I will use it to make other players think that you are pondering whether to play your cards or not. Many times I will check the nuts using the clock hoping others will bet. This has worked well for me. So beware! many others use this method. The slow play may be others setting a trap.

This ^ is actually very common..... guy let's timer kick in after villain leads out on the river..... then BINGO.. out comes the big raise.
The longpause/raise (or shove) is very often a HUGE hand..... BUT.. some players will reverse this on you (let timer kick in.... then the huge raise/ship it.... but as a bluff).

The time to bet online means nothing. Everyone that thinks they know what it means is wrong. You can say that "a majority of the time x happens", but you can't say "everytime someone does this, then x happens". Sometimes people quick check with the nuts, sometimes they quick check with nothing. Sometimes they use the time bank for a bluff, sometimes they have the nuts. In fact some (intelligent) people will use the time bank, show the bluff, and then next time when he has the nuts he will use the time bank, shove, and get you to call him down when hes holding the nuts.

Also - there are plenty of people who multi-table or maybe their kid is crying and they had to run over to them quick or their trying to eat while playing or something like that....so they take a lot of time to decide.