Observing opponents on a live table

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boomeranged

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I am developing a habit of noting down people's habits and reactions on the tables I play at. Most of the guys I play are regular hence the effort has rewards for sure. It'll be great if I can get a few tips on what to look for when making a note of a players habits.
 
Space Ghost

Space Ghost

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I'd recommend wearing shades that way you can stare at people without them knowing. You can focus on their tells when they're in hands with others.
 
rflbarreto

rflbarreto

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This is the part of poker I most like!! it will be strange, but instead of looking the eyes and faces, try to observe the feet of the players. This is the best tell you can have (believe me)
rgds
 
arielakarel

arielakarel

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What I usually do is try to focus on the bluffers, when you know someone to play marginal hands and bluff a lot, try focusing on him the hole game, notice how he reacts to the cards, and then try to find the differences between bluffs and real hands.
 
deceptionist99

deceptionist99

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I have a few tips if anyone is interested in taking to the felt next time they play. First I like to look for dead giveaway serious players. I'm looking for poker logo discipline- playing in position,how relaxed or nervous a person seems to be and people trying to conceal and not reveal. Now that we have these people singled out from the casual people/ recreational players we can gauge what kind of skill level the table will have before we even sit down. Next try to get position on a recreational player by sitting on his left. Your looking for people that are drinking and socializing and have inelastic behavior preflop disregarding position. Try to have tags or competent players to your right so you force them to be proactive rather than you being reactive to their play. Next watch the players at the table preflop instead of looking down at your cards. Your looking for any type of behavior that defines your opponents hand, do they lean in towards the table when strong?,shuffle chips when confident?, or are the slouching back ready to fold.. Your waiting and watching as everyone else's reactions instead of looking at your cards until its your turn to act and by then you can prepare to keep calm and with confidence know kinda where your at in the hand disregarding what holding you have and can now get creative if the table dynamics warrant it. Going to the flop rinse repeat + pot odds and implied if player depending..
 
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zkel1980

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This is obviously a big part of poker, it's not as easy to gauge people online obviously, but the bluffers are usually exposed quite quick.
 
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SnowedIn

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bet sizing probably as big of a giveaway as any live tells.
 
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FearlessPhil

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Action tells

The most useful "tell" to me involves getting some insight into what the players behind you are going to do. Some good players who would never give away a tell when they've actually made a bet will give some hint as to what they are going to do before the action comes to them. This might involve something as straightforward as capping their hand or pulling their cards closer to them if they have a playable hand. Some players, after looking at their hold cards, will glance at the player whose turn it is to act if they intend to play the pot.
 
Space Ghost

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bet sizing probably as big of a giveaway as any live tells.
Yup, but it doesn't hurt having additional info through physical tells. I would say that bet sizing is more obvious than tells, though.
 
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CallmeFloppy

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I am just a recreational player but I have a few things I learned that have helped me out. I try to avoid players that have conversations with the dealers, especially about other players. Its obvious they put a lot of time in. I also like what Deceptionist said about recreational players. The ones that keep ordering drinks and not paying real attention to the game. Get position on them. Money flows left. The legs is also good. I like to watch people's eyes and hands as well. Some players are poor enough that they stare down cards that made their hand. If I have a tight player to my left, I like to watch how he holds his cards that he likes vs cards he doesn't.

Stay disciplined and don't look at your cards until its your turn to act, and watch the players when the cards come out on the board. They'll still be there when its your turn to act.
 
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FearlessPhil

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Looking at your cards

I don't agree that you should wait until it's your turn to act before looking at your cards. At that point, everyone is looking at you and will get a chance to judge your reaction. You should try to look at them earlier when no one is watching you. You can easily do that without missing anything that is going on with players acting before you.
 
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