Book review: Reading poker tells

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XXPXXP

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I received this book from Cardschat event.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Poker-tells-Zachary-Elwood/dp/0984033300/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426618404&sr=1-1&keywords=reading+poker+tells"]Reading poker tells: Zachary Elwood: 9780984033300: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]

Since I am not the type of person like to play live games: slow pace, smell of perfume[allergy to some brand], cups of alcohol, etc, the most draw back of live game is unable to multi-tabling, therefore unable to reach to that edge level when playing very few hands in a couple of hours, without HUD/Data tracking software making this situation even worse.

but there is a few of big names who achieved great success in live poker career, like Stu Ungar.

Until I receive this book, which opens a new window for increasing edge in live poker.
______________________

The key points in this book is a dispute theory: the science of physical tells.
Human beings keeps and perform similar physical tells when they are under same mental situation - like smile when feels happy, act nervous when fell anxious, etc. This universal single is imprinted into Human being, regardless of living location, culture background, language, education background, etc.

These physical tell could be translated into useful information, and very feel of the people holding that talent [about 0.25% people in that group], therefore when applying this to poker table, the physical tell could help adding extra useful information, when playing with others-- meaning extra edge.

The physical tell could be studied and even the people who did not have that kind of inborn talent could achieve to some professional level, when study and keep an eye on the physical tell.

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Here is one example from the book regarding a physical tell.

this hand happened in 2005, New mexico, blinds $5/$10 NH table.
Hero VS a good LAG-- Tony, who both have 240big blinds.
Tony UTG open 40
hero at Mid position holding TT

the first use of Physical tell here is Hero got some information in advance to know that , the players at later position and big blinds have no intent to reraise.

therefore, Hero make a 3 bet of 120
Tony calls.

____________

flop comes T 9 J
Tony UTG check, Hero bets 180, and get called
Turn cards is 5
Tony bets 400 into a 600 bux pot
Hero here use 2nd time of physical tell based on metagame history, that very few chance Tony here holding J or set. therefore hero decide to call.

River is a scary card K
Tony bets 900 into the pot.
normally there are a lot of pair, str8 combo beat hero's TT
but Tony made a very unconscious physical tell here to revealing he is bluffing.
therefore hero makes the call with his 3rd pair and caught his bluff.
_____________

Ending review: this is good book when transform online to live, because playing live, need not only to reading hand, but reading people.
Final words: thank you Cardschat to open a neon window for me, would try some live games when possible:D

and good luck to all who decide to take this book, and play live tables.
 
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Smoola

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Thanks for the review of Reading Poker Tells. I have also read this book, and it is a great way to become significantly better at live poker by simply becoming good at the under-rated skill of observing live tells.
 
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Thanks for the review of Reading Poker Tells. I have also read this book, and it is a great way to become significantly better at live poker by simply becoming good at the under-rated skill of observing live tells.

ask a question
Is that reading verbal tell useful at live games?
since verbal tell is language and culture/education based.
 
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Smoola

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Reading verbal tells well is a very important skill for live poker.
 
Debi

Debi

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Loved this book! It does help with live play
 
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