Live poker tells

NightFun

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I've never played live poker, but I've heard that you should look at the player rather than the flop to see his reaction. Have any of you done this and if so, do you find the reaction obvious?
 
ShinGraze

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I do this but like any live tell, it has to be interpreted in light of all other behavioural signals (body language and betting patterns). Very easy to get stuck relying on only 1 stream of information.
 
XXPXXP

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you can see the reflection of the cards or suited through their one side mirror glasses, sometimes. :D:D:D
 
Stepgov

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I haven't played live poker. Do not have this capability.
 
Andrei Korolev

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In live poker is not played,and the actions and reactions of the players to watch will be a plus...online wouldn't do that...
 
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pietpikel

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I've never played live poker, but I've heard that you should look at the player rather than the flop to see his reaction. Have any of you done this and if so, do you find the reaction obvious?
A good player can give you a look that is the opposite to what is really going on. He could look 'nervous' but have a monster hand. He could look 'confident' and have nothing.

In a live game keep your eyes and ears open.

Look at a player when he reaches and looks at his cards.
How does he/she reach for their chips, and how do the chips enter the pot ?

Which player is on a bad losing run ?
Which player is hotter than lava ?
Who had a crap day and is under stress and pressure at work ?
Who is fighting with their spouse ?
Who is uptight, and who is chilled and relaxed ?
Which player just suffered a bad beat ?
Who just got knocked out of the tournament and is tilting before playing cash ?
Who looks impatient and aggravated ?
Who has to leave the game in 40 minutes and is just looking for 'action' ?

For me something very important in a live game is noting your opponents gambling habits. DO they play other casino games. blackjack, punta banco etc etc . If they do, they are more likely to gamble at the poker table.

Which of your opponents only play poker in the casino ? These players are far more disciplined and focused on their game.
 
paulinhlt

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Yes my friend. Before checking the flop cards, I pay attention to the opponent, especially if he has action before me.
 
AgentXtreme

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I take a seat , and see your advices , I never had a success playing live
 
TeUnit

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Caros book of tells and Phils book with the FBI profiler are both pretty good books for this.
 
David Bisbal

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I think we should pay more attention to the hands! I think they show more information. -_-
 
Serjo600

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If you playing off poker cash, you need to be very attentive to the game opponents, is a key factor of the profit when you play live hold'em, sometimes the card is finally not important.
 
sryulaw

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See flop is a vice, and a lot of players on the tables live, want to see flops, they want to hit your pair, make a crack, and so on, then watch their reaction to see the flop, and fundamental, know why! Because in you being looking at the letter the letter will not change the result, which changes the result are the reactions of your opponent. That puts you in front of everyone, but this is all for amateurs, beginners, professionals know how to deal with it, and hide the emotions in each phase of the game. !! I play Live Cash Game, and I get a lot of fish so just looking at his face, when he misses the flop, they get in the face, they do not like what they saw on the flop, and that makes me walk out in front of him. Live, it's not the cards that say a lot, but the way you handle every move.
 
firstcrack

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I think betting tendencies may be easier for me to read and exploit with inexperienced players. Experienced players, not so much.
 
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jordabb

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Read Reading poker tells by Zachary Ellwood. It is the modern day Book of Tells.

I havent played live properly yet since it is illegal in Northern ireland. Although, I have been studying it and preparing for a trip down to the Republic.

Read your opponents and analyze their hands. When it is time to come with your play vs them, you will know exactly what is abnormal.

My favourite saying: "absence of the normal, presence of the abnormal."
 
dealio96

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We gotta get you out on the live felts, funbuns! :D

I wouldn't quite suggest "live tells" your best way to go when playing your first live game. I mean yes, live tells can be very beneficial at times, but I would rather stay focused on betting patterns, table dynamics etc. Almost how we do in online poker when we get a read from how the person is playing and what type of image your opponent is repping.

Alot of people watch the movie Rounders and other poker movies/documentary's and automatically assume that thats how live poker is(just trying to get live reads and tells etc) when it actually that's not how it always is.

Best advice from me to you would be to play your normal game, and if you do pick up on a few live tells to give you an edge against your opponent, then use them to your advantage:) But I wouldn't make that my main priority when sitting down for the first time live:) Hope this helps some, hun. Just stick to your normal game and I'm sure you'll give em hell! glgl
 
OzExorcist

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Generally speaking yes, it can't hurt to look at your opponent instead of the cards as the flop is being dealt. You might see something helpful in that split second.

That said, just like dealio mentions above, reading tells is just one part of the live game. Even the best live players aren't using tells to read people's souls on every single hand - use the same good decision making tools you use online, play your normal game, and just use tells as an additional information source on top of that.

Caros book of tells and Phils book with the FBI profiler are both pretty good books for this.

"Phil's book" was actually by Joe Navarro (the "FBI profiler") - Hellmuth just wrote a preface to it. It's a very good book though: Read 'em and Reap was the title.

I didn't find Caro's book of tells to be particularly helpful though. In particular, it's got a lot of stuff that's only relevant to self-dealt, stud and draw poker games which don't really help you in a casino NLHE or PLO game. The pictures aren't very clear either.
 
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jordabb

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Don't read the books. Youtube has the videos on it; a lot more beneficial to watch & listen to what the opponent is doing rather than to read what the opp is /supposed/ to be doing.
 
Kenzie 96

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Instead of worrin about tells, just wear a short skirt & undo a couple of buttons on the blouse & you will do just fine :cool::)
 
ShinGraze

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You only get one card? I normally get two.
 
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discintildeath

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I've never played live poker, but I've heard that you should look at the player rather than the flop to see his reaction. Have any of you done this and if so, do you find the reaction obvious?
Yes the cards will be there long after your opponents reactions are gone so look at them. If you cannot get any info from their face often their body language will help. The body language is just as if not more important for tells.
 
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jefrock21

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I think when you start off, play your cards, does their bet make sense, and look for betting patterns and what gets shown through the tournament as opposed to tells. When you are first starting off live looking for tells can make you miss better tips on players

Me personally, every hand I am in I try to sit and keep my hands the same way and if they are trying to look at me I just stare blankly at the cards on the table.
 
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PeterAztecCh

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Well there ir some people who you can realized they are bluffing with their expretions, but you will ran into some people who makes a poker face. You have to read about micro expretions. It will help you a lot.

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