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gryphon3005
Rock Star
Silver Level
Yes but I probably spend more time focusing on the hands. Most players are fairly good at dissembling and not showing emotion with their face. But they usually find it difficult to keep their hands out of the picture. They reach for chips but do it a little differently when they have a hand. They move a little faster or maybe a lot more slower. Some times they will hesitate just a little little and so on. I watch the face when the board is being dealt. If they hit the board they tend to tighten up a little...you can see it in their face. often around the jaw. I'll watch the eyes to see where they look and how fast they move....speed sometimes indicates hidden excitement.
The hardest read is the player who called preflop and missed the board. He has nothing and is therefore not emotionally cranked up. His relaxed posture and slow movements often lead to a fold but sometimes he's also thinking thru a bluff. Face reading doesn't help a lot in this case. That's when you will often see a player start talking to his relaxed opponent to try and provoke a reaction. It is certainly an art learning to read a player and not one easily mastered.
The hardest read is the player who called preflop and missed the board. He has nothing and is therefore not emotionally cranked up. His relaxed posture and slow movements often lead to a fold but sometimes he's also thinking thru a bluff. Face reading doesn't help a lot in this case. That's when you will often see a player start talking to his relaxed opponent to try and provoke a reaction. It is certainly an art learning to read a player and not one easily mastered.
Phoenix Wright
Legend
Loyaler
The underlining question is: "Do I search for reliable poker tells in a live game?" The answer to that is "yes." Do I try to decipher a "poker face?" Sure, if I can, but real life psychology (and in poker is no different) is nothing like Hollywood poker depictions. In real life, a good poker player knows that the face is one of the most deceptive parts of the body. Obviously it isn't too hard to fake a smile or squinting eyes (fake "well" is another debate in itself).
As the post above mentions: hands are much more reliable than the face. However, most people will probably learn more from betting patterns than they will about some tell that may or may not be a fake tell (opponent doing this intentionally to "double-cross" your thinking).
As the post above mentions: hands are much more reliable than the face. However, most people will probably learn more from betting patterns than they will about some tell that may or may not be a fake tell (opponent doing this intentionally to "double-cross" your thinking).
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nellorossi83
Rock Star
Silver Level
I m not a good player in online poker, but i m worst in living poker. I cant hide my emotion. then i dont play live poker
madbeeet
Rock Star
Silver Level
I also think that the body can say much more than facial expression. It's harder to control)
Michel_11
Legend
Platinum Level
Captain Harlock
Rising Star
Bronze Level
A good book written by a former FBI agent, I believe, is called "What Every BODY is Saying". While not directly related to poker it is good book on reading people in stressful situations, which translates to poker well.
Evan Jarvis
Legend
Platinum Level
I think that looking for tells on opponents in live poker is one of the most parts of the game.
What do you think? You like to go for reads and feel people out?
I do find though, that rather than looking for specific little maneurisms like the KGB oreo tell that it's more effective to just gauge the general comfort level. Do they seem confident and comfortable, or nervous and anxious.
That generally gives me the information I need to help swing close decisions to a clear choice. It's something that Joe Navarro talked about in his book read em and reap as well, to get a feel for their overall baseline and noticing when they deviate from it.
Hope that helps!
dimon4ik89
Visionary
Platinum Level
Of course, in live poker this is one of the important points. The main thing here is to pay attention not only to the face, but to how your opponent sits, what he does with his hands, whether he is tense or relaxed. In order to learn how to read your opponent, you need to fully study the psychology of his behavior. Because when you watch the professionals play on TV, their facial expressions are always the same and it is practically impossible to read their hand only by the expression on their face, especially if they are wearing glasses.
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cheeeer
Visionary
Silver Level
I'd say if you concentrate on face your body can give something and if you concentrate on your body your face can show something.
F
FluDhs
Rock Star
Bronze Level
Wow! I liked that! I really didn't thought of it being really usefull but maybe i will start paying more attention to it.
Thanks for you tips.
madbeeet
Rock Star
Silver Level
Therefore, as Miyamoto Musashi said, one must concentrate on the spirit of victory))
ChickenArise
Legend
Bronze Level
Not just their face but every action and mannerism. What they are trying to tell me and anything that contradicts.
One person I was observing had a vein in his neck that would throb whenever he had a monster hand. Poor guy. I hope he is playing in a hoodie and turtle neck sweater these days because he would likely have gone broke otherwise.
One person I was observing had a vein in his neck that would throb whenever he had a monster hand. Poor guy. I hope he is playing in a hoodie and turtle neck sweater these days because he would likely have gone broke otherwise.
Poker_Mike
Legend
Loyaler
The face doesn't do that much for me.
Like another poster said - the eyes have more information.
In general I like to observe my opponent's body stature.
I'm always looking for Strong/Not Strong binary reads.
Good luck !