Betfair Official Blog

For Whom the Poker Tells Tell

THE Poker tell tells you things about the poker player. But what does it tell you?

And if you stare at your opponent are you playing him or the cards? Poker is a game of odds. So do tells really matter?

In this video hereunder, strip poker champion Jon Young "gives us the inside knowledge on how to guess your opponent's cards in poker. There are clear poker tells that can help you win the jackpot." Or not.

Caution: watching your opponent might impede your success:

How To Spot Poker Tells

It's pretty clear that anything your opponent does can be interpreted any way you like.

And if you're watching them, they are watching you. Better, perhaps, to work on your own nervous tics.

If, for instance, you hiccup when nervous, sweat profusely when excited or scream "Correct Fares Please" when holding pocket kings then it might best to play online.

A note on this handy guide to what to spot ends with: "A final note: more experienced players may give off false tells, so the first thing to read about other players is if they're novices or pros."

Indeed. Tells only really work when you are familiar with your opponent.

One writer notes an example is Jamie 'Golden Boy' Gold, the 2006 WSOP winner. Gold was heads up against Paul Wasicka, who failed to notice that the golden one had been goading his opponents when he wanted them to call. In this hand, Gold bet, Wasicka re-raised and then Jamie put Paul all-in. No word from Gold. Wasicka missed the tell.

Of course, in the pressure cauldron of a big game it's easy to miss such nuances. In any case, it's much better to keep your eyes on the cards and the bets. The biggest tell of all is the amount an opponent wagers. Play for a while and you can see betting patterns.

Does the player always checks when holding a terrific hand, or routinely fold after being re-raised?

If, of course, your opponent is regularly beating you, then this might tell you something about your own style of play.

Play the odds. And play online...

• Poker
• Poker Anorak