Tells are one of the most important parts of improving your poker play, even when you are playing online and cannot actually see the person you are playing against. The better you are at noticing tells and taking advantage of a way certain players play, the more successful you will be and the more money you will be able to make.
Isn’t online supremacy what we are all aiming for when it comes to poker?
Here are some other top tips that you can use to keep in touch with the game around you and discover certain insight into how others may be playing.
Continually Recreate Each Hand
If you jot down notes throughout the game in terms of how certain players are playing and how hands ended, then you will be much better prepared to make a prediction in terms of what may be coming next. Following along during the current hand at all times can also give you an idea of what strategies your competition is using. Knowing who checked, who raised, and who re-raised gives you the upper hand in determining which players have the better hands.
Reading a Quick Check
When a player pulls a quick check and then follows it with an instant call, it is almost always a sign that they are waiting for a draw. They may also be relying on one more card in order to complete a flush, and you can take advantage of that. Watch for the card that would give them a flush, and if it doesn’t come up be ready to make them pay. If you notice another card of the same suit falls, or something comes that can complete a draw, be ready to check and cut your losses.
Reading Betting Amounts
If you are doing a good job of keeping note of all the action, then betting amounts will be a big part of reading your opponents. Amateur players will consistently bet heavy when they are bluffing and bet small when they are trying to hide a strong hand. Use this to your advantage whenever you can. However, other players may do the opposite and bet strong with big hands, so be sure you pay attention each hand and figure out the preferred strategy used most commonly by your opponents.
Check-raises are also a strong indication that someone has a very big hand and is trying to make the most of it.
Reading Time
One of the most common ways you can find tells during online poker is how long it takes for players to make decisions. If someone is checking quickly they can often be bet out of a hand easily.
Other times you may notice that someone hits a big hand and then pauses quite some time before checking, only to bet big on their next turn. If you notice an important card come up and notice someone taking extra time to check, then you can be pretty sure that they hit something. If they had missed the flop then they would have been quick to check and try to get out.
With practice and repetition you can take advantage of all of these tells, but remember that they are just guidelines. Every poker player is different so just keep your eye on routine and certain strategies your opponents use a lot and you should be ready to exploit them to the fullest.
If you are interested in more articles make sure you check out the top 8 mistakes other players are making and bankroll management.
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