We’ve come to the end of our Poker Tells Series, and we’ve covered a lot in these six parts. So much so, we thought it was worth it to recap the key points we’ve learnt throughout this series in a way that’s easy to digest. If you’ve skipped to the end of this series and want to find out what you’ve missed out on, you’re in the right place! However, to get the best experience, we recommend going back and reading from the beginning – that way, you won’t miss out on any valuable information.
Without further ado, let’s recap the important points we’ve learnt in our Poker Tells Series.
Pay Attention!
The biggest thing you should take away from our Poker Tells Series is how much you need to be paying attention at the tables. Not only do you need to be paying attention to spot any of these tells in the first place, but you also need to pay attention all the way to showdowns to see what these tells mean. So many of the tells we’ve covered can have different meanings for different players, so if you’re not paying attention to what it means for your specific opponent, you’re going to use the tell incorrectly and end up making a worse decision.
Consider Everything
When people think of poker tells, they maybe think of one or two classic tells that you’ll see in Hollywood movies, but people give off tells with all parts of their body. Whether they’re touching their nose while bluffing in a big pot or tapping their foot to the beat while they value bet with the nuts, your opponents are giving off tells from head to toe. If you only look for the well-known tells, you’re going to be missing out on a lot of key information. Make sure you’re constantly scanning your opponents for any of the tells listed in this series if you want to give yourself the best chance of picking something up.
Treat Every Opponent Differently
It’s easy to assume that because a certain tell means your opponent is weak or strong, the same applies to everyone you come across who has the same tell. In reality, that’s not the case. A number of tells have different meanings for different opponents. For example, if your opponent’s neck is pulsing, it could mean that they’re excited about holding a strong hand, or they could be nervous about pulling off a huge bluff. If you assume that each tell means the same thing for everyone, you’ll end up making a lot of bad decisions at the table.
Make Logical Adjustments
If you spot a tell from one of your opponents, it’s important that you use it to make logical adjustments to your strategy. This means that you should work out what the tell means from your opponent, then make changes to your strategy that counter that. For example, if your opponent has a tell that displays strength, you should counter that by folding more of your range and playing more passively. On the other hand, if your opponent has a tell that displays weakness, you should play more aggressively and call a wider range than you otherwise would.
Make Small Adjustments At First
When you first spot a tell, it’s tempting to make massively exploitative plays to try and own your opponent. However, a smart poker player will start by making small adjustments to their ranges at first until they know their tell is rock solid. Making huge adjustments without being certain in your read is going to cost you significantly in the long run, so play it safe to start with and only make minor adjustments to your calling/folding/raising ranges when you spot a tell.
Summary
To be successful at using poker tells to enhance your game, you need to be attentive, perceptive, and strategical. You should be plugged into what everyone’s doing at the table, every action they’re making, and what they look like when they’re doing it. Once you spot a pattern in their physicality, you can gain information on whether or not it means they’re strong or weak. After working out what a tell means, you can use that information to inform your strategy and make adjustments to exploit your opponents.
After reading through the Poker Tells Series, you should have the tools to do just that – so go out there are start owning your opponents!