A poker tell is an expression, mannerism or other unintended clue that reveals a
player’s hand or strategy. That being the case, you would think that the tell
was completely moot when it comes to online poker. You can’t exactly see a
player sweat, twitch or look away through a bunch of circuits and micro-chips.
As a matter of fact, you can’t even tell if they’re sitting at the computer or
in the kitchen getting a snack. There are, however, distinct tells that exist in
online poker. You just have to know what to look for.
Reading
poker opponents and their tells has been a part of poker since the days of the
Wild West saloon games. Now, in the high-tech world created by the Internet,
poker has become a faceless game. But that doesn’t mean a player’s mannerisms
are invisible. Instead of reading body language, you’re reading cyber language.
Some of that cyber language can manifest itself in betting patterns.
Following the money is how some online players use tells to their advantage.
Studying the consistency and inconsistency of a player’s bets, raises and calls
is one way to spot an online tell. But like the regular brick-and-mortar game,
the savvy player knows all about sending out false tells as well.
Another
form of online tell is the speed at which a player calls, bets or raises. Simply
by delaying a long time before clicking their mouse, a player can give away
vital clues to opponents. If a player always takes a long time to respond when
they have a big hand, and takes no time at all when they have a weak hand, that
pattern will eventually be picked up by someone. Furthermore, a player who has
the automatic check or check/fold button on, is a dead giveaway that their on a
drawing hand or their hand is weak. You can tell when they’ve highlighted this
button because their decisions show up instantaneously on the screen.
The instant river call or raise is another possible tell. Players
holding a strong hand want to pump-fake the opponents remaining for the showdown
by making them think their quick response was a bluff.
Poker tells are
never guaranteed, whether they’re on the Internet or in the casino. If you’re
playing online, you’re likely to find players that don’t even know what the word
“tell” means. So while you mix up your own tells and guard against revealing too
much, seek out those who give away the clues to their hands. |
