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A23 Poker Professor: Reading Players and Spotting ‘Tells’ in Online Poker

Hello, students! This is A23 Poker Professor! Welcome to Class #4 of Semester 1. Last week, we explored a significant topic in the Indian poker and gaming industry—how to stay profitable in online poker despite TDS and GST. This week, we tackle another crucial aspect of the game: reading opponents and spotting their ‘tells’ in online poker.

What is a ‘Tell’ in Poker?

A ‘tell’ in poker is an unconscious action or verbal cue that reveals information about a player’s hand strength. These signals, whether subtle or glaring, can provide valuable insights into your opponent’s thought process. For instance, a player who starts fidgeting with their chips or takes an unusually long time to decide might be holding a strong hand.

Why is Reading Players Important?

Reading players is an essential poker skill. It gives you a psychological edge, allowing you to make better-informed decisions. By understanding your opponents’ tendencies, you can predict their moves and adjust your strategy accordingly. For example, if a player frequently bluffs after raising pre-flop, you can approach their future raises with caution.

How to Read Players and Spot Tells in Online Poker

In live poker, reading players and spotting tells is much easier because you have direct visual and physical cues to observe. Players may show unconscious behaviours, such as changes in body language, facial expressions, nervous habits like fidgeting with chips, or even the way they handle their cards. These visible signs often reveal their level of confidence or hesitation about their hand. Additionally, you can hear their tone of voice, gauge their reactions to bets, and observe how they interact with others at the table, providing a wealth of information to analyse.

In contrast, online poker strips away these physical elements, leaving you with just the screen and the players’ usernames. So then how do you do you go about reading players and their tells? Here’s how:

1. Observe Betting Patterns

• Bet Sizing: Watch the size of bets relative to the pot. Larger bets often indicate stronger hands.
• Betting Frequency: Notice how often they bet, raise, or check.
• Post-Flop Aggression: Analyse their betting behaviour after the flop to assess their hand strength.

2. Analyse Timing

• Decision Speed: Quick decisions may signal strong hands, while hesitation could indicate uncertainty.
• Timing of Bets: Delayed raises might suggest confidence in their hand.

3. Use Poker Tracking Software

• Hand History Review: Analyse hand histories to uncover patterns.
• Player Statistics: Study stats like VPIP (Voluntarily Put Money in Pot), PFR (Preflop Raise), and 3-Bet % to understand tendencies.

4. Leverage Table Position

• Early Position: Players here often play cautiously and selectively.
• Late Position: Players in later positions tend to be more aggressive.

5. Consider Player Psychology

• Emotional Cues: While harder to detect online, chat activity or avatar animations might offer subtle hints.
• Player History: Use insights from previous encounters to refine your approach.

6. Watch for Unusual Behaviour

• Sudden Changes: A drastic shift in playstyle could indicate a strong hand.
• Over-Aggression or Passivity: These can be telling signs.
• Chat Activity: Unusual chattiness or sudden silence might be revealing.

7. Pay Attention to Avatars and Emoticons

• Avatars: Players sometimes choose avatars reflecting their personality or strategy.
• Emoticons: Their usage can hint at emotions or intentions.

8. Analyse Playing Styles

• Tight-Aggressive: Fewer hands but aggressive betting.
• Loose-Aggressive: Many hands, played aggressively.
• Tight-Passive: Fewer hands, played cautiously.
• Loose-Passive: Many hands, with minimal aggression.

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ALSO READ: How to Stay Profitable in Online Poker with TDS and GST

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A23 Poker Professor’s Tips

• Focus on Patterns: Don’t get too caught up in individual tells; observe overall tendencies.
• Trust Your Instincts: Obvious tells are often the easiest to overlook.
• Be Adaptable: Different players exhibit different tells, so adjust your strategy as needed.
• Manage Your Own Tells: Be aware of and minimise your own signals.

A23 Poker Professor’s Homework

For this week’s homework, observe your opponents’ behaviour during your next online poker sessions. Focus on their betting patterns, timing, and chat activity. Identify potential tells and test if you can use this information to your advantage. Remember, practice makes perfect!

To enhance your skills further, play on A23 Poker app. With a variety of games and stakes, it’s the ideal platform to sharpen your strategies and climb the leaderboard.

A23 Poker Professor Semester 1 Schedule

This concludes Semester 1 of my classes. I’ll be back with Semester 2 on 9th December 2024, featuring more advanced topics to help you excel in online poker. Stay tuned to Gutshot Magazine for updates!

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