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How to Play Smart Poker and Make Your Opponents Fear You?

As we’ve already established, Poker is a game of skill rather than a game of luck. Or what we like to call it, in poker, ‘you make your own luck’. Playing poker against multiple opponents brings in a lot of things you can pick on, some who seem to know it all and others who are just trying to get into the game of poker. Some might assume that going with the flow is the right way to play poker but that’s just for a beginner who’s trying to get to the big league.

If you want to win a lot of poker games, you need to instill fear in your opponents. As someone rightly said; “There are only two ways of living, either you are feared or you live in fear. There’s nothing in between.” Apply that strategy to poker, and you’re gold! The game is all about psyching your opponents out.

Here are some tips on how you can play poker and intimidate your opponents:

The Aggressor

Being the aggressor at the start of a game is only a tactic that works against weak players. Seasoned players might not take the bait but the newbies kinda suckers when it comes to intimidation. Eventually, if you are seen as the aggressor, players will let you control the game and will be scared to call your bet.

The Look

Nothing works better than the good ol’ stink eye! This is the most proven and number one method to instill fear in your opponent’s hearts. There are professional players out there who wear loud clothing and heavy accessories like cowboy hats, dark sunglasses etc. This is done for two reasons, one to scare the opponents and the other reason they wear sunglasses indoor is to keep their reactions (pupil dilation) in check and not give away too much.

Play Dumb

Now this is more than often an underestimated tactic but still an effective one. Now playing dumb for too long can backfire. So play dumb, but only till you have all the information and your opponents are now totally underestimating you. Wait for the right moment and then attack! Destroy them with all the information you’ve gathered and leave them dumbstruck. By the time they realize what hit them, it’ll be too late.

Keep an eye out

Always keep an eye out for what’s going on the table. People unintentionally exhibit some gestures or ‘tells’. So keep looking out for these tells and exploit them to win.

All these are proven methods to instill fear in the opposition and ultimately emerge as a winner! Apply these in your everyday game to get better. Did we miss out on anymore proven methods to outsmart your poker opponents? Can you think of any? Please tell us in the comments section below.

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