Understanding Tells When Playing Online Poker

To become a top online poker player, you need more than a basic knowledge of the game. Taking your game to the next level also requires a keen awareness of player behaviour and the subtle indications that can signal the strength of your opponent’s hand. Therefore, in this article, we’ll look at some of the most common poker tells. These are the things you’ll need to watch out for if you want to gain the upper hand.

Chat Box Tells

Unless you’re playing a friendly home game, we strongly recommend never using the chat feature when playing online poker. However, don’t disable the function entirely. It can be an invaluable tool that can help you spot inexperienced players. If you’re up against someone who is overly chatty and encouraging you to take certain actions, they probably aren’t holding the best hand. Additionally, players who are talking about other topics most likely won’t be fully focused on the hand. That gives you a chance to make your move.

Automatic Actions

Spotting auto-actions can sometimes tip you off to the strength of your opponent’s hand. If you see a player who regularly uses these, it can provide insight into their decision-making process. Instant actions could mean a lack of consideration, while long, drawn-out actions may hint at careful thought. Remember, though, top players often mix up their game. So, don’t always assume they’re a guaranteed tell. Your opponent could be laying a trap.

Betting Patterns

One of the main tells in online poker comes from a player’s betting pattern, and that includes your own. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the timing and sizing of bets. If a player is too consistent with their betting, they become easy to read. A big bet will likely indicate strength while smaller bets could mean vulnerability. Again, it’s something that both you and your opponents can take advantage of.

Timing Out

In terms of ease of use, playing online poker is straightforward nowadays. With one click, players can make any action, which makes it easier for them to multitask. However, multitasking means distraction. Whether they’re multi-tabling, chatting or even browsing the web, players may occasionally not realise it’s their turn and time out. So, if you see this happen regularly it could indicate your opponent isn’t fully focussed on the matter at hand. More importantly, though, it probably means they’re playing basic poker – raising with good hands and check-folding weak hands.

Reactions to Community Cards

The flop, turn and river can turn any hand on its head. Any player can go from nothing to the nuts within seconds. So, it’s vital that you pay attention to any instant reactions. Rapid bets, long pauses or swift checks can help you understand how well or poorly a player has connected with the new cards.