Tells: Reading Other Players Online

Learn how to feel out virtual tells.

Playing Online Poker doesn’t give you the option of facing your fellow players face to face and you are unable to read their faces or react to their playing “tells.” A Tell is a gesture or an action by a player in reaction to cards he’s been dealt or a bet another player has raised.

You can feel out a Tell, however even though you’re not able to look the other players in the eye. There are several keys to eke out what’s on the other players’ minds.

You may gauge the power of another players Poker hand by the speed in which he might make his next move. If a player calls your hand quickly, chances are he’s bluffing just trying to keep you from betting again.

A player who bets or raises quickly and early in the game but with a token amount, may have a strong hand and anxious to get the betting up.

In Texas Hold ‘Em or Omaha Poker, a player who is quick to bet or raise on the River is likely to have a strong hand, but wants you to think he’s bluffing.

A player who checks instantly as his turn comes early in the game will probably be holding a strong hand but is holding out to see what the other players will do. If a player instantly checks late in the game, you be sure he’s holding a weak hand.

In Texas Hold ‘Em, re-raise the player who has checked and called on the Flop and then bets on the Turn. Chances are he missed on his draw and is bluffing. Try your tells with Omaha Poker and Caribbean Stud