Online Poker Tells  

Many poker pros are consistent winners in live games, but lose when they sit down at a computer. Why is this?  Well, the fact is most live game pros make money through their opponents tells.  They know when to bluff, and when to bet big, based on their opponents betting patterns and playing style.

Sudden All-In Part 1

There can be two instances where this tell is performed by your opponent.  It’s critical you pay attention to the board to understand whether they have a hand or not.

If you’re betting into a pot with top pair and there’s no draw on board, and your opponent slow calls, then you need to be careful.  They want you to think they are unsure, but that usually is not the case.  Your opponent most likely flopped a set, or slow played a huge pre-flop hand. 

You will likely see your opponent re-raise you, or bet big on the river no matter what you do.  They probably acted slowly to make you feel confident about your hand, and hope you keep betting.  

Sudden All-In Part 2  

This time you're betting into your opponent with top pair and they're calling.  This difference now is that there's a flush and straight draw on the board.  You will almost never see an opponent slow play a set or aces all the way to the river when a flush and straight draw is on the board.  

If you make it to the river, this is what I would do; if no scare card comes like the flush or something that could make them a straight, you should check your hand. Your opponent will bet big hoping to scare you away, even though he has nothing.

Let’s say you call the bet and win with top pair.  You increased your pot winnings by checking the river to him so he would bet.  If you bet, he most likely would have just folded.     

Slow to Call/Raise 

Any time an opponent is acting very slow to make a call, they’re more than likely trying to “trap you”.  If you get re-raised after a long wait, then you should fold most of the time.  Why would a player act like they are unsure, and then re-raise you?  It’s because they usually have a huge hand.  This is however, not always the case.       

Quick Caller

Many times when an opponent calls very fast they are on a flush or straight draw.  Only a very large bet will get them off their hand, because they may feel confident they’re going to catch the card they need.  A fast call almost always means a player has a drawing hand.  This can be a very lucrative tell, if you pay attention to it.     

Using the Chat Box

If a player is continually using the chat box, and you ask them a question to see if they’ve got a hand and they don’t respond, you can be quite sure they don’t have a good hand.  It’s human nature to stiffen up and become quiet when you’re bluffing.  Some players choose not to use the chat box at all.  This keeps them from giving away tells to other players.     

Next time you are in a tough situation, try using the chat box and see what responses you get.  If the player responds with trash talk, you can lean toward the side of folding.  Most players don’t trash talk unless they have a big hand.     

Using the Check/Fold Buttons

Some players use the check/fold buttons a lot.  You should never use the check fold buttons.  It gives away too much information.  If you get three continuous checks in front of you, then the players most likely have junk.  It might be a good time to bluff or semi bluff at the pot.     

If you want you can reverse this tell against someone you think pays attention to the check/fold usage.  Next time you have a big hand click the "check" button so it does an instantaneous check.  Your opponent will think you are weak.  Make a large bet next go around, and it should definitely provoke a call.     

Instantaneous Checks

When someone checks quickly but is not using the check/fold button, they are usually weak.  When someone has a good hand, they need to think about what their next move should be.  A very quick check usually means a weak hand.  Make a bet, and you should take the pot.     

Multi-Table Tell

This is a very profitable tell.  Many players like to play two or three tables at once.  At most poker rooms you can do a player search to see how many tables a player is playing.     

If you spot a player who is playing multiple tables, you should be able to bluff them more easily.  They usually play by the book, and have too much going on to spot bluffs.     

Also, if a player who is playing multiple tables suddenly takes a long time to act, they might have a big hand at another table.  If he’s in a hand at your table, a small bluff should make him fold because he’s concentrating more on his big hand at the other table.     

Position Thieves

Position thieves are very common in sit n go poker tournaments.  If everyone folds up to a thief on the button, he only has the small and big blind to act behind him.  He will raise to try and steal the blinds.  If you’re one of the blinds and have a moderate hand, you can fight back by re-raising, or calling then outplaying them on the flop.