Photo by Thomas Broening
|
How to Read Your Opponents
By Richard Lederer, July & August 2005
|
When the Eagles sang "You can't hide your lyin' eyes,"
they weren't referring to poker. But they could have been. In a game
dependent on the psychological tactics of cajoling, deceiving, and misleading,
there's only so much a good poker face can hide. Here, from poker guru Mike
Caro, are four common "tells," or subtle signals, that can tip you
off to a player's hidden cards. You'll find hundreds more in
Caro's Book of Poker Tells (Cardoza), the game's bible of
body language.
The Trembler
Think shaky hands mean he's scared? It's more likely he has nearly
unbeatable cards and can't keep the excitement from causing a quiver.
The Space Cadet
She's gazing sideways, as if she's not interested, while the drama
unfolds on the table. Beware: this is a deception. She likely has strong cards
and is going to raise when the bet comes to her.
The Neat Stacker
The Felix Unger who neatly arranges his chips by color and value is revealing
that he's a cautious player who rarely bluffs. Sloppy stackers, on the
other hand, like to take chances.
The Mouth Hider
With her hand perched over her mouth, she looks as if she's whiling away
time. Instead, this unintentional gesture may be a sign that she's
"covering up" terrible cards. Make a big raise and she'll
fold.
|
