Battle-of-the-bands.info/blog

Body language which has the potential to reveal information concerning the opponent’s hand is called “a tell” or “tells” – and you had better learn to keep a good eye open for it: it’s a fun challenge; it keeps you from fidgeting, and it may decide the outcome of the game in your favor like nothing else. In a live game, when your opponent vigorously tosses their chips into the bank, fidgets with their chips, licks their dry lips, glances aside or scratches behind the ear systematic observation may yield invaluable insight and earn you cash. To the uninitiated such technique may seem like black magic, but in fact many professionals rely heavily on it.

Things look differently online however. At first glance all that represents a player may be a blank, a photograph (not necessarily of the player) or an image of anything else. So is “reading” even possible online?

The first thing to realize is that your own hand is likewise readable online, even if it’s Homer Simpson with a hand of pink glazed doughnuts that you have uploaded as the online image of yourself. Online tells are primarily the speed with which a player makes his bets. The most basic available way to bet, raise, call, or pass in an online game is by clicking the appropriate button when it is the player’s turn. The other possibility is to mark the box of the action beforehand (bet/raise, etc), so that when it is your turn, the move is made instantly and automatically.

Online when a player takes a long time to “think” and then says check they are probably trying to convince you that they have good cards. A weak hand may be suspected by “pondering”. It’s as if investing a significant sum was considered. So they can have the next card for free they are actually in hopes that you will check as well. Normally a person will say check after a natural pause if he really intends to “check/raise”, and then make a raise equal to the last bet. Strength may be implied after prolonged pondering of a bet. A player suggests weakness by “wavering” while making an aggressive bet, enticing you to call.

Players are likely to have a strong hand when they make immediate bets or raises. Weakness can be detected by deliberate aggressiveness, but in many cases the situation is the reverse. A player may raise “rashly” in hopes that you will be bullied into thinking he really has worthwhile cards. It’ a show usually meant to intimidate you into an unnecessary call, a trick called “reverse psychology”.

Some players use the “check/raise” button to play what is probably a very strong hand with deceptive gradualness. When what seems like a hurried check, enticing you to make an aggressive move, is followed by a raise, beware: the check was likely a trap and the opponent’s hand is probably much stronger than you thought it was!

To give you an idea of how to observe the mannerism and habits of invisible online opponents, these are mere tips. Observe players carefully, especially those you have been playing with long-term as they probably display more individual tells. Responding at a persistently equal time with timed responses may be done deliberately by some players to make it impossible to guess their hands. Learning to do the same may be a good idea for you.

Tags: Games // Add Comment »