Live tells. Let's pick each others brains.

[Landlord79]

As much as I don't want to start this thread because some people who play at my local card room may be able to use it against me, let's open up some discussion on Live Tells.

This will be a short post from me consisting of a few questions, but I'll follow up w/ my answers at the start of next week.

1. What do you look for when you are watching people pf as they first look at their cards?

2. What do you watch on your opponents when the flop hits?

3. Who do you focus on more when the flop hits, the strongest player in the hand or the weakest?

4. Which "Tells" books have you read? Which do you recommend?

5. What are you looking for between streets while the betting is going on?

6. What is your favorite Tell to spot?

7. What is your favorite hand played that involves a decision made based on a tell?

[lakeoffire]

1. Rarely do I get info when someone has a good hand PF (unless it's a betting tell). Most of my experience comes from betting tells.

2. Clenched jaw.

3. I watch the strong player (human nature, I guess).

4. I have not read any tell books, but I hear Mike Caro's is good.

5. While betting is going on, I try to see who is looking at other players' stacks.

6. The SPEECH, obv.

7. My favorite was the final hand of a pretty big live tournament I won. Heads up, my opponent moved all-in on the turn. I figured this for a draw or bluff, called with mid-pair and won the tournament.

[Landlord79]

1. What do you look for when you are watching people pf as they first look at their cards?
A. I watch their initial reaction, do they look at their chips, stiffen up, count the pot, look at the action, look up at the flat-screen, touch their chips, tuck their cards, etc...

2. What do you watch on your opponents when the flop hits?
A. I'm watching their eyes. Do they glance at the flop (see what they need to see) then look away, do they stare through the flop (trying to see something that isn't there), do they glance at their chips, reach for their chips, etc...

3. Who do you focus on more when the flop hits, the strongest player in the hand or the weakest?
A. I used to focus on the strongest player, but then I realized that the weaker player will more likely give me clues about his hand strength through physical clues than a strong player in control of himself.

4. Which "Tells" books have you read? Which do you recommend?
A. Joe Navorro's book and Mike Caro's book as well as smaller tid-bits from every poker book or article that I read. I keep a notebook on tells that I see so that I can review them from time to time and remember what people were doing when they were strong or weak.

5. What are you looking for between streets while the betting is going on?
A. Are people overly interested in the action, are they extending themselves closer to the center of the action, are they looking at the felt (strong for most) or looking at their competiion (usually weaker), are they counting out their bet while the action is moving to them?

6. What is your favorite Tell to spot?
A. I love pegging someone who is really trying to play off the strength of their hand via a speech or the rolling of their eyes or something.

7. What is your favorite hand played that involves a decision made based on a tell?
A. The day that BJJIII and I hit the BBJP at the Goldstrike in Tunica, MS, there was an Asian man who sat down at my table who apparently barely knew what he was doing. He all sorts of facial reactions and wore his hand strength like a mask. I had been really card dead and my BR was very limited at this time, so I was very short-stacked and playing very aggressively with my good hands trying to win pots. I was dealt Ah-Qh in MP and made a standard raise that was called by this Asian man in the BB. The flop was 3 diamonds and missed me completely. The Asian man stared at the flop, looked at his cards, then rubbed his ear. This classic Navarro pacifying behavior and so when he checked, I stuffed my entire $50 stack in w/ A high (except that I accidentally held back 2 red chips to play w/ in my hand which the dealer wouldn't let me add to my bet.) He called on a draw and when the turn and river blanked out on him, I tossed the $10 into the pot which he still called. I was still goot w/ AQ high. Best read ever!!!

[Landlord79]

Looks like this tell session has ended, I won't share anymore w/o getting more responses. I want to exchange info but I won't just give it away.

[EdmondDantes]

Originally Posted by Landlord79

Looks like this tell session has ended, I won't share anymore w/o getting more responses. I want to exchange info but I won't just give it away.

Hey, we're just getting started here! I have to be honest, I'm a bit of a tell rookie. I'm able to spot the obvious ones--shaking hands, disgusted looks, "speeches", over-bets--but frankly, spend most of my time seeing who's playing what from what position and watching betting patterns. PianoMan, a good cash game player who posts here now and then, is quite good at identifying tells, but he's also willing to sit for 5 minutes looking at his opponent for clues. I usually just make my assessment based on the overall package (hand range, betting, tells and how much of a donk or shark I've observed villain to be) and make my action decision.

I've read Caro's book and Navarro's book and believe there's good info in both. I should probably spend a bit more time putting the concepts into practice. Thanks for the inspiration!

Edmond

[Landlord79]

Sorry about the long delay in posting my next tells comment. I’ve been busy.

You can read in my blog where I ended up keeping my stack in excellent shape based in large part upon some preflop reads. Making the same actions when you look at your hole cards hand after hand is super important. When you show any type of disgust, relaxation, stiffening or any other reaction, you are giving away volumes about your hand.

http://www.tworags.com/index.php?ACT...do=view&ID=701

Also, what you do with your hole cards tells a tale as well… If you stuff your hole cards in (strength), place a cap on them (strength), stand them up a little higher than usual (weakness), lay them down in a haphazard manner (weakness) or do anything out of the ordinary, you might as well turn them face up to an observant opponent.

A lot of how I play in live games is based on reads from tells, I’ll be happy to address any specific tells if anyone feels like making a special request.

[KickinButz]

1. What do you look for when you are watching people pf as they first look at their cards?
A: I look at there face and the way they may move when they see a big hand,like they will maybe give off something like,"DAMN I HOPE THESE KINGS DON"T GET CRACKED.some players give off a tell like maybe,they are gearing up for something big to happen.and some don't do anything,so many players do different things.
2. What do you watch on your opponents when the flop hits?
A: I like to see if any of the players are looking confindent,like maybe " I GOT THIS BITCH". but,some players dont give off anything,so you have to go on by what he/she bets,or what he/she might be checkin' to you.
3. Who do you focus on more when the flop hits, the strongest player in the hand or the weakest?
A:I focus on all players as long as my chips are in play,either strong or weak players can take them.but..I tend to pay more attention to some who may have me covered.
4. Which "Tells" books have you read? Which do you recommend?
A: None,I read "ZERO" books.I would reccomend that Dan Harrington guys book on Hold'em...but I learned mostly everything by loggin' in a trillion hrs. lol..wait scracth that,I cant recccomend any books that I havn't read..I did hear it was good..but I bust everyone that read it.
5. What are you looking for between streets while the betting is going on?
A: I'm lookin' 1st to see if I have anything(lol).from there,I just have to go on "MY HAND STRENTH"...and the possibilty of them havin' me beat or on a draw.which I can maybe "STEAL IT" with what appears to be a well placed "VALUE BET"...with nothing but "AIR" in my hand.
6. What is your favorite Tell to spot?
A: players that are so scared they are holding the "NUTS" and have no idea how much to bet.because they are tring to get paid off.
7. What is your favorite hand played that involves a decision made based on a tell?
A: I can't remember any.I got smoked up before I came in here.but..when it is happening.."I'LL SNIFF IT OUT"