(Distributed Sept. 26, 2006)

DON’T GET TOO OBSESSED ABOUT POKER “TELLS”

Last week at a convention of newspaper publishers and editors, Sam F. asked me about players giving off “tells” that reveal the strength or weakness of their poker hands. Here’s what I told him.

(SET ITAL) Hey LuckyDog: How do you avoid giving tells to opponents at the table? I mean, if you look down at your hole cards and see two bullets (aces), how should you act? Is it good to stare down an opponent when you’ve got a big hand or bluff with 2-3 offsuit? –Sam F. of Illinois. (END ITAL)

I think players obsess too much about tells, Sam. Particularly in lower-stakes games with structured betting, such as $3-$6 hold’em, many players spend excessive time and effort to get “reads” on opponents when they should pay attention to their own mannerisms which could send signals to other players.

Remember, at the lower limits, worrying about bluffs usually is wasted energy because the stakes aren’t high enough to force everyone to fold anyway. Recognizing which opponents are playing loose and which are playing tight is more important than trying to read their body language.

Still, you need to be observant. The most common tell is when players with strong hands act weak and players with weak hands act strong. Players do this a lot, especially acting weak when they hold a monster. Recognizing strong-weak tells on your opponents and acting appropriately will build your chip stack.

Another tip: Watch your opponents’ reactions as the dealer exposes the flop. Weaker players may show excitement if they hit something good on those first three community cards. Stronger players may exhibit disinterest and look away to disguise how happy they are. You should watch these reactions even if you’re not in the hand. Any information you gain may pay off later.

Meanwhile, here’s how to avoid giving up tells yourself:

* Don’t look at your starting hole cards until the action gets to you. Spend that time watching for anything unusual involving a player or a possible error in the deal, such as when an unobservant player reaches for a just-dealt card, thinking it’s his, when it actually belongs to the person in the next seat.

* If you intend to bet, don’t look at or reach for your chips before it’s your turn to act. I avoid this tell by riffling chips constantly with my right hand and protecting my cards with my left hand. That way I always have chips ready to put into the pot if I decide to stay in, and never have to look at my chip stack.

* If you intend to fold, don’t pick up your cards before it’s your turn to do so. If you do this routinely, sharp opponents will always know whether you’re going to stay in or fold. However, sometimes when you have a huge hand, you can induce an opponent to bet into you by casually holding your cards as if you intend to fold. If he bets, you raise. Typically, this move only works once.

* Keep your posture consistent during every hand. Some players lean forward in excitement when they’ve got a good hand while others slump in their seat when they intend to fold. You can relax in between hands (but stay alert to what’s going on.)

* Bet the same way every time to avoid tell-tale patterns. For example, don’t slam your chips into the pot one time and politely place them out there the next. If you’re just calling a bet, put out the correct number of chips without saying anything. If you’re raising, say “Raise” in a calm but firm voice before putting in your chips. Also, try to take the same amount of time on every bet (a few seconds should be enough in a low-limit game).

* Don’t stare down an opponent after you’ve made a bet, no matter the strength of your hand. Instead, just look at the board cards and remain still. Breathe normally. If you’re bluffing, and your opponent has seen you act the same way before with winning hands, he or she may decide to fold!

Now, Sam, about those pocket aces.

There’s no prettier starting hand, and you only get them in hold’em once every 220 hands on average. While it’s easy to let visions of winning a big pot creep into your mind, you’ve got to stay focused. Don’t forget that even pocket aces are vulnerable, especially in limit hold’em where a handful of opponents might call your pre-flop raise.

So, what’s the best way to avoid getting too excited? Just remind yourself those bullets don’t always win.

E-mail your poker questions and comments to russ@luckydogpoker.com for use in future columns. To find out more about Russ Scott and read previous LuckyDog Poker columns, visit www.creators.com or www.luckydogpoker.com.
COPYRIGHT 2006 RUSS SCOTT
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