What makes poker a truly excellent game has nothing to do with suits and straights. Poker has very little to do with cards and everything to do with the psychology of the players. The best poker players know how to play their opponents by identifying their poker tells and betting patterns, calling their bluffs, and minimizing their own tells and bluffs so that they can stay in the game.
Understanding the Bluff
A bluff in poker is when you try to manipulate what others think about the cards in your hand. Bluffers may bluff that their bad hand is actually a good one or vice versa. A bluff succeeds when the bluffer has manipulated their opponent(s) into making the poker-playing decisions the bluffer wanted them to make. A bluff fails when the bluff is called by the player who figured out that their opponent was bluffing.
Spotting the Bluff
To spot bluffs in poker, learn to read the other players, as some bluffs will be more easily spotted once you have learned how your opponents tend to play. The following poker bluffs are common bluffs that most amateur poker players do during gameplay.
- Lack of Interest – A player who stares off into space as though he isn’t interested in the game probably has a good hand and will bluff.
- Staring You Down – Because eye contact makes you appear stronger, bluffers may stare down one player to try to intimidate them into folding.
- Brief Eye Contact – Bluffers may make brief eye contact and then look away so as not to give anything away.
- Doing the Opposite – Bluffers may feign uncertainty about a good hand and act confident about a bad hand.
- Faking a Weak Hand – Bluffers may try to get you to think their hand is weak, which is an indicator that they likely have a strong hand.
- Inconsistent Hand Jitters – Sudden hand shaking may indicate a good hand, but if the shaking goes away the moment they reach for their chips, it could be a bluff.
- Trying to Standardize – Bluffers will try to standardize or normalize their behavior, but doing so will never look entirely natural.
- Touching the Face – Bluffers may touch their face or hair as a sign of nervous energy.
- Repeated Card Checking – Bluffers will likely check their cards multiple times.
- Excess Bluffing – Amateur players will bluff too frequently and can be easily spotted. Experienced poker players know when to and when not to bluff.
- Overly Aggressive – Overly aggressive players who bet more than they should are likely bluffing.
- Body Language Changes – When bluffing, players will change certain behaviors such as breathing patterns, shoulder movement, shaking their leg when they normally sit still, or suddenly sitting very still when they normally shift naturally during game play.
Analyzing Professional Poker Players
Professional poker players are very different from amateur poker players and the general population. Successful poker professionals have developed their own strategic behavior patterns and bluffing systems. These behaviors will be unique to each professional player, which is why it is important to learn to analyze your opponents individually in higher limit games and tournaments. Do not forget that while you are reading your opponents, they are also reading you. That is why it is important to hire a specialist to rebuild your behavior patterns and help you change your bluffing tells so that you can avoid revealing yourself to your opponents.
Body language is a critical factor in identifying poker bluffs and tells. Many poker players will forever be amateurs, but the few who can read each of their opponents well will become masters of the game. Identifying poker bluffs is tricky, but if you want to master more than poker fundamentals, focus on spotting your opponents’ bluffs every time you play. Once you’ve become skilled in spotting bluffs, you will be more prepared to spot poker tells and keep yourself at the table in higher limit games and tournaments.