The Body Language of Poker

Here is a list of poker tells you can pick up most often in home games.

- A Hold'em player who quickly looks away from a flop wants you to think he's not interested in it when it really gave him a strong hand.

- A player who leans forward and appears intensely interested in a hand is usually trying to look stronger than he is; a player who bets and then stares at you is doing the same thing.

- A player who acts detached from the hand by looking away from the game or having a side conversation is very strong and wants to appear non-threatening, the same applies to a player who bets at you and acts like he doesn't care if you call or not.

- A player who was on a draw and appears to think for an excessive amount of time made his hand and wants you to believe he is doubtful about betting. If he checks to you, expect a check-raise if you bet.

- A player who mumbles about how bad his hand is or how uncomfortable a bet or raise made him feel, especially at the beginning of a hand, is actually feeling pretty good.

- A player who looks like he is eager to showdown his cards really isn't.

- A player who bets or raises by dropping chips or tossing them out is acting strong but is really concerned that he will be beaten.

- A player who calls by dropping chips or tossing them out feels "trapped," either with a long shot draw or with a mediocre showdown hand. This is a very reliable tell. Many players appear to be almost trying to let everyone know that they are calling on a draw.

- A player who stares at a board or at his up cards is looking for a strong hand that usually isn't there. (However, a study of up cards combined with glances back at hole cards is often an indication that the player is piecing together a straight.)

- A player who looks back at his hole cards, if there are three of one suit on the board after the flop or the turn in Texas Hold'em, is usually checking to see if he has a high card of that suit and, thus, a good flush draw. He almost never has the flush already, because players remember the suit of suited hole cards.

- A trembling hand does not indicate a bluff or weakness, it almost always means the player has a huge hand and is experiencing an adrenaline rush.

- A quick movement of a hand to the face in a brushing or scratching motion just before a bet usually means that the player is in a pretty strong position.

- A hand that goes to the face and stays there is different. Covering the face is commonly believed to indicate deception, but is actually very difficult to interpret correctly. It signals genuine strength in many of the players.

There are countless other tells, and millions of players out there who each have their own unique ways of inadvertent communication. Have fun learning them.