HOW TO SPOT A POKER BLUFF

To make informed decisions, poker players need to be vigilant in gathering and evaluating all available clues, which includes being attentive to both verbal and non-verbal cues. tells from their opponents.

Such tells can be verbal These clues can be verbal (such as the words spoken) or physical (like movements or postures that may indicate the strength of a hand), as well as related to the cards (including aspects like betting patterns and timing cues).

Table of Contents

BASIC TELL RECOGNITION

POKER PLAYER WITH A SMIRK AND A THOUGHT BUBBLE SAYING I'VE_GOT_YOU_BEAT-01.jpg Broadly speaking, when it comes to physical cues, grasping a few basic principles can significantly enhance your ability to discern whether an adversary is holding a strong hand or is merely trying to bluff:

  • Strong Signals Indicate Weakness; Weak Signals Indicate Strength : If a player tries to project confidence through rigid body language (like sitting upright and making direct eye contact), this often indicates they may be portraying strength to dissuade you from challenging them. Conversely, the opposite can also hold true.

  • Tension vs. Relaxation : Another prevalent body language indicator is determining if a player's body language is calm or tense. Someone who appears truly relaxed (for example, taking deep breaths or casually moving their legs) likely feels good about their hand and is betting for value. In contrast, individuals who are bluffing often experience anxiety that leads them to default to responses such as freezing in place. If you observe your opponent seeming tense and rigid after they have placed a bet, it might suggest they are trying to bluff.

While using tells can enrich your decision-making process, they should not be the sole basis for your choices on whether to call, fold, or raise; instead, consider these tells to complement the insights you’ve already gathered from the game.

Moreover, it’s important not to become overly reliant on any single tell once you've identified it. It could have occurred by coincidence previously and does not guarantee the same outcome in the future.

That being said, here is an extensive list of tells that can aid in determining whether a player could be bluffing during a poker game.

PHYSICAL TELLS (LIVE)

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  • Eye Movements: Have you ever considered why some players choose to wear sunglasses at the poker table? This is because their eyes can reveal a lot about the strength of their hand (as will be shown in the following five tells). By observing the direction of their gaze or the patterns in their eye movements, you can start to glean information about what mental processes they are engaging when they're making a decision. For instance, a common theory suggests that looking to the left or up and to the left usually indicates that a person is accessing fabricated or imagined information, which could imply they are in the midst of a bluff.
  • Focus After the Cards Are Dealt: If your opponent fixates on the board following the reveal of community cards, it likely means they feel their hand has weakened. On the other hand, if they quickly divert their gaze (perhaps trying to subconsciously appear uninterested), it tends to suggest they've made a favorable connection.
  • Checking Their Chip Stack: Observing a player glance at their chip stack can indicate a strong desire to bet when they think they have a solid hand. Additionally, looking at an opponent's chip stack before making a bet might signal confidence as they're mentally gearing up for how to claim all of their opponent's chips. poker hand POKER PLAYER AT TABLE_LOOKING_DOWN_AT_THEIR_CHIPS-01.jpg

<strong>Intense Swallowing:</strong> If you notice your opponent swallow hard after placing a bet, it can often be a sign of anxiety, which may hint at a bluff.

  • Trembling Hands: Be cautious! If a player’s hands are shaking when they place a bet, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are anxious due to bluffing; rather, it's often an expression of the energy released when they believe they have a strong hand. Don’t fall for this one! bluff .
  • Foot Movements: After betting, if a player's feet exhibit some mobility and relaxation, it often indicates they are satisfied with their hand. However, if their feet seem rigid or stationary, it could imply they are attempting a bluff.
  • Shoulder Tension: Similar to the foot cue mentioned earlier, if you notice someone's shoulders appearing tense after they've placed a bet, this might be evidence of bluffing.
  • Reducing Stress: Engaging in a bluff can be highly stressful. If you observe a player rubbing their mouth or massaging their neck after making a bet, it might indicate they are experiencing genuine tension from the circumstances.
  • Altered Breathing Patterns: As previously mentioned, lying often generates stress, which demands more oxygen, leading to faster or shallower breathing.
  • Genuine Confidence: It's critical not to confuse a player's confident posture with the intimidation tactic discussed earlier regarding eye contact. A relaxed individual with an assured demeanor (like fingers steepled) likely holds a strong hand. Meanwhile, if they appear less sure of themselves (such as interlocking fingers), they might simply be trying to bluff!
  • Betting Style: If your opponent slides their bet neatly into the pot, it’s a good sign they possess a strong hand. Conversely, if they push their bet out in a haphazard manner, they might be trying to overcompensate to exude confidence because they are bluffing. Additionally, the way they handle their chip denominations when placing a bet can reveal clues about their hand strength.
  • Timing: The time taken by your opponent before making a bet can vary depending on whether they hold a strong hand or are bluffing. This behavior often differs between players, so paying attention to recognizable patterns can be advantageous when assessing their intentions.

BETTING TELLS (ONLINE/LIVE) 

Timer clock and chips

  • Bet Sizing: Some players will raise their bet higher when trying to bluff, while others may opt for smaller amounts. This behavior varies depending on the individual player, but identifying consistent trends can greatly assist you in deciding whether to call or not.
  • Having reviewed various aspects that can give away a bluff, the next segment is designed to empower you with strategies to become an exceptional bluff catcher, ensuring you’ll know how to challenge that bluff effectively!

Matthew Cluff is a poker enthusiast with a focus on 6-Max No Limit Hold’em. He also regularly contributes online poker content across several platforms.