Reading Opponents: Texas Holdem Poker Tells

• Author: Bruno Chauvet
• Filed under: Casinos
• Date: Sep 3,2010

One of the most fascinating and critical parts of poker is the extraordinary ability of great players to be able to read a player and work out what cards they hold. Everybody has poker tells and the best players know that the more attention you pay, the more information you can gain about someone. Poker tells include everything that you do at the table from moving chips, speaking and even involuntary mannerisms.

The Eyes Reading a player starts with their eyes. Watch how they view the world and you will gain insight into their thoughts. An opponent who glances at their chips immediately after seeing the flop is thinking about betting and likely has a monster. Some players will stare at their hole cards longer than normal when they have a big hand. When the flop comes down and the player stares at the flop as if staring straight through it, they have often missed.

The Hole Cards Double checking the hole cards usually means a weak hand. People don’t often double check big pairs because they remember what it was the first time. Looking away and uninterested after seeing the hole cards is a dead give away for strength. Squeezing out the second hole card sometimes means the first card seen is an ace. Checking the hole cards on a flop that is all the same suited usually implies someone doesn’t have the flush.

Patterns in Betting In poker, one thing that is often true is that strong means weak and weak means strong. Any player that forcefully shove chips into the middle looking aggressive is on a bluff. The reverse is also true.

Chip Stacks If you ever notice a player winning a large pot and stacking their chips from the last hand, they will not play the hand unless they have good cards. Tight conservative players keep neat stacks and loose aggressive players usually have unkempt stacks.

Voice Changes If a player is talking smoothly while in a hand, it means he is not overly concerned about the hand he is playing. This is because he feels comfortable and usually means a big hand. Any speech means strength. Any question directly at your or the dealer means strength e.g. Is it my turn to bet?. An opponent that is acting rude is trying to induce a spite call.

There are many poker tells. If you keep your eyes open and always watch the table, you’ll be on the right track to becoming a great player.

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Craps Explained

• Author: Benjamin Duval
• Filed under: Craps
• Date: Aug 26,2010

It is the one casino game that can make you snigger like a child on the very mention of its name: of course it can only be craps. Craps gets its name from the French word “crapaud”, which actually means “toad”, however more often than not, the singular form of craps can be heard in the casino if players lose their bets.

Playing craps in the casino usually involves several players playing against the house by placing bets on the playing table an taking turns at rolling winning dice making sure not to forget to strike the side of the craps area so as to make a controlled shot impossible. All winning bets are paid by the banker.

There are different ways of betting and playing such as playing the “pass line”, “don’t pass line” and other single bets on individual throws. On “pass line” bets, players bet on a winning throw. If a 7 or 11 is rolled then all bets on the pass line win. Players lose if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled (these are called “craps”). However, “don’t pass line” reverse the fortunes of the 2 and 3 above, but a tie is called for a 12 on the “don’t pass line” – maintaining the house advantage.

Whenever a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled by the thrower, the stickman places an “on” button on the corresponding number in the field. The player then has as many throws or he or she needs to roll that number again for everyone to win. However, if the player rolls a 7 before they re-roll the “on” number, all players lose.

More and more people have taken to playing online craps in recent years, although it doesn’t offer the same type of fun available at a craps table when everyone can win at the same time. However, the popularity of online craps is always growing because of its relatively easy playability. Let’s just hope they don’t have to look into the snake eyes too much.

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What Poker Image To Maintain

• Author: Thomas Kearns
• Filed under: Casinos
• Date: Aug 18,2010

The average poker player would not understand that at any point during a game they are projecting a certain image to other players. They do not know that they even need to project a certain controlled type of image. Or worse, in order to avoid the projection of any semblance of meaningful communication, they disguise themselves by wearing various articles to cover their faces entirely.

But unless they completely disappear – did Welles’s invisible man play poker? – they will always project just enough information for good players to exploit. They are not only likely to attract other and better skilled silent scarecrows similar to themselves, but they are also likely to scare away those players who would otherwise constitute the bulk of their regular income.

A neutral expression does not make you difficult to observe. Well-managed communication with opponents, if properly done, will give a much better result than holding on to that blank, wordless image. Blankness is undoubtedly a sign of frailty rather than robustness.

If it is a retreat from controlled active participation, it is always a weakness (the alternative is not hyperactivity, but balanced calculated manipulation). Moreover, these players probably do not suspect that for the skilled opponent they probably still have tells of one type or another somewhere about their inevitably, even if reluctantly, living breathing person.

A non-serious player will look for a table where folks seem to be having fun. They will cruise around the room until they stumble upon the table with laughing friendly players gathered around. They are not looking for a serious game but for some fun and so a potential opponent’s skills are not a priority.

For the career player, these fun seeking amateurs are his bread and butter and he will cater to their every whim. The wise player knows that these good time amateurs are where his earnings originate and will encourage them to stay and play by being a witty raconteur while emptying their wallets. A not-so-great but happy player will linger at an amusing table, risk more and lose more while always in a good mood. This professional’s dream player would not go near a table manned with stone cold zombies.

A good conversation and a sense of humor combined with a slightly flattering play which keeps the amateur trusting he has a chance will increase the chances of that player coming back for more next time, perhaps even specifically seeking out your table. Since they do not play for the money or the excitement of high stakes, they will not regret as much having lost to an entertaining player.

By keeping weaker opponents in a fun frame of mind, you encourage their high hopes of lady luck finding her way to them. Lady luck will visit occasionally and turn them into frequent players and attract still more fun-loving amateurs to the table. If you display a cold attitude, they will leave.

The best professionals are aware that they project an image and so are cautious as to what that image is at any given time. They have created an image to add to their interests, not to shun others. They have learned their superior technique through experience and have learned to manipulate the game to their advantage by creating a persona that establishes a positive environment in which everyone wants to join in including the heedless, fun-loving victim.

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