around the 5 minute mark Tony G bets $5,000 with the nuts. There's a tell that he is strong. Any guesses?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBoAJ6z_js8

two tells actually relating to that flop bet. the second tell comes after Helmuth calls.

hmm dunno maybe the way he's loosely lobbing in the chips or that he sighs as if to feign fear after each bet? he does seem to be trying to put on a "look I'm so scared you'll call" face. but then I cba to watch any hands he's bluffing to compare

You say this as though there was a right or wrong answer.

Large exhale with the lobbed bet.

The first tell is he bets with a high denom chip. The second tell is after Hellmuth calls, you can hear in Tony's voice his happiness. Joy is a good sign of a strong hand and very difficult to fake. This is one reason why I do not say anything while I am in a hand, even if someone says something directly to me. I wait until the hand is over and then reply to them.

1) The high denom chip is an OK tell, especially on the Flop, but it comes down to the pot size, what's behind and what's in the behind stack. Tony is a brash player anyway, so a high denom chip from him may just be 'natural'. I think he does quickly look away when he releases the chip, which may mean that he's trying to hide his joy about the bet. Sort of a reverse tell maybe too.

2) Tony loves to grind on players. but there may have been a little extra in his voice here since he was ahead.

Not much to see here on the Turn .. the card doesn't change anything so this is an easy bet/call by both players. I think the way the River bet was made showed some strength as well, but it just ties into how he bet the other streets as well. I think all 3 streets were bet with a little more energy than the PF call, which showed some speculation in his grab and toss. GL

Two tells come to mind.

He quickly glances down at his chips once he recognizes he flopped the nuts. The problem with this tell in this case is that interpreting the flop took a little time and that allows someone to fake it if they believe they're being observed and want to steal. But it's a pretty reliable tell against players who are not sophisticated. In this case it's a little less reliable, but given the large bet and the fact that Hellmuth only has second pair, it's probably a solid fold.

The second tell is that he stops talking until after Hellmuth calls the flop bet. He does this again after betting the turn. If you read Zach's book, you'll know that players don't want to do anything to discourage action when they have a strong hand early in the hand. While I haven't seen a lot of Tony G, I know he likes to talk a lot.

i didn't notice that one, good find. straight out of caro's book of tells.

How strong of a tell is it really using the high denom chips? I've noticed a lot of players in 2/5 using green and blacks on bluffs. I know we are talking about stakes way above, but I would think this tell would be more prevalent at lower stakes?

this tell is not very reliable. like all tells it is more reliable with less sophisticated opponents. any tell is just one data point anyway, don't fixate on it just include it in your overall analysis. but this tell in particular is less reliable.