Look at your cards as quickly as you can, that way you can still watch others' reactions as they look at theirs. One of the biggest card tells (especially in nits) is when they have a big hand they draw their cards closer and/or keep something on them. So don't get this confused with people holding their cards who are anxious to fold!

I look right when i get the cards, i used to give away my fold fairly often, but just setting the cards down and capping them everytime seems to work. Tried waiting for it to be on me before looking for a while but i can't stand being the guy taking 30 seconds fumbling around preflop.

Who could point out said tells like an arrow...

I wear a lot of hats, and body language is a big part of my game, so I know exactly what you are talking about. I try to always be aware of my own BL, so I will consciously mix it up, and try to keep an eye out for someone noticing it. There are books on reading body language, there are many things that go into getting a baseline on someone. Then you need to know how and why they deviate from that baseline. You could for instance ask someone how may miles the drove to the game, an innocent question, to which most would be truthful. Which way did his eyes go as he thought, shoulders, hands, etc?

Seat 3/7 = best spots.

Good read

He heard a big hat
Could help him with that
So, while playing, he wears a sombrero

Nice.


--klez

I immediately look at the first card I am dealt and never look at the second, capping my cards as soon as convenient (sometimes I'm watching the action and don't cap them for a few seconds). When the action is on me I'll look at both cards and then play accordingly. Having an idea of what my hand is based on one card will also help me decide what I can or cannot play based on the price of the preflop call (example: a pot is 3bet and I know one of my cards is a 3 chances are I am not playing). I am not worried about looking and instafolding, or looking and instaraising so long as I act the same way every time, which I am forced to do by only peeping one card.

I usually wear sunglasses and pay attention to the players to my left first to see if I can get preflop tells on them. I do start with their hands and how they handle their chips. Eventually I work my way around the table scouting all of my opponents looking for preflop tells at first and then body language tells on other streets. Mike Caro's and Joe Navarro's books are invaluable for more information on this.

Due diligence: I play 1/2 NL so most of the players wouldn't notice half the **** I do anyway.

I don't look at my cards until I see all the action up to me, and generally a glance at my left before I look at my own cards.

Before I see my cards I already know what/how I am going to act (within a range of actions), so I can act immediatly once I see my holding, as I have already considered that based on action to me, group A hands are played one way, group B another, etc.


I also prefer seats 3 or 7.


Facial expressions *can* be useful provided you are able to divine the difference between an involuntary one and an acted one.



Bouncy feet mean intensified excitement - meaning the subject is very nervous or very happy. I've seen murder suspects brought into the police station and their feet were bouncing uncontrollably. I've seen poker players so excited with a hand they literally jumped out of their seats.

The key is determining how that particular player acts/reacts in a strong or bluff situation.

Nice observation. Thanks for sharing!

My legs bounce when ever I sit down; not talking about at a poker table, anywhere. It's just what happens. I know I'm not the only one, it's not an uncommon thing. Be careful on that one, it may be a false tell.

If a person's legs are always bouncing then the key is to determine how that bouncing CHANGES over time or in a given situation, and what that implies.

Good information here. Now I can work on started to send false tells.