Covering the jugular vein which throbs visibly as a result of a heightened level of excitement or suspense. Is player dependent, but I usually have seen it when a player holds the nuts in a huge pot. He/she is just so excited about all DAT MONEY! Other players cover up their neck in every hand with their hands, scarves etc. Then it really does not serve as a tell in of itself.

Or "I want to call. I think I am good here. But I need some re-assurance that you will give me what I want you to think I want (ie: showing cards) so I can call" or just "please give me some more information about your hand".

Great thread

Against a weak player, establishing a baseline for when/if they choose to make eye contact, is probably the most valuable information as far as tells go.

This is interesting, elaborate?

That's funny, my first ever live tell came in a situation just like this. I'm not sure exactly what I held or what the board was, but I had Queens and I'm pretty sure it was 2nd pair on a paired board. The pot was a fair size and the guy bet a little more than $20 on the river HU (my guess is the pot is around $30-40 before this). It was only my second ever time at a casino and I was playing pretty nitty/tight, so I definitely wanted to fold. I know my table image is tight though, and that the guy has likely noticed this. I also don't feel like he's that strong considering how the hand was played.

After thinking for 5-10 seconds I decided to stare the guy down for a read although I didn't expect it to do me anything. I hadn't made any type of contact with the guy prior to the hand. After staring him down (he was across the table, I'm in seat 4, he's in 8) for a couple seconds he finally notices I am doing so, and he makes some kind of nervous, twitching movement with his face. When I noticed it I immediately got the feeling he was bluffing me, and I decide to call him down, and to my delight he insta-mucks. Being a beginner I still tabled my hand. It was a nice sized pot, and it was a great feeling.

This is $1/2 of course.

If you're all in with the nuts and they tank and you think they may fold, act nervous. Look up, increase your breathing rate slightly, ignore eye contact and any conversation they throw at you. If they tank extra long, maybe stand up. Demonstrate nervous body language. Don't overact, try to make it as natural as possible.

Funny thing is I was Hollywooding a tank (got caught bluffing), and a different guy at a later date did the same thing to me. I started laughing. Said I was gonna call but I know that routine and that he had a huge hand (though I was 100% folding anyway).

Won't work on everyone by any means, so choose your audience carefully lol.

Good thread!