Poker Face... My great weakness... - Beginning Poker Questions

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Poker Face... My great weakness...

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11-23-2008 , 12:57 AM

nifler

stranger

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3

I'm a decent player. I know my odds, and I can read people pretty well. But if someone so much as looks at me, I lose it. I just grin or laugh. How, how, how, do I control my face while reading theirs?
My body language outside my face is fine.
But I just keep smiling...
So, what advice can you give?

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11-23-2008 , 12:59 AM

Jimbo

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,940

Quote:

Originally Posted by nifler

If you do this no matter what hand you have it won't matter.

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11-23-2008 , 01:01 AM

DukeofYourk

newbie

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 27

Haha I do this too, no real problem if you do this during any hand they look at you. After a while you just grind in so much you are used to being looked at.

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11-23-2008 , 01:01 AM

EvilSteve

Midlife Crisis

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 13,195

On the other hand if you grin when you're strong and laugh when you're weak, that's a problem.

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11-23-2008 , 01:05 AM

Wrane

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 12,086

If you really need to, you can cover up your face with you hands, or at least your mouth. Do this with monsters and bluffs and everything else.

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11-23-2008 , 01:42 AM

Ksight3

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 15,464

smile when u hav a monster also? -_-

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11-23-2008 , 01:54 AM

nifler

stranger

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3

I smile every time, but I fear that I might smile differently depending on my hand. It feels different, sure enough.

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11-23-2008 , 03:38 AM

RoSeeker

banned

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6,008

Do the Phil Hellmuth impression.

Seriously, just don't look at anyone when you're in a hand you have interest in. I don't do that because they're all so bad and gives up SO MANY physical tells.

I know this guy who always acts weak when he raises with a monster. It's so hilarious.

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11-23-2008 , 01:11 PM

ELCowboy

old hand

Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,201

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrane

If you really need to, you can cover up your face with you hands, or at least your mouth. Do this with monsters and bluffs and everything else.

Phill Hellmuth method. I like this a lot, but I don't use it. I would recomend it to new players who can't keep a poker "face". Are you sure your body language outside your face is fine? You might want to check up on that if you haven't thought about it that much. This is usually a better indication of what someone is doing.

What you need to do is get into a routine. Practice it in the mirror at home and include natural gestures that you could do in any situation. It might help, it might not, but it will make you focus less on your own actions and more on the hand.

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11-23-2008 , 01:28 PM

#10

donkeystuff11

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 545

wear a mask imo

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11-23-2008 , 02:17 PM

#11

EvilSteve

Midlife Crisis

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 13,195

So let's say I decide to go to a cardroom in a Darth Vader costume. Seems like that would significantly reduce any physical tells, way better than sunglasses and a hat. Never mind that I'd look like a complete fool. Do most cardrooms allow costumed characters to sit down at a poker table?

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11-23-2008 , 02:32 PM

#12

DukeofYourk

newbie

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 27

*Force Choke*

egah, not sure I would sit at a Vader's table... Facial tells are the least dependable physical tells, no?

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11-23-2008 , 02:32 PM

#13

adamcadaver

adept

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 903

I move the top of my t-shirt so it covers most of my face and look away. Just look away. If you look at them you are probably bluffing anyway and thats why you are being called. Don't blame your poker face for bad bluffs imo.

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11-23-2008 , 02:36 PM

#14

adamcadaver

adept

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 903

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeofYourk

*Force Choke*

egah, not sure I would sit at a Vader's table... Facial tells are the least dependable physical tells, no?

Tells are so overvalued imo, I have this friend who thought he would be the
greatest poker player ever because he could read people. He is busto now. Learn solid poker, don't play when tried or tilted.
There is so much dead money in live poker by just playing like you would online. Tells help with a decision, they shouldn't be making them for you.

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