How to Read an Amateur like a Book

By impulse, a seasoned poker player usually looks out for these common tells that can be spotted to other poker players, especially amateurs. If you're new to the game be aware of these possible tells

• Before Hand - when the amateur wins, breaks even, or losing a couple, he becomes tight and never bluffs. Only when he has a very strong hand that he stays for a showdown. When he loses big, he panics and bluffs recklessly. Once hooked with a hand, he stays for a showdown.

• Receiving Cards - the player grabs each card and you know he's on to something - he's hand his developing. Also, he casually looks at new cards when holding a poor hand.

• Dealing - often flashes bottom card when he picks up the deck; flashes a card when he deals it to himself.

• Looking at cards - quite mechanically when planning or raising, he looks sideways. When planning to drop, he looks blank.

• Handling Cards - when he intends to fold, he leaves the cards on the table. If he's holding a pair, a trio, a straight or a full house, he does not move them in his fingers. With a lowball hand or an incomplete flush, he keeps shuffling them through his fingers.

• Before Bet - he touches his chips lightly when planning to call. When raising, he touches the edge of his money. When planning to bluff, he picks them up. He doesn't touch his money when he's folding.

• Betting - when not confident, he puts his money deliberately. He flicks his chips when he's confident; hesitates and flickers when sandbagging.

• Raising - cheek muscles flexes when holding a superior hand. Is stiff when he's worried and breathes through the mouth when he bluffs.

• Looking at Draw - when he misses he exhales with eyes staring blankly to space. He inhales when he catches with his eyes looking at his opponents and then to the chips on the table.

• Stud up Cards - when catching a good card, he touches them first and then reorganizes his hand

• Stud hole Cards - when cards are good, he organizes them neatly in his fingers. Put bad cards on the side or on top of the good cards.

• Last Round Bet - when raising he quickly calls; when he will not raise, picks up his money when calling; when hoping for a raise, he watches the next caller but not directly

• Questions - the player turns his eye up when bluffing; answers casually when holding a normal hand; stares at the pot and hesitates a bit when holding a superior hand

• After hand - plays carelessly after a big loss that means he's sulking; plays tightly when winning and he keeps counting his money.