All in: Poker tells, and you can read your opponent

 All in: Poker tells, and you can read your opponent

No doubt that Texas Hold 'Em poker, online and live, is growing rapidly. Both can be seen as separate entities, but they are not.

Each has its pros and cons, so many players prefer one to the other. However, many players, including the most prominent professionals, prefer playing real-life games online to avoid the worst of poker tells.

A tell or a reading is a habit or thought that can give information to other players about the quality and strength of the cards in their hands. Sometimes, players broadcast their hole cards without even realizing that they do it.

As with all poker strategies, betting on tells is never a sure thing. The best players will sometimes even make "false tells" to trick you into thinking they are trying to fool you. You can still pick up clues from the other players at your table.

Look at this example of a common likeness among players playing in a casino, or on TV at the World Series of Poker. Many of the players wear sunglasses. This goes back to the biological assertion that "the eyes cannot lie".

There are many things that you need to be looking for in a players’ peepers. Many people stare at big hole cards such as pocket kings or Aces for hours. Others will tell you that they won't play a hand if they keep staring at them for too long. According to biological principles, people's eyes expand and contract when they are exposed to something they like. This is often where sunglasses come in handy.

Others like Phil Laak (poker pro) will hide under his hooded sweatshirt or sunglasses. Greg Raymer is nicknamed "Fossilman" and is well-known for hiding behind holographic glasses a frosty stare as he claimed the 2004 WSOP championship. Some experienced players may chat to others in hand, realizing that people rarely "look at someone straight in their eyes", while being dishonest or bluffing.

Someone may hide their confidence or cover their eyes by averting them. You should be wary of this type of play. To avoid being seen by an opponent, many poker players will cover their faces with a cap or visor. Doyle Brunson, a 10-time WSOP winner, has said that observing a player’s blood flow and increased respiration can tell you more about them than a player is willing or able to share. If a nervous player is unable to conceal their strong hand, it could be because they are feeling anxious. Others might be searching for an involuntary twitch of their eye or mouth.

Mike Caro, poker pro, says that one of the biggest mistakes in a flop is to focus on the cards and not the players. You can still expect the flop to occur, but you should also watch how other players react. poker strategy tells and how to read your opponents