Poker Tips

Asking the person across the table to count their chips is a classic, and often used, example of talking to your opponent to pick up a tell. But that example usually requires very limited circumstances, usually when your opponent has gone all-in. As an alternative (which shouldn't be overused, because you'll sound stupid in repetition), you can ask what the total bet is. The question is usually directed to and answered by the dealer, but in the meantime, you can watch your opponent while discourse is taking place.

After the cards are dealt, don't look at your hole cards until it's your turn to act. Spend that time instead watching the other players look at their own cards and picking up any tells that you can use in not just that hand, but all the rest. Even if you wind up folding, you can still pick up information about how your opponents play without the added distraction of thinking about your own cards.

One of the best times to observe your opponents and look for tells is when you're not actually playing. Watching the action between other players after you've folded allows you to scrutinize habits, expressions, and actions without worrying about your own hand or performance. So once you throw the cards in, continue to observe and look for patterns. You don't have enough time anyway to do something else useful while you wait, like nap!