The Body Language of Poker

Every poker player has a different body language. It sometimes can show what exactly your hand is. It may be an emotional or physical reaction or anything else. If you are aware of what your opponent's behavior tells you, you can use it against them, whether advanced players or novice players. Of course, there are always exceptions. Remember that professionals can give you false leads.

When you play poker, and you want to be a step ahead of your opponent, watch closely for the following:

The eyes

Eyes are the mirror of the soul. They never lie. That is the reason many professionals wear sunglasses when playing. There are also many other tricks to provoke somebody to reveal what the player is holding. For example, if somebody from your opponents tries to ask you questions, you can be sure that they want to test you - most likely to see if you are dishonest by not looking someone in the eyes. Also, when you see somebody staring at their chips, you can be sure that they are planning to raise.

Facial Expressions

Like eyes, the face rarely can have a false expression. For that reason, professionals disguise their faces by wearing a cap. A good player will never underestimate what your face is showing. They will look for worry on your face (shows a weak hand). Of course, the good player can with precision detect the fake unhappiness on your face. So you should be a very experienced player in order to use the facial expressions correctly.

Voice intonation

Here is the rule - when a player seems disinterested in the game, most likely they have strong cards. Also, when a player increases their voice when raising the pot - they may be bluffing. These rules are true mostly for novice players and very rarely for experienced players.

Tremulous hands

Tremulous hands are most likely to show a big hand. It applies not only to novice and average players but to expert players too.

Betting order

One of the most revealing expressions is the way someone does their bet during different situations. For example, they fold every time when being re-raised. Or everything that repeats in their game behavior can be useful to you during a game.

Body Attitude

Most of the players, whether experts or novices, change their position according to the cards they hold. For instance, when a player drops their shoulders, you can be sure that they have nothing strong, and the reverse: when a player stands in an erect position, they obviously are showing strength. But don't forget the rule: strong is weak. Most often, the bluffing person will be showing a "true" confidence.

Chip Organizing

The first thing you should do when you sit at a table is look at the opponent's chips. Organized chips mean a strong player; unorganized chips mean an aggressive, sometimes bluffing player.