More Tournament Stuff

Continuing from the last blog: Players I like to play, are those who make a bet early on in a hand, say after the flop and put their head down so you can't see their eyes or face. I am not talking about after they have pushed all in, I'm talking about the flop comes and they bet, sometime with two or more opponents in the pot and they put their heads down and can't see what's going on. They are so afraid of someone getting a read on them that they have taken the Phil Laak all in move and began using it in the middle of a hand. What happens is they miss all the information they could be gathering about what's going on. These are "card players" who, for the most part, are so scared you will be able to read them, and it's already too late. They not only have already given away the information, but cannot get any information from you or the other players in the hand.

One good result of thinking of your opponent in this way is to start thinking of yourself the same way. What are the things you do that can be cleaned up? Are you day dreaming and thinking of that attractive cocktail waitress that just walked by, or are you focused on the game and your opponent's? When you look at your cards are you looking at them when they first arrive or waiting for your turn to act. When you look at your cards what do you do based on whether you are playing them or not. What do your hands do after you look at your cards, does your posture change, and do you check in or out of the hand mentally? What is your respiratory rate doing, does your heart feel like it's about to jump out of your chest? Is your cadence of looking at your hand and acting consistent or does it change depending on your hand? When you move chips into the pot does it vary based on the strength of your hand? What is the rest of you doing while you are moving chips into the pot? When the flop comes what are you looking at and what are your hands doing? Do you have any body movements or expression changes which can be correlated with strength or weakness? Do you touch your face or say things, conversing with your opponents? If you talk what do you say, how do you say it, and what are you hoping to accomplish? Just as we try to get a handle on these items in our opponents we must critically evaluate ourselves to avoid exposing ourselves. Now let's go through these and discuss their significance.

Day dreaming about the cocktail waitress, although fun at times, seldom wins you a hand, or gets you the cocktail waitress for that matter. The young beautiful woman dressed in a somewhat revealing outfit is there to get you to drink more so you gamble more. Keep in mind that they are experts at being just nice enough to get the maximum tip, but are virtually un-gettable by mortal men. They are used to being hit on by everyone, and might as well be imaginary, so stop staring and get your head back in the game. Maybe one day, no never so forget about it. When to look at your cards is a topic for debate. For most players I would say wait until it's your turn to act. This way at least no one will be able to glean information about what you do with your cards, hands, or body in general before it's your turn. I have already discussed you watching those who look at their cards to discern a pattern as whether they intend to fold call or raise, well you are being watched as well, so let's be consistent with our motions and habits. Play with your chips all you want between hands or when you're not in the hand, but while in a hand do not touch your chips except to prepare a bet. How and when you unconsciously touch your chips gives off huge amounts of information. When I see someone watching the flop and there hand goes right to their chips, I know they hit the flop. The way you shuffle your chips can give away information. When you are nervous in a hand it usually means you have a lot of adrenaline circulating and you're hands shake and your movement of chips may not be as smooth as under normal circumstances. Facial features often can give away a hand. Watching someone's face when they are putting chips in a pot, particularly when raising is another source of information. When engaged in a voluntary activity such as moving chips into a pot it is hard to control inadvertent facial movement. Watch for it and confirm it with seeing the hand at the end if possible. Remember, it is very important to confirm all tells and reads before relying on them. The best way to confirm them is at the end of the hand when players show their cards, which is why you NEVER show cards unless you have to. I keep harping on this but when someone sees something in your game and you show them your hand and they can then confirm it, you've all of a sudden became the prey instead of the hunter. The way in which someone looks at the flop is very important. Usually a quick look at the flop followed by either looking at their chips or their opponent is a sign of strength. Conversely, staring at the flop is usually a sign of missing at the flop. Again, all of these are good tells but only become reliable when confirmed. Body position and movement, the more organized, usually the stronger the hand, but again confirmation is necessary. Talking, and how to interpret what your opponent is a whole book unto itself.

When someone talks during a hand it depends upon the situation, however it is more often than not a sign of weakness. When you are asked how many chips you have it is also usually a sign of weakness, although not always. When you answer the question you can also give away your hand. I find that when players underestimate their chip stack they want action and when they overestimate their chips they don't want action. So what's the best answer? No answer just let them see your chips and figure it out themselves. As a side note I hate it when I ask a player what they have left in chips and someone else answers, I'm trying to get information from the player, so don't answer unless you are the one being asked. In general talking during a hand unless you are an expert at it will allow an experienced player to get more information from you then you are going to get, so avoid it whenever possible. Talking to your opponent after you've made a large bluff on the river will often increase the likelihood of a call. Talking usually equates with weakness, okay so you're thinking well what if I'm strong and I want a call and talk so I'm perceived as being weak? Good luck, and thanks for playing, it's not as easy as you think to change it up and most of the time it looks forced and will be seen for what it is. Guess what, the Jesus Ferguson statue approach really works well.

Okay, so now you know what not to do and what to look for. Start thinking this way and I promise you will have better results.

For more information on Roy Winston, you can visit his website: www.oraclepoker.net or send him an email: [email protected]