After playing so many home games this holiday season, I realized that I had more ways to put weak players on a tell than I previously thought.  I’ve never been big on looking for specific action tells out of players; rather, I watched betting patterns and waited for bets that were very out of the norm.  This is all still very true, but I have learned that there are a couple of easily identified tells that novice players will repeat.

The most common rookie tell I’ve noticed is the old glance down at your chips.  If a flop comes with a pair, or three to a flush or straight, and a newbie looks down at his chips, it means he’s got a good hand.  He’s looking down to see how much he’ll have after he doubles through.  It’s a basic reaction that most players will do if they’re not thinking about sitting still after each street.

The funniest and most obvious of all rookie tells is the hand wave.  When an opponent waves their hand a bit, as if to say, “OK, I’ll bet since no one else is betting,” you can be sure they’re holding a hand that is at worst in the lead.  If you call this bet you should have a real good draw to win because you are definitely behind at this point.

Another common tell is if the player stares at the board for a long time and there’s a possible straight on the board.  If they stare after a particular street and then remain in the hand, it means they have the straight.  Rookies will need a little more time to count up their straight than you or me.  Realize that’s what is going on and get out of the way.  Sometimes they’ll even bob their head as they count 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 

A raging heartbeat is another tell on a monster hand.  It’s not hard to see that a person’s heart rate has elevated.  Their breathing increases and you can see their chest rising up and down.  Players only get this excited when they think they’re going to be in a confrontation or they’re going to win money.  Some people will even get flushed in the cheeks like they’re wearing blush.  No one gets excited because they missed and are going to fold to any bet. 

Trembling hands are a tell you will encounter also.  This is also a giveaway to a good hand.  Players that shake cannot help it, and unfortunately it will eventually be their demise at any table with a skilled player sitting in.  It’s hard to win when you announce to everyone that you have a monster every time you get one.  If you do this you must realize that it’s just a game and not a fight or confrontation.  If you can’t stop shaking at the tables you should seriously stop playing because you are pretty much guaranteed to lose every time.

Finally, when four to a flush comes on the board and an opponent suddenly looks at his hole cards again, then remains in the hand, you can bet they have the flush.  Rookies don’t remember the suits of their cards (many skilled players don’t either), and when they have to look to see if they have a flush or not, you will know what’s going on.  If they stay in the hand it means they have it.

Those are a few simple tells that novice players will have.  Learn to recognize them and use that knowledge to get out of the way or win a big pot that you figure they will call.  Remember that rookies don’t know the intricacies of the game, so a straight-up method is the best way to play against them.  Good luck.

by Dean Stone