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Online Poker Tells - Quick Call
- Instant Bet/Raise
- Instant Check
- Slow Check
- Slow Bet
- All in Bet After a Bad Beat
- Increasingly Larger Bets Each Round
- Very Small Bets Each Round
- Table Talk
- Weak is Strong - Strong is Weak
* Bonus Tell
In cash games where there is a maximum buy in, take a look at chip stacks – many times, the player with the largest stack is a strong player (especially if it is 3 or more times larger than the max buy in) 1. Quick Call
An automatic call from an opposing player usually means that they want you to think their hand is stronger than it is. Most of the time, they will be on a draw or have a weak hand and are trying to keep you from betting again. 2. Instant Bet / Raise
This usually signifies that the player has a strong hand, especially if it is on the river. When someone makes an instant bet, it signifies that they have already decided on how to play the hand before it is their turn to act. 3. Instant Check
Instant checks suggest that the player has a weak hand, does not have any playable draw, and will most likely fold to any bet. However, watch out for players in early position who make an instant check because they could be slow playing a very strong hand. In addition, if a strong player checks and then calls a large bet, he most likely has a very strong hand. If a weak player checks and calls a large bet, they either have a weak hand or are on a draw.
4. Slow Check
A slow check usually signifies a weak or drawing hand. These players are trying to make you think that they are contemplating raising and are trying to keep you from betting.
5. Slow Bet
A player who takes their time and then raises is usually holding a strong hand. If the raise is only one bet, this could just be a “feeler” bet to see if their hand is good enough to take down the pot.
6. All in Bet After a Bad Beat
Many times, you will see players go all in after losing to inferior cards (especially when they played the hand correctly and the opponent did not, but just got lucky). Most of the time, they are “on tilt” and are just upset at losing the previous hand.
7. Increasingly Larger Bets Each Round
A player who makes a large bet on the flop, turn, and river is trying to tell you that they have a strong hand – and generally they do.
8. Very Small Bets Each Round
Small bets each round frequently implies that a player has a weak hand or is on a draw. If they make a large bet after a card that would “make” their hand comes out, be wary of a strong hand. 9. Table Talk
You can tell a lot about a player if they are chatting up the table. You can tell if they are upset or “on tilt” from a bad beat, if they are distracted by playing on other tables, or their skill level. Use the information as a way to classify a player for future heads up hands. 10. Weak is Strong – Strong is Weak
Just like in live poker, this rule applies to online poker. Many times, if a player is acting too strong or very weak, the opposite is true. As a side note, always create a story with each hand and make sure that it makes sense. If you are playing against someone who would never play the type of cards that would be needed to make the nuts on the hand you're playing and they make a big bet on the river after making hesistant calls throughout the hand, he could very likely be bluffing. Add everything up between the type of player in the hand, the cards on the table, and other information to figure out if the story makes sense.
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