Real World Virtual Poker Tells
Just because you are playing online poker with, say, a student in London, a couple of waiters in Paris, a bus driver in New York, and a housewife in Berlin, it does not mean that you cannot pick up a few of their tells from the comfort of your own home. There are some nervous poker traits that are universal, no matter one’s nationality, age or gender. The level of a player’s chatter is one such quality to monitor. If a player, who often types messages as he plays, changes the tone or length of his missives, or if a rash of spelling errors suddenly show up, it could denote a shift in his normal concentration, or perhaps he is trying to shut himself up so as not to give anything away. Similarly, if a player who normally places his bet quickly begins taking his time, or a slow, careful wagerer speeds up or starts automatically betting, then proceed with caution. Finally, try to keep track of which players tend to fold early on a questionable flop and which stay in no matter what. Then, when you find yourself late into a game, you can use that knowledge to better judge who has the real goods.
