How To Read People In Poker

How To Read People In Poker
When you are tired of getting killed in your weekly poker game, even though you know your strategy is good, it's time to take your game to the next level and learn how to read people in poker. While some aspects of poker can be very technical, in order to master it you need to learn how to look at someone and get some information about their hand. While no one is going to come out and say what they have in their hand, there are several clues about both their hand and the type of player that they are just by observing them for a time.

1. Look at the player's chips. Players who keep neat and orderly stacks of chips are generally tight players, not prone to bluffing or playing with poor hands. If his chips are in a heap, or just out of order, that player is usually likely to bluff or play with a wide variety of hands.
2. Watch a player's hands when they make a bet. If his hands are shaking he normally has a great hand and is getting excited. This rule is especially true of less experienced players. Also watch the chips that they leave on the table. If a player makes a messy bet, but then quickly cleans it up, she is normally bluffing and is trying to present a strong face to get you to fold.
3. Watch your opponent when the flop comes out. If your opponent glances at her chips, it normally means that she connected to a piece of the flop and is now thinking about how much to bet. Otherwise, if your opponent stares at the flop cards, he likely missed the flop and any bet that he makes is likely to be a bluff.
4. Keep an eye out for bad acting. Most poker players are terrible actors and you can take advantage of it. If a player is acting weak or disinterested, he likely has a strong hand, and if a player is acting powerful and domineering, her had is probably weak.
5. The batter players you are playing with, the less these rules count. Expert players will know these tells and will either cover them up, or act in an opposite manner. So while these tells might help you dominate your home game, don't expect to use them at a high-level game in a casino.

All about the Bluff - whats bluff how to do it

Bluffing

Just like all poker games, bluffing plays a big part of hold em. This is very true of no limit hold em though bluffing isnt really as worthwhile in low limit hold em as most players will call your hand regardless.

To bluff is to bet or raise the betting aggressively while holding a hand that is likely to be inferior, hoping that all other players will fold and award you the pot without a showdown. To bluff on one round with an inferior hand that might become a much better one by chance in a later round is often called a semi-bluff.

Don't be predictable. If you always bluff in certain situations, your opponents will figure this out and start calling more. If you never bluff, they'll figure that out too and stop calling your non-bluff bets (which is a bad thing--even though you might win the hand, you will fail to win the amount of their call). The exact ideal bluffing frequency in each game situation is a complicated exercise in Game theory that you won't be able to solve at the table, so you may have to rely on rules of thumb, prior analysis, experience, and intuition. It also helps to have a randomizing device: for example, if your analysis or experience leads you to believe that you should bluff half of the time in a certain situation, use a device such as the color of the last card dealt, or the second hand on your watch, to make the choice.

Bluffs are more successful with fewer people in the pot. Against only one or two opponents, your chances are good that no one has a hand good enough to call. Against three or more opponents, at least one of them probably does, so bluffing is unlikely to succeed. There is also social pressure to "play sheriff": if three people act behind you, and the first two fold to your bluff, the last player will feel more obligated to call because the others will complain if he doesn't. If you have only one opponent, he won't have that problem. Dont give in to this peer pressure though. Opponents will call or fold to a bluff based on their own hands more than based on their perception of yours (even though this is not correct strategy).

On the last betting round, if you have a hand that might be good but that isn't very strong, you're probably better off checking and then calling a bet by your opponent rather than bluffing. A player with a worse hand will probably not call if you bet, but your check might induce him to bluff, allowing your call to win more money. A player with a better hand than yours will almost certainly call, and may raise. You also don't need the protection of a bet. Value bet your strong hands, bluff with hands you're almost sure can't win any other way, and check the ones in between. A raise, and especially a Check-raise, as a bluff is more psychologically intimidating than just opening. Of course it also risks more of your money and makes the pot bigger (and therefore more likely to be called), so it must be used with care. 

Texas Holdem- Pre Flop Odds - for the advanced player

Pre Flop Odds

One of the most important aspects of Texas hold 'em strategy is the selection of which starting hands to play, and which to fold immediately. The following is a table of the probability of a given starting hand to win or tie, win, and tie, given a 10-player game, which is the most popular number of players at most online casino sites.

Hand	Win or Tie %	Win %	Tie %
AA	31.93480%	31.46286%	0.47194%
KK	26.83660%	26.23474%	0.60190%
QQ	23.01090%	22.24473%	0.76616%
AKs	22.13730%	20.23529%	1.90197%
AQs	20.81820%	18.65228%	2.16591%
JJ	20.15480%	19.23018%	0.92457%
KQs	19.90920%	17.79640%	2.11280%
AJs	19.86350%	17.42540%	2.43813%
ATs	19.19360%	16.47304%	2.72055%
KJs	19.04990%	16.68498%	2.36493%
AK	18.70360%	16.74212%	1.96145%
QJs	18.65880%	16.26659%	2.39226%
KTs	18.45430%	15.83178%	2.62251%
JTs	18.13730%	15.41006%	2.72720%
QTs	18.10910%	15.46437%	2.64476%
TT	18.02890%	16.93106%	1.09785%
AQ	17.17460%	14.91723%	2.25737%
A9s	17.17010%	14.49430%	2.67578%
A8s	16.64060%	13.79076%	2.84980%
KQ	16.42760%	14.24008%	2.18753%
T9s	16.37900%	13.72587%	2.65313%
K9s	16.31920%	13.84134%	2.47789%
99	16.30630%	15.45238%	0.85390%
A7s	16.21830%	13.22384%	2.99444%
AJ	16.08400%	13.53708%	2.54691%
J9s	16.03980%	13.51426%	2.52549%
Q9s	15.96340%	13.52106%	2.44237%
A6s	15.86780%	12.75819%	3.10963%
A5s	15.68950%	12.65281%	3.03671%
KJ	15.41940%	12.95078%	2.46859%
A4s	15.33520%	12.46856%	2.86662%
AT	15.29240%	12.45305%	2.83931%
88	15.17130%	14.32132%	0.85002%
QJ	15.16960%	12.67192%	2.49766%
T8s	15.13030%	12.45303%	2.67732%
K8s	15.11150%	12.49239%	2.61908%
A3s	15.03090%	12.37481%	2.65608%
A2s	14.76110%	12.26935%	2.49176%
98s	14.75050%	12.40754%	2.34294%
J8s	14.74350%	12.18468%	2.55879%
JT	14.73080%	11.88102%	2.84980%
K7s	14.72100%	11.98725%	2.73376%
KT	14.70620%	11.96359%	2.74260%
Q8s	14.66350%	12.15778%	2.50573%
QT	14.52880%	11.77576%	2.75308%
K6s	14.37830%	11.55882%	2.81943%
77	14.31580%	13.47228%	0.84349%
87s	14.08920%	11.77052%	2.31872%
K5s	13.98720%	11.30092%	2.68628%
T7s	13.89890%	11.20491%	2.69401%
97s	13.84020%	11.47851%	2.36170%
K4s	13.65930%	11.14843%	2.51083%
Q7s	13.61730%	10.97920%	2.63807%
66	13.57590%	12.72120%	0.85469%
J7s	13.53900%	10.93570%	2.60331%
76s	13.52580%	11.22984%	2.29598%
K3s	13.34220%	11.04167%	2.30056%
55	13.33220%	12.59915%	0.73303%
Q6s	13.29840%	10.58214%	2.71624%
86s	13.20640%	10.87079%	2.33556%
65s	13.16460%	10.90764%	2.25696%
K2s	13.12950%	10.99240%	2.13707%
A9	13.08470%	10.28156%	2.80313%
44	13.01550%	12.46479%	0.55072%
T9	12.94860%	10.17029%	2.77834%
Q5s	12.93890%	10.35467%	2.58418%
T6s	12.76570%	10.01862%	2.74708%
33	12.76400%	12.39059%	0.37343%
96s	12.75880%	10.38632%	2.37247%
22	12.61960%	12.39753%	0.22209%
Q4s	12.61940%	10.23550%	2.38391%
75s	12.56900%	10.45531%	2.11370%
J6s	12.56180%	9.83763%	2.72417%
A8	12.48820%	9.49892%	2.98929%
J9	12.44020%	9.79630%	2.64391%
K9	12.37420%	9.78946%	2.58473%
Q3s	12.32070%	10.15321%	2.16746%
64s	12.21580%	10.18209%	2.03374%
J5s	12.20100%	9.60550%	2.59546%
Q9	12.18950%	9.63359%	2.55587%
54s	12.16440%	10.23005%	1.93439%
Q2s	12.08480%	10.08101%	2.00375%
85s	11.99770%	9.84414%	2.15352%
A7	11.99010%	8.84943%	3.14066%
J4s	11.89190%	9.50786%	2.38399%
T5s	11.75370%	9.08887%	2.66481%
J3s	11.61290%	9.43700%	2.17588%
A6	11.59240%	8.33405%	3.25832%
95s	11.55410%	9.32730%	2.22676%
T8	11.53570%	8.72841%	2.80734%
74s	11.45170%	9.54399%	1.90772%
A5	11.40240%	8.22238%	3.18004%
T4s	11.39980%	8.92939%	2.47044%
J2s	11.36300%	9.35882%	2.00421%
98	11.25480%	8.81045%	2.44431%
53s	11.22720%	9.49811%	1.72908%
T3s	11.12720%	8.87717%	2.25000%
63s	11.08480%	9.25127%	1.83354%
K8	11.04890%	8.30006%	2.74881%
A4	11.02470%	8.03713%	2.98757%
J8	10.99890%	8.31616%	2.68269%
T2s	10.89210%	8.80689%	2.08522%
84s	10.87920%	8.90157%	1.97763%
Q8	10.77110%	8.13968%	2.63146%
A3	10.69440%	7.93229%	2.76211%
43s	10.62540%	9.12949%	1.49595%
87	10.60540%	8.18428%	2.42112%
K7	10.60180%	7.72674%	2.87506%
94s	10.58740%	8.47645%	2.11099%
A2	10.41740%	7.82941%	2.58802%
73s	10.31080%	8.59235%	1.71849%
93s	10.28610%	8.36582%	1.92032%
97	10.27340%	7.79742%	2.47593%
K6	10.22730%	7.26327%	2.96407%
T7	10.20640%	7.36952%	2.83684%
52s	10.15150%	8.60822%	1.54332%
76	10.09660%	7.70510%	2.39149%
92s	10.05860%	8.31394%	1.74462%
62s	9.98810%	8.33115%	1.65697%
83s	9.93210%	8.07653%	1.85554%
K5	9.79600%	6.96855%	2.82746%
42s	9.78250%	8.46598%	1.31647%
65	9.73340%	7.38419%	2.34922%
J7	9.72810%	6.97490%	2.75319%
82s	9.69380%	7.98873%	1.70505%
86	9.68630%	7.24179%	2.44451%
Q7	9.63080%	6.84476%	2.78603%
K4	9.43920%	6.81414%	2.62511%
72s	9.40840%	7.76485%	1.64356%
32s	9.28800%	8.19816%	1.08984%
Q6	9.27820%	6.40618%	2.87199%
K3	9.12540%	6.72024%	2.40520%
96	9.10590%	6.61017%	2.49573%
75	9.07670%	6.86374%	2.21300%
T6	9.00160%	6.11299%	2.88864%
K2	8.86450%	6.64537%	2.21917%
Q5	8.85860%	6.14148%	2.71708%
64	8.75160%	6.61104%	2.14055%
J6	8.67600%	5.79279%	2.88325%
54	8.67360%	6.64616%	2.02740%
Q4	8.50760%	6.00276%	2.50486%
85	8.42560%	6.16158%	2.26402%
J5	8.25770%	5.52029%	2.73737%
Q3	8.21040%	5.92786%	2.28253%
Q2	7.96550%	5.86544%	2.10007%
J4	7.91740%	5.40057%	2.51682%
T5	7.91100%	5.09783%	2.81312%
74	7.86100%	5.85928%	2.00170%
95	7.83550%	5.48685%	2.34862%
53	7.71440%	5.89729%	1.81711%
J3	7.61250%	5.31675%	2.29571%
63	7.55360%	5.63540%	1.91816%
T4	7.54190%	4.92940%	2.61255%
J2	7.37860%	5.26787%	2.11070%
T3	7.24540%	4.85753%	2.38790%
84	7.20810%	5.13345%	2.07469%
43	7.10770%	5.54932%	1.55833%
T2	7.01190%	4.80990%	2.20196%
94	6.80420%	4.56831%	2.23589%
73	6.67290%	4.85805%	1.81488%
52	6.55670%	4.93851%	1.61821%
93	6.47410%	4.45015%	2.02393%
62	6.36790%	4.63616%	1.73172%
92	6.23610%	4.40297%	1.83317%
83	6.20760%	4.24403%	1.96354%
42	6.19720%	4.81994%	1.37721%
82	5.94890%	4.15664%	1.79227%
72	5.72770%	4.00128%	1.72641%
32	5.66840%	4.53011%	1.13831%

Starting cards

• High Pairs: Pairs from Aces to Tens are always a good starting hand, you have the chance to improve on them, and even if the board doesn't help, you can still win with the highest pair.

• Middle pairs: They have very little strength, and cannot usually win without improvement. If it is not expensive, wait to see the flop and what possible drawing possibilities are there. If opponents are betting aggressively then fold. Possibilities are straight and flush draws.

• High Cards: Two unsuited high cards should usually be played at least to the flop. The chances are that if you flop a pair you will have the best pair on the table. Suited high cards should be played more often, as a high card flush is now possible.

• Suited: If your two cards are suited, don't overrate them. A Nine hearts, with a Eight hearts, is open ended and slightly better than Ten hearts with Seven hearts, as the gap reduces your chances of hitting the straight. In a strong pot fold. Ace or King suited with a small card, should be treated cautiously in the same way as gap straights. Ace with 2, 3, 4,or 5 is better as the possible low straight still exists.

After the flop

• Bet or call most of your drawing hands, if you have a four card flush or four card straight. Everyone may fold, or you may hit it.

• If you don't have a drawing hand after the flop fold.

• If the flop goes against your high pairs, and shows possible flush or straight, fold, especially if there is heavy betting.

• When you hit a flush or straight, be aware of the possibilities of other players having the same hand but higher. If there is heavy betting, it is probable that someone else has hit it as well.

• If you have 2 pair, or 3 of a kind, and after the flop, and there a two suited cards in the flop, bet to knock a player off a flush draw, the same is true for connector cards (possibly making a straight) the goal being to keep players from seeing cards that may help them and not you.

Poker Strategy , Poker odds

For a beginning gambler, sitting at a Texas Hold-em table can be an intimidating experience. The strategies, scare tactics, and sunglasses create an overwhelming and discouraging atmosphere, leaving the beginner

 scrambling to find his or her own playing approach. But there are things you can do to increase your odds. Such as following simple techniques, like knowing how to bluff and knowing how to figure pot odds.


While competing strategies and theories do abound, simple techniques can help you stay grounded and eventually build a more sophisticated poker game. For instance, while it may at first seem risky and frightening to bet before the flop, it is an excellent way to increase your odds of ending with the top poker hand. Betting just enough to knock out squeamish players insures that their seemingly "weak" hands do not turn into great hands after the flop. .




A seven and two is notoriously the worst hand dealt in Texas Hold-em, but if the seven and two appear in abundance later, that worst hand becomes a hand that will beat your high pair. By betting confidently early, you not only eliminate potential competitors, but make a positive statement about your own hand. .


If you end up with a top hand then you've established a hefty pot that you can confidently collect. If you end up with a half way decent hand you've created the sense that you have a strong hand, allowing you to bluff other players out of the pot. In either scenario, betting confidently early proves to be more effective than limping in after other players' bets, which only drains your chips and makes no positive statement about your cards.


One of the most neglected issues of Texas Hold-em Poker is pot odds. This is especially true of the beginner and occasional players. Most have never even heard of the term pot odds. Furthermore of those who have heard the term, very few of them know how to put pot odds to good use when playing Texas Hold-em Poker.