Lesson 7 - Online Tells - Limit Holdem

Lesson 7

A number of players over the past six years have asked me to analyze their on-line play and see if I could detect any weaknesses in their game, and if they had any blatant "TELLS." The ones I've contacted privately were astonished, not so much by the fact I could see their "Tells," but rather that they had them at all.

When we play at a live table we can readily detect the faintest of tells without giving notice they have been caught in our "tell snare." We then exploit this tell as soon as we can use it to our advantage and continue to pounce on the opportunity every time it presents itself. However, when playing on-line, we are now faced with not seeing these players and only watching for "patterns," "broadcast news," and "habits." As you read below, you will be able to select the appropriate category for each bullet statement I provide.

Some current PSO students have asked me to identify specific tells I see from the training tables, so I will leave out any names, but those who I speak of are free to comment later if they wish to "tell" us how you are doing with them now. Some of the observations I will discuss you may or may not consider an absolute "tell," but I think you should consider the possibility. Keep in mind that everyone should consider the fact that certain players will intentionally mislead you with a phony tell, and also that the internet speed of any connection can give false indications of a potential tell (it is not a totally reliable indicator or predictor of actions an opponent takes).

So lets examine the information I feel is right in front of your eyes, and all you have to do is watch:

• Players who use advance action buttons (advertise)

• Players who chat or stop chatting while playing a hand (send you signals)

• Players that specifically make comments like "hmmmmmmmm," contemplating your bet (will fold, and are weak)

• Players who bet habitually fast, no delays (image over substance), however, in tournaments (as the blinds increase), you will start to pickup a delay as the betting limits also are rather high (note: those that don't make any adjustment are again providing you information)

• Players that bet first with a flopped pair on the board (generally, not always, usually have an overpair or they paired the other non-paired card contained in the flop)

• Players that never call or raise a cut-off seat/button raise from their blinds are passive players that can be dominated often

• Players on the button (first in), that only call and don't raise (sign of weakness if repeated often by the same player)

• Players that fold the majority of hands "heads up," or with only three remaining players, continue to wait for better cards (and when they bet, they have what's advertised, easy fold to them unless you have the goods yourself)

• Players that rebuy instantly as a nl/pl tournament starts (usually indicates they will use the power of chip stacks to intimidate and steal pots, especially early in the event

• Players that never rebuy seem to be more "conservative" in their play, vigil about protecting their stacks

• Players that will continuously go All-In preflop in a ring or tournament game, (can be easily trapped, only a matter of time)

• Players who don't use their huge chip stack lead in a tournament to pick up pots are very conservative and vulnerable for a counter-attack

• Players in the blinds who call a pre-flop raise and come out betting when the flop hits can be dangerous adversaries (they may have hit a set, two random pair, top pair, or an open ended straight or 4 flush draw, and you should proceed with more caution)

• Players who are very short-stacked and put more than half their remaining stack in as blind money and then fold to any raise instead of going all-in to make a stand and maximize their return are wasting an opportunity to improve their position, while folding only delays their demise leaving them hardly any chips to continue and compete

• Players who offer a chop first (aside from the players who do this as just a gesture on their part with folks they know or respect) can be displaying a lack of confidence in their short-game and a sign of weakness

• Players not accepting a chop are usually aggressive players who consider their short-table skills superior and once the event is restarted, will set out to prove their dominance

• Players who sit at a ring game with "short money," often characterized as "scared money," usually play from a weak-tight mindset. These players can be dominated with medium holdings for the right bet.

• Players who don't bother to look where an opponent may reside (overseas players and time zones factor in to determine if very late night, every morning weariness may be involved in betting habits) are missing vital information

• Players that play multiple tables at the same time miss information, occasionally hit the wrong action button as they experience "screen switch" and these players will not noticed being "played" (your precision use of check-raises, steals, and bluffs)

• Players that berate others at the table and scare them away just don't get it. Why would chase away players who contribute to your win rate and cash reward.

It's only logical then to ask the question: What do I look for at the table - INFORMATION (Remember the groups I mentioned earlier (Patterns, Broadcast News, and Habits)

1. This player will always bet second pair from either blind without regard to how many players saw the flop. They will bet out on many occasions, hoping they will convince others to fold. If actually challenged and raised, they will abandon their cards, if not opposed, they will continue to pound away at the pot, regardless to how many overcards appear on the board. They will bet instantly, and repeatedly each round, without any delay. If you flop a big hand (monster), there is no reason to raise this kind of player. They are going to throw money at you in each subsequent round, and you can lower the boom later in the hand.

2. This player will play "any" two cards in the same suit and raise from late position to build a pot, or to seek a free card. They will actually reraise any previous raise and then usually stop betting when they miss on the river. This player however, will bet again if only one player remaining has checked to them.

3. This player will slow play every big hand they get (no pre-flop raising, even with AA), always attempting to set a trap and use a check-raise later in the hand.

4. This player will bet 5-7 times the amount of the big blind bet in a NL game and you can mark it down, they will have AA, KK, or QQ, rather than a drawing hand or big suited connectors (those hands are generally raised by them 2-3 times the big blind forced bet).

5. This player will raise under the gun with anything from 44-AA, and bet the flop no matter what hits (selling they have a big pair and that the board hit them or did not scare them).

6. This player will bet within two seconds (when it's their time to act), but will slow to about 10 seconds before acting on the river (when they have a monster), otherwise they still bet within 2 secs. Note: Lagging problems exist on the internet, however over a period of time you will be able to know who is experiencing actual lag.

7. This player will actually stop chatting when they have a good hand. It is very funny to see them quiet for a change. There is one player who is just the opposite; they talk about the strangest things when they have a hand, as if to distract the table from noticing their bet (lol).

8. This player will try to talk you into your action in the chat area (saying something like: If you don't like money, bet).

9. This player will always raise pre-flop and then attempt a check-raise if they hit the flop (pocket queens, flop contains a queen, or if they hit two pair), but otherwise will continue betting if they miss or catch only part of the flop.

10. This player will use table action buttons and their RAISE is so fast you know it was pre-set (you can't do it that fast manually). Gee, you think they might be telling us they have a great hand, and not afraid of any prior bet.

11. This player will call with a gut-shot straight all the way to the river, even if you have been the one leading at the pot all the way (just look at the texture of the flop to see if this person may be on a draw).

12. This person, if first to act, from mid-late (6th or 7th seat after blind), will strategically raise no matter what to secure the button position or isolate themselves against either of both blinds (with just about any two cards they hold).

13. This person, will raise from the cut-off seat or button every single time if first in, regardless to starting hand requirements and will also bet immediately on the flop, whether they have anything at all.

14. This person will show you their cards that are pretty (full house, flush etc.) they muck them when they have marginal holdings or a very weak hand (nothing).

15. This player is savvy, and will take the above information and MISCOMMUNICATE their tells, leading you to think one thing, but exploiting your watchful eye.

As you know the internet has build in delays due to the computer limitations, phone line and DSL connections, so don't always look for the time to act factor, but if someone is a regular and shows a pattern (time to act), then changes it, consider what they might be doing. Yes, random freezes and delays happen, so see if others are experiencing it as well. Don't be deceived by this means.... you can feel real foolish!

I implore all of you to add many more discussion items I might have left out. These are just observations I have made, and a number of players might now say: No Way, Not Me, how can you assume that, you're way off ALSpath! That's okay, these are my reads on-line, you certainly can have differing opinions of what each one means, or doesn't mean, plus some you have encountered yourself. Those would be also interesting to hear about, so send them in or post on the forum and share them with everyone (if you dare)!