Cash game tells by Borgo

i was looking around at some old stuff and aseen this.

Tells, Tells, Tells

When playing online, most players are obsessed with knowing all of the odds and percentages of winning. Don’t get me wrong, these are key to your success at No Limit Texas Hold’em. However, at No Limit, these take a backseat to two tools more useful and important: tells and reads.

How in the world can you get a read on someone when you cannot see them?! Well, it’s a matter of electromagnetism, quantum physics, and complex calculus. Okay, it’s not that difficult. But, it takes a lot more thinking outside the box to do so.

One of the first things you should watch for is betting patterns. Many people have a tendency to bet certain amounts (ex. 3x BB with AJ-AK, 3.5x BB with pocket pairs, etc). Along with this, they often bet a completely different amount when they are simply trying to pick up the blinds. Obviously, as you move up in stakes, this is done less often, and the play is mixed much more frequently. However, you should always be taking notes on players and their tendencies as something to build upon.

Preflop information is very important, but, since most bets occur sometime after the flop, this is where it is necessary to collect even more information. Continuation bets, check raises, value bets, betting over or under the pot, all of this is key. Most players, after raising preflop, will bet again on the flop in what is called a continuation bet. Word of advice: this type of bet rarely has any meaning. It gives you absolutely no information. So, if you are first to act, and your read has the player missing the flop…lead out! Most players defer to the early aggressor, so this will frequently throw the player off his game. Beware, though, for a re-raise if he does have a hand, or if he believes you do not.

Another thing to be well aware of: the check-raise. Since about 2003, the check raise has been glorified as a wonderful play. It is seen in this way because it gives your opponent a chance to bet when they may have otherwise folded to your bet. This is something you should watch for an aggressor in early position to do on the flop. It is common, when flopping a monster hand, for him to check, trying to induce a bet. It is frequently wise, unless you also hit a monster hand, to check back to him. However, let us look at a better play, especially in relation to our knowledge on continuation bets. As most players are well known to continue betting on the flop even after missing hitting a hand, you would do well to note how great of a play it is to BET when you are the early aggressor and have flopped a great hand. Yes, you will get a large number of folds, but you will also get those raises from players that understand a continuation bet. So, instead of getting one small bet from them, you will be able to get the amount you bet plus the amount they raised! Plus, if you play it right, a smooth call then a check on the turn can frequently incur another, LARGER bet.

You do not, however, want to jump right into a game making these plays. You need to sit and watch how the game is going. Take notes on who is playing most pots, doing most of the raising, and who is just calling or checking. Many players will only play a pot if they can be the bettor. You do not want to bet into this type of player, for that will just bring a fold. And raising a check/call player after you suspect a continuation bet will yield an overall net loss, more often than not.

There is one more tool, though it is very subjective and FAR less reliable. It requires watching the time a player takes to respond. If a player takes a long time, he may be agonizing over a tough decision that requires a lot of thinking. It is common for this to occur, and be followed by a flat call. However, if it is followed by a raise, watch out. The player is probably aware of this theory, and is working to take advantage of it. One thing to note: when someone takes a long time to make a play, you do not know if he is still sitting at the screen! He could have easily gotten up and walked away, opened a new browser, be watching another table, or any other number of things.

All of these plays require knowing how every particular player plays. That is why most sites offer the option of a “notes” option, which you should take every advantage of, for the thought of remembering who a player is and how he plays days later, after playing with dozens of others, is ludicrous.

So, when you are ready to begin winning, begin taking notes! And try using some of these plays, and adapting them in a way to fit your game! Know, though, that many other players are aware of this information too. And that they are getting tells on you. But that is another article for another day.

Good luck, and play well.

By KingBorgo - Cash Game Specialist