Simple Ways to Read Poker Hands | Basic Tips for Beginners
Seven Simple Ways to Read Poker Hands
Predicting the hands of your opponents when playing poker is one of the key skills for success in this game. I am Steve Ashwell and I am a very experienced player in various casinos. You can read more about my experience thanks to my casino reviews at NonGamstopCasinos.
In this article, I have prepared 7 simple tricks that will help you to read the hands of your opponents no matter where you play: in a traditional or online casino. I have compiled all of these methods based on the behaviour patterns and strategies of most average poker players.
Check Raising a Paired Flop
Recognising the Bluff
One of the most popular bluffs among casino players is of course a check-raise on a paired flop. For example, if you are holding two red sevens (7 hearts and 7 diamonds) and you raise from the middle position, the middle player can instantly call from the big blind.
If a rainbow 8-8-3 (three different suits) comes on the flop and a player raises your bet, this is a sign of a very obvious bluff. Let's look at it in more detail
Understanding the Logic
Non-professional players usually play passively with strong hands such as trips (three of a kind). If they had an eight, they would probably just call rather than raise, as there is no rush and no risk, in such situations, players are too confident.
Therefore, raising with an innocuous board like 8-8-3 suggests a very mediocre hand from your opponent or a complete bluff, such as a low pair or high cards on a tilt.
In such cases, it is usually better to call and look at the next move, and then it will be obvious to you what to do with the next bet.
Acting Too Quickly
Spotting the Tell
I strongly advise you to watch the speed of decision-making of the players at the table when playing online or live poker. An amateur player will always act quickly when a bad hand is dealt, as he has nothing to analyse and will be as obvious and unprofessional as possible to pretend that he is confident in his chances. So just watch out for the main red flag in such cases: instant bets and raises.
Analysing Behaviour
Players with a strong hand, such as a straight or three-of-a-kind, take a break to think about their strategy and try to read their opponents' hands. They need time to carefully analyse their hand and think about how to make the most of the available resources.
On the contrary, a fast bet usually indicates a mediocre hand and a bluff. When faced with this behaviour, analyse your resources and calculate your chances to call or raise, even with less strong combinations.
A lot of Useless Chatter
Identifying False Bravado
This is one of my favourite signs. When playing live poker, you will often find players who like to talk too much or even poke fun at their opponents.
All this idle chatter is an undeniable sign of bluffing or an attempt to draw attention away from your hand, which in most cases, let's be honest, is pretty mediocre.
Silence is the Signal of a Strong Hand
Conversely, when a player suddenly becomes quiet, and in some cases periodically shows signs of nervousness and excitement, such moments are a signal that they have cards in their hand that greatly increase their chances of winning combinations.
The slightly more experienced players try not to give themselves away so as not to reveal their advantage beforehand. Still, nevertheless, they are not drawn to idle chatter and banter.
Using a Larger Bet
Understanding the Bet Size Tell
People who have little poker experience and generally rarely play in casinos often like to bet higher than the average regular player.
They hope to scare off inexperienced players like themselves by creating the illusion of having a strong hand or just counting on their luck without thinking about their bankroll management. This is a sign of weakness rather than strong play and experience.
Analysing Bet Patterns
These players may have a middle pair or a top pair with a weak kicker. They believe that a big bet will instantly scare away all their opponents and give them an easy win. In such situations, the best option is often a default call and look at the next card.
Already at this point, watch the behaviour of the player, he may already start to get nervous or playfully pretend that he has everything fine and continue to raise the stakes even more. On such individuals, I have raised a lot of chips.
The Story Doesn't Make Sense
Matching the Hand to the Story
Understanding this pattern has greatly improved my level of play and my average table winnings, so I strongly advise you to study this aspect carefully. This aspect is the ability to understand that the story your opponent is trying to tell makes sense.
To clarify for newcomers to the game: a hand's history is an algorithm of his behaviour depending on the hand available (speed of decision making, bet size, distractions and other elements of poker player behaviour).
To do this, you need to learn how to read your opponent's approximate hand range and whether it matches his betting behaviour.
Example Scenario
Imagine you raise with ace-queen and jack of diamonds from the raiser, and an aggressive player calls from the button. By the river, the board shows a jack-7-6-king-queen and you have a missed flush draw.
If an opponent suddenly shows a strong hand, such as a king or queen, although he had called pre-flop, it is almost certainly a bluff. Their behaviour pre-flop did not indicate such a strong hand, which makes their story jagged and inconsistent and therefore meaningless. And the lack of a meaningful story signals that the player has nothing to play with and is just bluffing.
Hollywood Raise
Recognising the Speech
But the next sign requires special local attention and coolness, there were times when I, quite an experienced amateur poker player, was caught by this method.
Remember, a Hollywood raiser, often accompanied by speech, is a sign of a strong hand. If a strong aggressive player raises on turn or river and starts talking about making a stand, it is usually to lure you into calling and easily beat you.
Example Scenario
If you have pocket aces and a tight player raises on a board like 6-7-5-Jack-King, he probably has a very strong hand, such as a flopped straight or set. In such cases, it is usually best to discard a hand with one pair and not regret it, as you will lose much less and save resources in your bankroll for the next hand.
Looking You in the Eye
Spotting Bold Behaviour
The next aspect only applies if you can see your opponents live, which is rarely possible when playing online poker, but it is still highly recommended to know and remember this aspect to be always ready.
In live poker, players who look you straight in the eye when betting are often bluffing. They are trying to show confidence to hide their weak hand. Unlike chattering, this behaviour already looks more professional, but you have to know how to make eye contact and it's not uncommon for players to give themselves away by using this bluffing method.
Recognising Nervousness
On the other hand, players who avoid eye contact and exhibit nervous behaviour, such as shaking hands, often have a strong hand. They are trying to hide their excitement and not give themselves away. And if a player is staring intently into your eyes, watch their history (described above) and also watch their behaviour. Any tremor in his hands, a slightly nervous smile or an inappropriate distracting phrase will easily reveal the strength of your opponent's hand.
Conclusion
Here we've covered all the basic techniques that will lay a solid foundation for reading your opponents' poker hands more accurately. By understanding common behaviour and betting patterns, you'll be able to make better decisions at the table and increase your bankroll.
Practise these techniques, improve your game, gain an edge over your opponents and elevate your experience in the great casino game that is poker. It's also worth familiarising yourself with the frequently asked questions that will help you consolidate the information you've learned.
FAQ
How can I recognise a bluff on a paired flop?
A bluff on a paired flop is often indicated by a check raise. If an amateur player raises on a harmless board like 8-8-3, they are likely bluffing or holding a weak hand. Players with strong hands tend to play passively, making this raise suspicious.
What does it mean if a player acts quickly?
When a player acts quickly, it often indicates a weak hand. Strong hands require more time to consider strategy and read opponents. Quick bets or raises usually signify a lack of thought, suggesting a bluff or mediocre hand.
How does excessive chatter indicate a weak hand?
Excessive chatter is often a sign of false bravado. Players who talk too much or taunt others are usually trying to distract from their weak hand. In contrast, players with strong hands tend to become quiet and focused.
Why do amateur players use larger bets?
Amateur players often use larger bets to intimidate opponents. This behaviour usually indicates weakness, as they hope to scare others into folding. Such players may have a middle pair or top pair with a weak kicker, not a strong hand.
How can I tell if a player's story doesn't make sense?
A player's story doesn't make sense if their betting behaviour doesn't match the strength of their supposed hand. For example, if a player calls pre-flop but suddenly represents a strong hand by the river, it’s likely a bluff. Consistent and logical betting patterns are key indicators of a genuine hand.
What does it mean when a player looks you in the eye while betting?
In live poker, a player looking you directly in the eye while betting is often bluffing. They are trying to project confidence to hide their weak hand. On the other hand, players who avoid eye contact and show nervous behaviour usually have a strong hand.