Leveling Up: Learning How To Read Your Opponent’s

There are so many ways and strategies to start improving your poker skills. Learning to read your opponent is one way to improve. They say everyone has a “tell” in poker. A “tell” is a change in a player's behavior; it can be a physical movement or a verbal tell, either of them can be very subtle.

I like to ask people what my “tell” was in a hand. So that next time, I can work on making sure that “tell” isn’t so obvious. In other words, in poker, I believe it’s best to keep your opponent guessing, or you can try to make them believe what you want them to.

Reading your opponent must occur for the duration of a hand. Watching them as they bet the river will not help you much if you haven’t been paying attention to how they played pre-flop, after the flop, after the turn, etc. Look for their nervous physical habits and reoccurring habits in betting.

A good strategy might be, if you notice that they always make continuation bets? You may want to call them if you have a good hand since they continued betting with Ace High last time.

Another possible strategy to think about: Do they fold most hands unless they have face cards or a face card with a good kicker? You may want to fold your Ace seven off suit pre-flop since two other people already called them.

Do they always raise their big blind? If you are confident in your cards, don’t be afraid to get in the hand.

A few years ago, at a casino, I sat down to play a table tournament. Early in the game, a young man called my pre-flop 5 times the big blind raise, and everyone else folded. I had pocket Kings, and I noticed his hand was shaking a little as he called. I stared intently at him as the flop came out, and of course, an Ace hit the flop. No reaction from me. He checks. I pause, staring at him. I continuation bet, 5 times the big blind. He calls. Turn comes a King. He checks. He is still shaking. Why would he still be nervous, I thought. Since we are heads-up, I say, “I don’t think you have it; I’m all in.” He calls. My set of Kings beat his pair of Aces.

If you can read your opponent's, you will know when to call, play more aggressively, or fold.

Remember Dan Reed's advice: “You will show your poker greatness by the hands you fold, not the hands you play.”

Good luck on the felt!

Brenda