Learn the Body Language of Poker

The body language of poker is critical to your game. You don't want your facial expressions, posture, or movements to tell people about your cards. On the other hand, you do want to figure out the body language of other players and use it to your advantage. Many times you will find that a player wearing his best "poker face" is telling you about his cards in other ways.

In Rounders, the 1998 poker movie, Matt Damon's character wins because he figures out that the stony-faced Russian, played by John Malkovich, eats a cookie when he's bluffing. One way to learn poker is to examine the body language of players at poker tournaments. These professionals never betray their cards with unconscious body movements. Watching these players is like going to a poker school on how to control your body language in a game.

You can also learn a lot about poker body language at a game with acquaintances. Players who are bluffing often betray their strategy with body language. Research shows that people who are lying or withholding information tend to touch their faces. A simple action like rubbing your nose or smoothing your hair can tell other players a lot. If someone is blinking his eyes a lot, that may indicate he's bluffing. If she seems to be staring without blinking at all, that can also indicate bluffing.

A player with a good hand often unconsciously broadcasts the news to opponents. Most players avoid obvious signs of excitement such as gasping, jiggling legs, and tapping feet. However, many players are less able to control the more subtle body language that informs people about their cards. Sometimes, a player sits up straighter when he likes his cards. Another sign is when a player takes a quick glance at his chips to see how much he has to bet. Players who act disappointed or bored with a hand are often trying to cover up their excitement over their cards. This is a bush league tactic that you will never see professional players use at poker tournaments.

Obviously now you can play online on various free poker sites and start learning where body language is not a consideration. However, any time you are playing against human beings, you have to think about more than the cards. You need to prevent your body from sending messages about your cards and you also need to read the body language of other players.