[mattyfatty4]

For those of you that play Online Poker what kind of tells do you look for? Do you even look for any? I guess the speed of bet could be pretty important, but that's all I can think of to use. Speed of bet, bet patterns, what do you look for? Thanks for the help. -Matt

[R Deckard]

I think chat can be a good indicator of someone's hand--for instance, take the following example:

• PokerStars Game #1867434344: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2005/06/09 - 22:09:16 (ET)
  Table 'Posnania III' Seat #6 is the button
  Seat 1: VARoadstter ($23.55 in chips)
  Seat 2: sandiegodk ($6.65 in chips)
  Seat 3: MJB-100 ($14.80 in chips)
  Seat 4: Deckard26354 ($23.75 in chips)
  Seat 5: BlackMammoth ($5 in chips)
  Seat 6: Damn Ringer ($26.10 in chips)
  Seat 7: Debaser555 ($16.10 in chips)
  Seat 8: deanmoriarty ($25.05 in chips)
  Seat 9: SpaceMonkey3 ($23.60 in chips)
  Debaser555: posts small blind $0.10
  deanmoriarty: posts big blind $0.25
  VARoadstter said, "semi bluff"
  BlackMammoth: posts big blind $0.25
  *** HOLE CARDS ***
  Dealt to Deckard26354 [4d 4c]
  SpaceMonkey3: folds
  VARoadstter said, "middle pair, fl draw"
  SpaceMonkey3 said, "yep"
  SpaceMonkey3 said, "nh"
  SpaceMonkey3 said, "KQ"
  VARoadstter said, "ty"
  VARoadstter: folds
  sandiegodk: folds
  MJB-100: folds
  Deckard26354 said, "i've got the pointy heads!"
  Deckard26354: raises $0.75 to $1
  BlackMammoth: folds
  Damn Ringer: folds
  Debaser555: folds
  deanmoriarty said, "deckard, deckard, deckard"
  deanmoriarty said, "what shall we do with you?"
  Deckard26354 said, "pointy pointy pointy"
  VARoadstter said, "they are no good"
  deanmoriarty: folds
  Deckard26354 collected $0.85 from pot
  Deckard26354: shows [4d 4c] (a pair of Fours)
  Deckard26354 said, "pointy!"
  *** SUMMARY ***
  Total pot $0.85 | Rake $0
  Seat 1: VARoadstter folded before Flop (didn't bet)
  Seat 2: sandiegodk folded before Flop (didn't bet)
  Seat 3: MJB-100 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
  Seat 4: Deckard26354 collected ($0.85)
  Seat 5: BlackMammoth folded before Flop
  Seat 6: Damn Ringer (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
  Seat 7: Debaser555 (small blind) folded before Flop
  Seat 8: deanmoriarty (big blind) folded before Flop
  Seat 9: SpaceMonkey3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[TomHimself]

jsut betting patterns, not much online tells

[dad604]

With some players, speed can be a tell. I found some people will take a long time if they have a very strong hand.

[VARoadstter]

Originally Posted by dad604

With some players, speed can be a tell. I found some people will take a long time if they have a very strong hand.

Yeah, that's sometimes a function of the guy needing some real "time" to set the size of his raise appropriately.

TomHimself is basically right, also. Mostly online you look for playing style and betting patterns.

Let's try analyzing a hand and see if there is anything that you can use for an "online tell":

Online, you're in a tournament in the early to middle stages, chipstacks are not yet a big factor as everyone at your table is somewhere near their starting stacks with about 25xBB in chips. It's still early enough that you don't have great reads on any of your opponents play. In general, most hands have been decided without a showdown. The button on this hand has shown that he will play from the button with any decent hand to see a flop and he can be expected to play back strongly to any raises when he has a hand.

On a particular hand, you pick up, say, AQ clubs in MP. One limper to you so you pop it up around 3xBB. Going to the flop it's the EP limper (calls your raise), the button, and you.

Flop comes down KQx, two hearts.

What, if anything, could you consider "telling" about the following actions:

1) EP acts nearly instantly with a pot sized raise.

2) EP puts in the same raise but he takes 10 seconds to put it in.

3) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button insta-raises all-in.

4) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button insta-calls.

5) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button calls, but takes all his available time.

6) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button raises all-in, taking all his available time.


Focusing specifically on the amount of time taken, do you put your opponents on different holdings? This is a good question for any aspiring online player to consider as you will be in these situations all the time.

[chipper57AA]

The only online "tell" that I've seen on occasion is where you see someone betting or raising instantly without hesitation.

This may indicate a couple of things.

1) The guy currently has top pair but if any overcard comes up he may be at risk - so he bets or raises quick to try to scare out a drawing hand.

2) The guy has the nutz or a great hand and is not afraid of anything.

3) The guy is on a major bluff and a fast bet or raise is trying to intimidate you into folding.

Hard to say really as it could be almost anything. As the others have said, you have to take into consideration how the player has played in the past.

I'd hesitate to read anything much into how fast someone bets. Some may just be taking their time to analyze a hand, or sometimes they are not sure about their hand.

Basically, stick to good poker strategy and bet when its strategically good to do so.

[hachkc]

I wouldn't put a lot of stock into how long it takes someone to bet unless there's a distinct pattern too it as TomH mentioned earlier.

A slow bet could simply be the result of a network issue, multi-tabling, surfing, phone call, etc. A bet that appears fast could also simply be an issue of your connection to the network and your screen playing catch up as the information comes across the wire.

[Fins]

Originally Posted by VARoadstter

On a particular hand, you pick up, say, AQ clubs in MP. One limper to you so you pop it up around 3xBB. Going to the flop it's the EP limper (calls your raise), the button, and you.

Flop comes down KQx, two hearts.

What, if anything, could you consider "telling" about the following actions:

Here's my quick read...

1) EP acts nearly instantly with a pot sized raise.

Smoore was lookin' for that third three and is representing that he has it.


2) EP puts in the same raise but he takes 10 seconds to put it in.

Spacemonkey made his two pair, but he knows they’re no good.


3) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button insta-raises all-in.

TomHimself was trying to squeeze out a heart flush but he came up short


5) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button calls, but takes all his available time.
Jojo is futilely hoping that his queens are going to stand up.


Rdeckard's bet is 20 BB's with a broken hammer


Note: Names were changed to rile the guilty

Hopin' to play (donate) tomorrow if time (and family) permits.

[VARoadstter]

Originally Posted by Fins

Here's my quick read...

1) EP acts nearly instantly with a pot sized raise.

Smoore was lookin' for that third three and is representing that he has it.


2) EP puts in the same raise but he takes 10 seconds to put it in.

Spacemonkey made his two pair, but he knows they’re no good.


3) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button insta-raises all-in.

TomHimself was trying to squeeze out a heart flush but he came up short


5) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button calls, but takes all his available time.
Jojo is futilely hoping that his queens are going to stand up.


Rdeckard's bet is 20 BB's with a broken hammer

So, like you said, the Dean's bet is $20

nh, Mike McDermott

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by VARoadstter

Focusing specifically on the amount of time taken, do you put your opponents on different holdings? This is a good question for any aspiring online player to consider as you will be in these situations all the time.

Here were my takes on these hands:

5) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button calls, but takes all his available time.
This guy has watched the WPT and likes building up the tension by taking all the time he can.

6) EP checks, you bet 2/3 pot, button raises all-in, taking all his available time.
This guy watches too much WPT and WSOP and is always prone to such drama, even in live poker