Poker Face – How To Read Your Opponents Like a Professional

Since before the dawn of time, the human race has dabbled in some form of gambling or another. Going back to as early as 200 BC, there has been minor evidence throughout history that humanity loves to bet against the odds. It is quite tricky to find out what went down back in this ancient era, but there is evidence that early lotteries were taking place all the way back in 200 BC China. The early version was a far cry from today’s modern games, of course. Today, though? Poker players can tune in across the globe from their mobile phones! And the industry as a whole has been evolving faster than ever, striving to keep up with the changes the internet has wrought. We’re seeing an implosion of concepts, like poker-playing robots powered by artificial intelligence, something that would have been utterly unthinkable in the past, keep cropping up and the industry has to adapt to them.

Regardless of where it came from, or the level of tech behind it, the art of gambling has captivated us humans as an amazing form of entertainment. Irrespective of how far back you look into the history of us, the act of gathering individuals in one space to place a bet has been evident throughout. The games may have changed, but the one thing that hasn’t is the art of the poker face. Because we’re PokerVIP, we know a thing or two about holding a pretty good poker face. In this blog, we’re going to teach you the tips and tricks you need to know, to pull this off at your next game, and to help you read the other players. From certain movements to the way people breathe – here’s our guide to proper poker faces, and to winning big at the tables.

Watch out for physical telltales

If you’re looking at your competitors during an intense round of poker, then there are certain things you can watch out for. Admittedly, these tips won’t help much in a digital game where you can’t see the other person’s face but they are perfect for in-person playing. If you are thinking of jumping in and playing poker online for real money, then there are some other tricks, such as the length of time your opponent spends thinking, that you can use to read them – but for this article, we’ll be focusing on the traditional tells relevant in face-to-face games.

Keep in mind that the poker face you give off can reveal a lot more than whether you’re nervous. It can show what hand strength you have, even if you are bluffing. Let’s look at the physical telltale signs.

1) Shaky hands

This may be obvious, but if your opponent's hands are shaking, then you need to watch out. This is usually most obvious when they place a bet or pick up chips. You may see trembling of the hands, and to many inexperienced players’ surprise, this is often a sign of excitement, not fear. Do not mistake this for a sign that you should be going all in! It’s called nervous excitement, and it’s common to see when an opponent has a strong hand. Usually, you can only notice this in newbies, as professional players have picked up the art of the poker face.

In other words, when your opponent’s hands tremble, they are about to make big moves – so watch out.

2) No eye contact, or too much

Eye contact is, of course, a huge telltale sign relating to confidence. If a player starts to avoid eye contact all of a sudden, or stops looking at you, then this is usually a sign that they are making a larger bet than their hand justifies. Of course, the opposite is also true. If your opponents are looking into your eyes, and trying to stare you down and intimidate you, chances are that they are overcompensating to hide their nerves while bluffing. In our opinion, you need to treat both too little and too much eye contact in similar ways.

3) Posture

Posture is important, and if your opponent crosses their arms, leans back, or becomes guarded all of a sudden – then they may be defensive about the hand they hold. This usually indicates a weak hand, as they are worried about what is going to happen next. They’re subconsciously vulnerable and you need to capture that and turn it to your advantage.

4) Breathing

This may sound silly, but breathing is just as important as all these other signs. Keep an eye open for a change in breathing patterns from the people you are playing against. This can show that a player is nervous, excited, or over-stimulated – which can relate to having a strong hand. If players have a slower breath pattern, then this could quite simply be a bluff. They are trying their best to slow and calm themselves down – which signifies a weaker hand overall.

You’ll likely need to play a good few games before you know the ins and outs of everyone’s actions. Over time, you’ll get better at spotting key indicators, and you should be more clued up on everyone’s usual behavior, so make sure you capitalize on this. The more you learn, the better you will play – so go into your game knowing these tips, and you’ll be on your way to poker success.