These are the most common poker tells all players should recognize

While not as useful when playing online, reading players in live tournaments is a valuable asset

Everyone in this life lies. From the classic “the dog ate my homework,” “I had no signal,” to “I read and agree to the terms and conditions,” lying is a part of everyday life that is often overlooked. In poker, lying has superlative value and can undoubtedly be the savior of the day for many players. The tells in a Texas Hold’em game are an art form, but like any art, it is imperfect. There are some common poker tells that players on Americas Cardroom should pay special attention to in order not to be cheated.

When it comes to bluffs or trying to hide valuable bets, there are many who decide to decode them in their own individual way, let them pass, or try to guess them to exhaustion. For example, moving back and forth usually indicates anxiety, although it can turn out to be anxiety about being paid. When you notice such behavior, it is because the player is desperately waiting for something to happen, either for good or for bad.

Comfort in posture should also be assessed. A relaxed player, calm in posture, and with no change in voice indicates strength and is difficult to disguise. Trying to impost comfort would result in the opposite. On the other hand, a player who avoids looking at the table (distracted) usually hides a strong game.

Verbally announcing the raise/call has become a fairly obvious tell lately. Verbally announcing the play implies a trade-off. The more words, the less play. This is also true of the speed in responding to a specific action. A bluffer will usually seek to maneuver quickly to get out of trouble. Courageously, players will take their time to feign strength and generate doubt.