poker school
lesson eight: reading your opponents
We're going to take a look at analyzing your opponents and picking up on styles and patterns of play that can make all the difference when the game really gets going. Being able to make a good read on an opponent is very important to your success as a player and it will be one of the most satisfying experiences for you at the poker table. The excitement of catching a player on a big bluff is an experience you will not forget any time soon.
Firstly, observing how other players are betting, even when you are not involved in the pot, is a necessity. Any time your opponent makes a move, you need to determine if they are telling the truth. You need to study their actions, movements, voice quality, body language, and the manner in which they bet. Each time one of your opponents turns their hand over, study their reactions. Examine what they looked like when they were caught bluffing, or how they moved in their chips when they knew they had the nuts. You have to continually analyze all the information that is available to you.
An opponent with a big hand will typically put their chips into the pot weakly so that it will not scare you into folding. Whereas a bluffer might sit straight up in his chair and have his eyes set squarely into yours. The reasoning behind this is that the player does not want to give you any reason to think he has anything less than a top hand. You must also be careful of overusing your reading skills, because poker relies on basic mathematical principles.
Here is an example where your reading skills require some precision. You are holding a top pair with a mediocre kicker and your opponent decides to make a good-sized bet. The decision is now yours to call, raise, or fold. This decision will be for a large amount of your chip stack. This is where the studying of your opponent's earlier plays will help your decision out tremendously. The nights where you're able to throw down your top pairs when you are beat and call when you have the best hand demonstrates the strength in your reading skills and these attributes will make you an unstoppable force.
Becoming a good poker reader takes a lot of work and commitment. There are a number of variables to consider while you are trying to build your opponent profiles. Just remember, after you fold you need to watch the action intently. There is nothing more enjoyable than raking in all the chips and loading up your pockets at the end of the night.
Okay well that's the end of this class. Be sure to put these tips into your poker game and continue your education to become the best poker player you can be. Our next session is going to focus on strategies on checking and calling, so be sure to check it out.
good luck and enjoy your experiences at the poker tables
