Detecting Online Poker Tells
Card players can read their opponents by recognizing their poker tells through observation and conversation. But when it comes to cyberspace, online poker tells are read through one's playing speed and chatting behavior. So how does one go about detecting poker tells when playing online?
Regarding playing speed, sometimes a player's Internet connection may become slow which contributes to an otherwise non-poker tell issue. But when every player at the table is having no problems with their connection, how slow and how fast they are in making their moves are good starting points in detecting online poker tells.
Some gaming sites provide options of auto-plays and check boxes when playing Internet poker. When these commands are afforded by a player, the reaction time from when the previous player acts and the execution of the command is very quick. So, it simply implies that the player who opted for the "raise any" command has a fairly strong hand because they've made up their minds regardless of how previous players bet. Or a quick "call any" reaction can imply that they've got a good, but not-made hand just yet.
In terms of chatting behavior, one can figure online poker tells by what other players are saying. Through the chat box, one can figure out when a player's on the tilt for when they are already cussing or using offensive language. When that happens, it's reasonable to assume that they are going to play poorly because their emotions have gotten the better of them already.
Also, an otherwise silent player who suddenly types up a storm on the chat box may be bluffing. What's more, a player who has a good hand will probably stay quiet so as to keep one's full attention to their cards.
Since Internet poker has yet to come up with webcam conference games, detecting online poker tells hinge on reading playing speed and chatting behaviors. When the reaction time of a current player's call or raise comes very quickly after the previous player has placed a bet, that player is intending to stay regardless of how preceding players act by opting for the auto command. And changes in an opponent's chatting behavior by suddenly keeping quiet or by going on the tilt are also ways of detecting online poker tells. And as with live games, one has to take the time to study these poker tells so as to make it work to their advantage by attaching these tells to the corresponding player for when they meet again online.