Poker tells are small actions that can give a player information about their hand. Some tells can be quite obvious and easy to pick up on, while others are more subtle and difficult to spot.

How a player handles chips can sometimes be one of those poker tells that will help you put a player in a range. When a player has a strong hand they will often grab chips before the action arrives, while players with weak hands will leave their stacks untouched.

If a player takes a long time to think before making a bet this can be another of those poker tells that will help you determine their strength in the hand. They may be thinking about how to make the best call with a hand they like, or how much to call with a speculative hand.

A player who takes a long time to act on the turn or river can be a good poker tell because it may indicate that they have a speculative hand and are willing to bet more quickly than a more cautious player. This can also be helpful in post-flop situations, when a player who takes a long time to call is probably not going to fold to a raise and may have a weaker hand.

How a player moves around the table can sometimes be a good poker tell as well. They can move their arms in different ways, play with chips, flex their neck a bit, or even tilt their head slightly as they think about their next move.

These types of movements are typically only visible when a player is in a specific position, such as on the table or in front of their opponent. It is important to note that these tells can be misleading, so they should only be acted on when you are sure the player has a strong hand and will not fold to a bet.

A tell can be very useful in live games, but online players don’t have the same opportunity to watch their opponents, so it is not as reliable. In general, a tell is a guidepost that should be used alongside other factors like opponent history and table dynamics in your decision-making process.

The most common tell is a smile. This can be either natural or forced, depending on the player. A player who forces a smile is usually trying to show off their hand, while a natural smile is when they are just enjoying the game.

Whether it is a real or fake smile, this is a very effective poker tell that can be used to determine the strength of a hand. It can also be helpful in post-flop situations, as a player who is in a strong hand will often not smile, while those with weak hands will do so.

When a player has a strong hand their eyes are more relaxed and their breathing is slower than when they have weak hands. This is a great poker tell that can be used in both live and online games.