Poker Decadence Conference

Picking out the poker tells of the people you play with — not to mention learning to identify your own — can seriously give you the upper hand. It can even be the key to coming out on top in a tough game.

It is all about reading body language. The guy who covers his mouth may be trying to hide a frown or a smile, denoting a bad or a good hand respectively. Pay attention to his eyes as well.

If someone is trying to engage you in a serious stare down, he or she is likely trying to intimidate you. Don’t fall for it!

You need to pay attention to how your opponents behave during the flop, as well. Look for involuntary twitches of dismay. Remember that typically, if a player sneaks a look at his or her chips after the flop, it may denote a good hand.