Read-Only: How to Read Opponents in Online Poker
The toughest thing about playing Online Poker is that players cannot see their opponents, and hence are unable to read their physical mannerisms and behavior. This is something of a mixed blessing, both a benefit and a drawback. But there are other ways that online poker players can telegraph their moves, and one can easily take advantage of such occurrences if they know what to expect.
It is essential for an online poker player to take note of their opponents' playing patterns. One should study how the other players place their bets in relation to the pot, or how they call or raise, and use what they have learned to their own advantage. Habitual online players naturally develop their own strokes and methods of playing, some of which they acquire on a subconscious level. Being aware of such quirks would of course enable one to identify them on other players, or to keep them from exhibiting such behavior themselves.
The Stall is an instance in an online poker game when a player takes up too much time to make a bet. This is a gesture usually made by amateur players who are unsure about the strength of their hand, but professional players have been known to employ this move in order to mislead their opponents. One should watch out for players who place their bets quickly but then stall abruptly, or the other way around, a player that initially stalls and then suddenly starts betting like an expert. These types of betting behavior can be easily picked up, whether one is playing poker online or off.
The success or failure of the stall also depends on one's familiarity with their fellow online poker players. By knowing the other players fairly well, one might be able to tell which stalling players are truly inexperienced and which ones are actually seasoned players trying to swerve their opponents. Or if one wishes to utilize a stall, they might be able to figure out if an opposing player is susceptible to it.
In the absence of more personal and physical modes of intimidation, online poker players find a new means of expression through the chat box. Utilizing this seemingly innocuous manner of online communication, a more abrasive player might try to unnerve their opponents by typing up brief insults or posting annoying little icons or smileys to divert their attention from the game. One should not buckle in the face of such taunts and must always keep their focus on the task of winning.
Some may believe that internet technology has made the experience of playing poker impersonal, but this is actually quite far from the truth. What cannot be perceived by one's senses can still be discerned by one's instincts, and even though the poker face and the poker tell are missed in online poker, the personality quirks of the player have not been eliminated as a factor in the game.