How to Tell if Someone is Bluffing in Poker

Any poker player worth his salt knows that the game is as much about bluffing as it is about having good cards. You can hear a lot of poker players say that a good poker player is measured by how he actually plays BAD cards. But how to tell when someone is playing based on gumption alone? Having the key to this will definitely enable you to step up your game!

Most say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but here's a tip: this doesn't apply to poker players! Looking in the eyes of a bluffer and trying to see if they blink or look away won't really work because these players are determined to mask their bluff. Unless they're poker novices, chances are, they'll win in a starefest.

But some clues can be taken from how showy a poker player becomes at the table. Usually, those with a weaker hand will try to intimidate their opponents by being unnaturally loud, take on an aggressive stance, or slamming on the table. There are many other nonverbal cues that you can get out of someone with a bad hand in poker. On the other hand, poker players with GOOD hands can actually play this card as well. They will naturally stay quiet and as unobtrusive as possible to try and raise the bet. Usually, the poker players' action actually belie what's on their hands.

There are also some clues that can be seen from the shoulders of you opponent. When still on the game, there is a tension on the shoulders of the player and when your opponent misses a hand, there is a subtle dropping of the shoulder, when his tension is actually eased. However, you can be certain that he is bluffing if the shoulder drops so obviously - this is actually a bluff tht you were meant to see.

Breathing patterns can also provide you a hint about a poker player's hand. If he is breathing deeply, this is a sign that his hand may be stressing him out, and if he makes a big bet, there is a big probability that this is actually a bluff.

You should also pay attention to the personality of your poker opponents, and they personality they assume at the table. For instance, if a naturally quiet guy suddenly starts talking at the table, it's a clue that he is relaxed and his hand is probably good. However the same equation doesn't apply to the naturally talkative guy: If he suddenly becomes quiet, it's a sign that he might actually have a good hand and is channeling his thoughts on how to best play the hand.

Another clue to look out for is the way he stares at the cards that are lain down. If you look intently enough, you might find cues on what cards he's after by how hard or long he stares at which card on the table.

But the biggest clue of all is the way that a poker player bets - if a player bets high at the beginning of the game then suddenly decides to bet small, he is probably holding a good hand and therefore wants you to call. If he suddenly raises phenomenally, he probably wants you to fold, and is therefore a sign that he is bluffing.