The Poker Newbie's Guide to Reading and Tells

Any seasoned Poker player will tell you that regardless of variant, reading players and picking up tells are very important. Although it may seem difficult or even impossible, even a newcomer will be able to develop these skills, provided he is willing to take the time to learn.

Tells, of course, are the mannerisms that people display when they see the hand that they are dealt. Reading, on the other hand, has you assessing not just what the opponent has, but also what his next moves may be. Both of these Poker skills, in the end, boils down to how well one learns to observe the players on the table.

The best way to develop these Poker skills is by playing at the lower limits. Here you will often see players react clearly based on the hands that they get. From widening eyes, trembling fingers, to sighing, you will, in due time, learn how to read your opponents. You will learn to categorize your opponents, and this will lead to the development of reading skills.

At the higher levels, you will find that players are more difficult to read, but the process that you will use will still be the same. The best way to start is to simply watch the hands that they will take to the showdown, and observe their Poker betting patterns. Eventually you will learn how to place the hands they play in a range, and you will eventually be able to narrow it down.

Of course, if you are new to Poker, equally important is learning not to show any yourself. First of all, you must practice the art of repeating your actions on the table. Be it betting, calling or raising, you should try to behave and act in the same manner regardless of the hand that you are holding. As for avoiding being read, you must learn to vary your style.

This is quite simply the best counter against skilled readers on the table. This is not as complicated as it sounds; it simply means that you must study the different playing styles and learn how to play them.

Reading and spotting tells are Poker skills that you simply cannot do without. However, as stated, they can be learned, and the fact that a lot of players do not try because they believe it is beyond their means, is something you can take full advantage of and profit from.