Whether playing poker online or in a face-to-face game, being able to read your opponent is the key to winning.
Poker is about being able to bluff your fellow players into believing what you want them to.
If you have no good cards in your hand, you may want to bet up the pot to make them think you have a royal flush.
On the other hand, if you have the royal flush, you probably do not want to do a dance and announce it to the whole table.
Being able to put on a good "poker face" is essential to winning this game both on and off line.
Being able to read your opponents hand is something that will take time and patients, especially for the new poker player.
Playing poker online presents its own strategies for feeling out an opponent.
During online play, it is especially important to pay careful attention to their play patterns.
If an online opponent is slow at deciding their next move, it could be because something is distracting them at home,
it could be a slow connection or it could be that they need time to think about their hand and what they want to do.
Because you cannot actually see the players, it is a good idea to write down some characteristics for each person.
In the previous example, it might be wise to write down if this particular player is always slow making a move (connection speed),
or if he is usually quick in his decision making (probably his hand).
Taking the time to notice these types of peculiarities will help to enhance your odds of winning at online poker.
Another way to gain valuable information about your opponents as well as about poker in general is to ask questions.
While playing online, you can ask your opponent why he did or did not do something during a hand.
If he answers you, this information could be very useful in determining what he will do the next time this situation comes up again.
This same information can also help you to decide how you would handle a similar situation during online or table play.
Try not to ask too many questions, after all, you do not want everyone in cyberspace to know you are a novice.
This would open your poker game up to attack by everyone you are playing against.
Playing face to face at a table has distinct advantages and disadvantages over playing online when it comes to being able to read your opponents hands.
Playing at the same table allows you to see their faces, you can see if they are excited with a particular hand,
or if they wished they had gone to the bathroom and missed the deal completely. Most players are not going to be too obvious, but if you watch their eyes,
you should be able to get some read on what they are looking at. However, never forget that they can see your face too;
they will be looking for any tell that you have as to the cards you hold in your hand.
A distinct disadvantage that table play has that is not an issue with online play is idol chatter.
Some players talk out of nervousness, while others chat to distract their opponents from the action on the table.
It can be hard to shut out this constant noise, but the ability to do so could be the difference between winning your opponents money or them winning yours.
Being able to read your fellow players takes practice and time, both of which you will get a lot of the more you play poker online and at the tables.
Just remember that they are always watching you as well.
