In the last article addressed some body language clues indicating a person is lying. In poker, these could be signs someone is attempting to run a bluff. They were: change in the voice’s pitch, rate of speech, stalling sounds and eye contact.
Keep in mind these actions, and the next four detailed below, by themselves may be a normal behavior as part of someone’s normal mannerisms. Any one of these can and could occur by chance. This is why observing your opponents’ play – especially when not playing yourself – can give an idea of what normal behavior is for them. When observing something “Abby-normal” (see last article) your suspicions should be high. However, when two or more of these unconscious giveaways – or tells – are observed, there is a high probability of something going on.
When these tells are observed right at the point where a lie or bluff could be expedient for that player, your player radar should be focused and on high beam. Of course, if it is you that is running a bluff attempt and someone tries to engage you in some idle banter, it means they are suspicious of your actions and are attempting to get a read on you by what you say. The best counter-measure for this, of course, is to keep your mouth shut.
So let’s address the next four of the top eight indications someone is likely to be lying, or running a bluff:
Turning their body away from you
I believe it was the great Doyle Brunson who once said, “If you can’t take someone’s pulse from across the table, you’ll never make it big in poker.” What he means is, there are unconscious signs a person’s body makes when running a bluff. Included are gulping as the throat gets dry (from telling a lie), eye movement (or lack thereof), clenching of hands, arms or biceps (as the tension rises), faster breathing and/or holding ones breath and other bodily effects a person can’t control. To relieve themselves of this inner tension, the villains must move something, somewhere. They may shift in their seat or slightly turn away from you so to not be face-to-face while telling a lie. Training oneself to sit stock-still is one defense, but not entirely does that cover all tells. That’s why some players (often the ones observed on television) will wear hooded sweatshirts, turtlenecks or zip their clothes up high around their throats, wear sunglasses and pull their caps down low across their eyes. Anything to keep their opponent from taking their pulse from across the table.
Suddenly seeing the white at the top/bottom of their eyes
As the “eyes are the window to the soul” this is an indication the bluffer does not wish to make eye contact with you, as they are trying to lie, so they look anywhere but at you. And since the side-to-side glances will result in the “Snidely Whiplash” effect, the bluffer will look up and/or down, anywhere but at their opponent. When you see this, ask yourself, “Why don’t they want to make eye contact?” Read the last article for more about eye contact and lack thereof.
A hand reaching to cover part of the face, especially the mouth
This subconscious action is an attempt to hide the unconscious facial movements that can indicate a lie is being spoken. When someone is embarrassed, angry, surprised, hurt or feeling any other high emotion, such as trepidation over being caught in a lie, covering the mouth with one or both hands is a natural behavior. Just watch a sports figure blow the winning shot and they will cover their head in their hands. Observe someone lose something at the point they thought they would win and you’ll see the burying of their face in their hands. While not as dramatic as this, telling a lie is against the accepted precepts of normal behavior in society, so there is the possibility of the embarrassment of being caught. The bluffer is making an unconscious gasp with their mouth and to camouflage this, covers their mouth with their hand(s).
Nervous movement of feet or legs
At the poker tables, I have found myself occasionally sitting next to individuals who have an excess of nervous energy. Their leg(s) are constantly bouncing up and down at 250 rpm; I wish I could harness their leg to a treadle and capture some of that energy being expended. Then their leg movements suddenly stop just at the point where they made a large bet into the pot. Hmmm, why would they suddenly stop this normal action and remain as still as they can? The reason is, they are feeling a lot of tension (over telling a lie) and so, to be in command of all this excess energy, they quiet everything down so as not to give anything away. Trouble is, an observant opponent (you) has noticed their normal behavior (leg pumping away) and when they stopped this right at the point of a big bet, you can read this as them not wanting to be caught in a lie (bluff). A large reraise here by you should win you a monster pot.
Once more, any of these effects, by themselves, may be an effect of normal behavior. An observant player can determine the baseline behavior for their opponents and then be able to see when non-normal behavior is evidenced. Keep in mind some people are well-practiced at lying – used car salesmen and certain political figures immediately come to mind – but if you see behavioral changes and combined signals at times where lying could be expedient for the villain, you will have improved your B.S. detection and can act accordingly. All because you think about poker.
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Drew Chitiea is a semi-pro poker player living in Colorado. His tournament wins amount to over $500,000 with 4th place at a World Poker Tour event and a 2nd place at Binion’s World Poker Classic in Las Vegas, NV.
