In past articles we addressed assessing opponents’ behavior by watching for anything that appeared non-normal (or, as Eye-gore said in Mel Brooks’ classic film Young Frankenstein, “Abby-Normal”). These non-normal actions then should raise suspicions in our mind about what this person is trying to hide or represent. Questions looking for an answer might be: “Are they trying to camouflage a strong hand?” or “Are they making a play for the pot with nothing?” It is here, in determining an answer to these and other questions that developing one’s people-reading skills come to the fore. Keep in mind poker is not a card game played with people, it is a people game played with cards.
As mentioned before, you should observe the other players to determine what normal and true behavior is for them. This is especially important when you are not in the hand yourself; it is then, when there is no playing pressure on you, that you can devote 100 percent of observational energies to the opposition. Once you have determined their normal playing style, your player radar can alert you to non-normal and/or suspicious behavior.
In referring to the list below keep in mind that by themselves, each of these behaviors could be a normal mannerism. If you observe two or more of these behaviors it is a good sign of a bluff attempt. This is why we must constantly evaluate what normal is for each player. Determining a baseline of normalcy gives our ‘spidey senses’ something upon which to gauge the veracity of the signals we receive. So here are the first four of the top eight suspicious behaviors that likely indicate a person is lying and/or bluffing:
1. Change in the pitch of their voice
Unless the opponent is a teenage boy right at the point of puberty, a vocal pitch change could indicate a tightening of the throat. Why would an opponent’s throat be tightening right at this very second? All our lives we have been admonished lying is bad, and yet in poker deception is considered an acceptable tactic. When our opponent verbalizes a lie when betting, raising and/or reraising (knowing he has nothing), many times their brain is unconsciously trying to choke off their lie before it hits the airwaves. Be very aware of this unconscious effect of your opponent attempting to tell a lie; they will then try to mask the tell with a cough, blame the food/gum/drink they just had or something. But the first unconscious cracking of the voice told you the story – they are running a bluff and now is a great time to punish their attempt at deception with a hammering reraise.
2. A change in the rate of speech
People who normally speak rapidly will tend to slow their speech down for fear of giving away information before their mind has had a chance to think out the word formations. (Mouth moving before brain is in gear.) Those who speak slower will find themselves rushing to get the lie out before anyone has had a chance to detect it. (Mouth has left the station before the brain is on board.) Again, here is where your determination of what is normal can present insights to the non-normal unconscious clues a person gives out. Be alert to the talkative ones; their rate of speech, cadence, even the words they choose to use (50-cent words or $5 words). Any digression from normal indicates something has changed for them. Now your decision is, what is it?
3. A sudden increase in verbal delaying sounds
When a person speaks truthfully, the words spoken have a close tie-in with what the subconscious brain knows is true. The speech pattern flows with smooth confidence. However, when attempting a lie, the brain is on relatively unfamiliar ground and therefore slows down to carefully pick and choose. Trouble is, the mouth is waiting eagerly for the brain to transmit the words it has to speak and, without sure guidance, has to come up with something. So you’ll hear the mouth say a sentence slowly with lots of “um” and “ah” sounds while the brain is attempting to catch up with a plausible story. It’s a dead give-away someone is trying to bamboozle someone else.
4. A change in eye contact
During interpersonal interaction normal eye contact with another human is approximately one-quarter to one-half of the time. If you find they do not make eye contact at all, or are now attempting a stare-down, your player radar should be on high beam. If someone makes a bet or call and is looking away at anything else but the action and/or the other players, they are trying to appear disinterested in the goings-on. Beware! They have a monster hand and are lying to the table – by the lack of eye contact – by their apparent disinterest. On the other hand someone who bets or raises, then stares at you daring you to call (or raise them back) and representing strength by the force of their gaze, even picking up a stack of chips acting like they’ll reraise you, is usually bluffing. Your attacking the pot will usually shut this ‘B-grade’ actor down then and there.
In the next article we’ll look at the next four suspicious behaviors and address some effective counter-measures to their lying, deceitful ways. In the meantime, keep thinking about poker!
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.
