06.25
Hiding Tells
Do you ever obtain that itch? The itch to gamble, to head to the closest gambling den, to come across a good stakes casino game of Hold’em, to sit at a Blackjack table for hours on end. I really like that itch. And I like to scratch it.
I also love to watch men and women gamble. No 2 poker faces seem identical. When I wager I like to feel I put on a poker face that is impassable. Except I know I’ve certain mannerisms. For one, the only time I smoke cigarettes is when I play poker or Black jack. And then I chain smoke. Except I chain smoke whether I am winning or losing, whether I’ve a good hand or bad.
I once bet in a very weekly poker game. The casino game was often 5 card draw. There was a person who played with us each week who usually wore a hat. When he was given a great hand, unconsciously, he would begin touching and wagering with his hat. Pointless to say, he never won.
The very best poker gambler I ever saw was a guy who created far more movements and signals at a poker table than anyone I had ever seen. He was impressive in the way he dressed. Always an high-priced suit and tie, boots shined and nails manicured. He was fastidious in this manner. And he was often brushing his pants or holding his hands or putting his chips in tidy little piles.
I use to analyze him for hours on end. I would tried to see if I could spot his tell. Choosing fuzz off his vest- did this mean he was bluffing? Stacking his chips in a short pile – did this imply he had a good hand?
Many years later I bumped into him in a bar in New York and we had a drink. I asked him if he were aware of all those activities he created or if they had been subconscious. He informed me that just about every little thing he did at a poker table was intentional. He said that everyone is always checking out everyone else’s poker face. They are attempting to spot the the tell.
So his system was to give them lots to consider about. His thinking was if they have been pondering about him choosing a piece of fuzz off his vest and what it meant they positive were not pondering about their cards.
His technique was distraction. And it worked for him. By no means give up a method that works for you.