Reading Your Opponent

When playing poker, if you really want to master the game you will have to learn how to read people. Reading your opponent isn't as difficult as it may first sound. In fact, reading your opponent is fairly easy once you familiarize yourself with what various forms of body language convey. Finally, when you master the art of understanding body language, not only will you be ready to begin reading your opponent, but you will notice an increase in your winnings while at the table!

Reading your opponent is not like reading a close friend. You have time to get to know a close friend and familiarize yourself with their behaviors over the course of time. Conversely, in a poker game, you are extremely limited in time; at least in terms of how long you can get to know someone and their behaviors. Yet, it is still possible to master the art of reading your opponent. How? By watching how their body subtly conveys what they are thinking.

Body language can reveal quite a bit about your poker opponent. For example, if your opponent fails to make eye contact, they may be uncertain about the stability of their hand. Likewise, if you notice that their eyebrow begins to twitch, or the corners of their lips turn down slightly into a frown, you may find that your opponent isn't feeling secure with the hand that they hold. Ultimately, it may take a couple of hands before you can really figure out the silent language that your poker opponents' body speaks, but body language can be deciphered and can be an excellent tool for you to use while playing poker.

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