Playing online poker is not the same as playing in person, as you cannot watch body language, which is a great advantage if you want to win. However, there are ways you can read the action of other poker players if you know what to look for in an online poker game.

The first thing you should pay attention to is how long it takes the person to place a bet. This is known as the stall. However, many experienced players are now using this method to try to fool other players. The best way for the stall method to work is that you must know the players in the room. After you play a room awhile, you will get to know the regulars and learn who is an expert. Once you know this, then the stall method will help you know which players are new. Inexperienced players often stall due to the fact they are not sure how much to bet even if they have a great hand. Just watch your step, remember pros are now using the same method to side track you.

Watch for players that have been playing rather quickly and then all of a sudden stall or vice versa one that has been thinking a bit before betting and then bets quickly after being dealt a hand. Either one of these could mean they have something good in their hand. No matter whether you are playing online or offline, you can learn behavior patterns of other poker players and get the edge.

The pattern of poker players is probably the most important factor with online poker. Since you cannot watch their faces, you can still watch the patterns that are there from betting, to calling, to raising. You should pay attention to the way in which each player bets compared to the size of the pot as well. Online players are normally those that play all the time, they have their own routine and patterns, just as in real life. These are things you must learn if you want to win at any online poker game.

Watch those chat boxes. Yes, it can be fun to chat with your friends; however, you can also be heckled just like in real life. A matter of fact, the chat box might be your worst enemy. They can yell at you with all capitals, use rolling smiley faces, and more to distract you from your main goal. You will hear all kinds of insults such as “newbie”, the “game room cheats”, and so on and so forth. Anything to get your mind off the game and watching the other players.

Of course, you cannot watch the other players in your poker room, but you can watch the way they play and learn from experience how to read online poker players.

Related posts:

  1. How to Win at Online Poker
  2. How to Win at Online Texas Hold ‘em Poker
  3. Online Poker Room
  4. Top Tips on How to Win Texas Hold ‘em Poker
  5. Poker Connects – Poker Players and Home Games in Philadelphia

28 Responses to “Reading Online Poker Players”

  1. synkronyk
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    yes, he is that stupid.

  2. pat0s11
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    nainqx do you never heared something like bluffing?

  3. silep
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    laak is actually one of the players who has won the most on the series lol. he just played incredibad the fifth season because of his tiny bankroll

  4. RapLiFeGsTyLE911
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    peats haircut like 13y.o. kid

  5. jparkfosho
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    he put peat on flush draw

  6. brotherman88
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    use code TILTPOKERBONUS at full tilt poker for a $600 sign up bonus on your first deposit.

  7. SwantonSexBomb
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Probably full of Amphetamines.

  8. driftersxoc
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Yeah he does, but folds because he thinks Peat has him beat

  9. nainqx
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    at 25:10 Doesn’t Baxter have a better hand?

  10. ndnow
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Dario can’t be that stupid can he? running it twice on 9% for over 100k how dumb ?? wtf was he thinking?

  11. Ace303232
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Spot on there, the guy is one of the most composed, complete poker players going around… oh and he is over 80!

  12. Geotpf
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Laak is better in tournaments. Plus, I think he couldn’t afford this one-looked like he pulled the last brick of money out of his safe at home-note how everybody was commenting on how old the bills were.

  13. snoopolion
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    wtf gsn…I wana see the other episodes as well…

  14. Erratikdj
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    pokerstars – his name is: Viffer

  15. tillshills
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    tony g has knocked him out beore.

  16. antibrdy
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    what site does peat play on??

  17. KRONOS707
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    who doesent?

  18. MultistarMedia
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    TOM DWAN IS A POKER GOD.

  19. MultistarMedia
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Hey it’s the classic merecat bluff

  20. STEVEN M
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    The only thing I have come up with is just to watch every move they make and make mental notes when they actually show their hands. If you really concetrate you can tell when most of them are bluffing. It takes time and patience just like in real life. Only difference is, you can't see their faces or tells.

  21. PW
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    good question

    but just a theory; its so different having chips you can physically touch, and virtual chips that are merely bytes (but represent real money)

    regarding your "brains" comment, and i'm again using a loose theory; computer players should be computer saavy and thus reasonably intelligent, as oppose to the old-timers and lively players at the live tables

    but obviously, a computer-based player will have alot to learn when he or she plays at a real live game

  22. Zippy
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    To become a good poker player… you need to be patient, wait for your hands… and make the move… over time and with practice you will learn to set traps for people when you get primo hands such as AAs or KKs… or when you hit the nuts…

    Example:

    Your Hand: Ad Kd

    Player 1# Kh Js

    Flop: 9d 10d Qd

    as we can see… you have flopped the best hand… a flush, and your opponent has a straight… what you need to do in this situation for maximum earning… you have to check… and let him bet… once he bets… just call… in till you get to the river… where you push all in to crush him…

    Come play for free at Full Tilt Poker… they got a lot of great games, and tournaments….

    http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/?key=MDAwMDkwRDgwMDAxRDAzQjIwQjAwMDYxMDAwMDAwMDA-

  23. Dylan
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    I would recommend that you try a poker staking website like part time poker instead of trying here because it's not what this sites for and I highly doubt that anyone here is going to stake you and if those are really your user ids than you should have no problem getting backed there.

    PS: Why do you play such lower stakes on Stars than Full Tilt

  24. jersey1122
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    It sounds like you're playing multi-table tournaments. This particular brand of poker has the biggest swings. Right now you're on a really big up swing, and no matter how good you are, there will be a down swing. Be prepared to get robbed on many, many, many, many all-in hands.

    You said two weeks, but how much have you actually been playing, i.e. how many hands(if cash games) or how many tournaments? Even if you have been playing around the clock, two weeks isn't enough time to determine if you're good enough to make it as a pro.

    My advice to you is to keep playing, read some books(Super System, Harrington on Hold 'em, or anything from 2+2 publishing), and see if you can maintain your success, but don't quit your day job. If multi-table tournaments are your thing, you may want to consider branching out into games with less variances like Single Table tournaments or cash games.

    Good luck.

  25. Darb D
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Yes, I play online poker. It is different than live games. In the live games you play the person. Online, you play the odds. During the last WSOP main event, Hevad Khan, who finished 14th, claims to play 40 tables online at once.

    I don't doubt there are some cheaters out there, not certainly not as widespread as your theory suggests.

  26. d_cassidy76
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    Millions of U.S. citizens play poker and gamble online every day and not a single one of them has ever been charged, fined or prosecuted.
    On September 30 2006, a new Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was passed. Does this change anything?
    The new bill does not make online poker illegal.
    The bill does not change existing gaming laws.
    The bill does not touch the players.

    You can play at: FULL TILT POKER, POKERSTARS, ABSOLUTE POKER, ULTIMATE BET ( I personally play online between 20 to 60hrs a week)

    Use EPASSEPORTE for your deposit.

    You might want take a look at this, and feel free to join it to defend your right: http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/

    Take care

  27. Darb D
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    How is this a Philosophy question?

  28. Darb D
    7:34 am on October 8th, 2009

    first off they are not cheating. let me pt this as easy as it can be,
    These guys found out they make more money playing 5 tables say at 2-4 no limit than they do at 2 tables of 5 10 no limit. yes they cant get the notes or tendencies that they would if they were playing one or two tables but they give up a little edge in order to make more money spread ot over all these tables. Also id like to add most players use a tracking sytem like pokeredge. these systems track other players and put up right onto your poker screen different numbers telling if they are loose or tight and various other patterns.
    It all comes down to poker being a game of making good decisions. THe more good decisions u make the more money u make, the more hands you are dealt the more decisions u have to make, its all very logical and is not cheating in any way shape or form.
    There are cheaters out there im not saying there arent ive seen them but usually they are too dumb to do it right and spend more energy cheating than what they would have to do playhing for real.

Leave a Reply: