My new favorite understanding of poker -- the detective work (1 Viewer)

[valleychips]

I've been playing just under two years. I naturally started off with strong ranges and that alone was good enough at low stakes to book consistent wins. But as I do more research and watch more vloggers up to $2-$3 (the non-maniacs), I see that to really enhance win rate, a good player has to be a "detective": looking for behavioral clues, going over past history, deciphering action timelines, taking psychology into account, spotting visual evidence (tells), and including some degree of probability (e.g. "the husband/boyfriend is always the first suspect for a reason"). And heads up kind of feels like an interrogation in the box. Whether that's figuring out if you're ahead or behind, if the person is strong, or if they're weak and will crack, if they're lying or telling the truth. To be clear, I was doing these things to various extents anyway. But the new part of thinking of myself as a detective really encapsulates it all for me. It somehow strengthened everything.

It has made the game so much more fun for me, there's rarely a dull hand even when I'm not playing just because there's so much info out there in all hands.

Or, maybe I'm a lunatic. Wondering if anyone else thinks this way.

 

[Jers28]

If you’re a lunatic, you’re in the asylum and no one will notice. I love all those things and I’ve been playing for 25+ years. Never gets boring to me. I don’t understand the younger generation who watches their phones, plays side games, etc at the table. I am locked in on what’s going on, on the felt. I try to keep my yap shut for the most part so I don’t my cues.

 

[valleychips]

If you’re a lunatic, you’re in the asylum and no one will notice.

And it's a full moon so yes.

 

[thePokerClub]

I would say that you cannot fast track the learning of those things. A lot of what may pickup on are gut feeling tells that take time to 'recognize'.

A lot of times you may realize them without actively trying. Many many times I thought I had a read on someone....I was way off. Probably because I was just trying to convince myself of my abilities

 

[joeyshin]

Everything you mentioned is true but. The biggest indicators for me are bet sizing + position. These two things usually give me most of the information I need in a hand

 

[valleychips]

Everything you mentioned is true but. The biggest indicators for me are bet sizing + position. These two things usually give me most of the information I need in a hand

Bet sizing for sure. Single biggest indicator to me at these low stakes. I'm shocked at how few players even care about position though! Like it's a mere formality.

 

[thePokerClub]

Bet sizing for sure. Single biggest indicator to me at these low stakes. I'm shocked at how few players even care about position though! Like it's a mere formality.

As a primarily tournament player, position comes first in the list of considerations. Even before cards are dealt: my position, my stack size, my table image, my range.

Maybe it is like - internal factors first, external factors (other players) second.

 

[phenompoker]

One of the most egregious leaks and flaws I see today in live poker is.......cell phones. Look around at your next tournament, look at photos of any local live tournaments posted online in your area at casinos/card rooms. Players constantly on their phones, watching movies and not paying attention to what's happening at the table. That's not a tell in itself, but it certainly reduces them from being one of the most aware players in the room.

 

[ekricket]

You have to pay attention to the “conversation and tone” that is being held with the betting. Somebody bets $10, they are saying “I like this hand”. When someone raises, they are saying “yeah but I like my hand a lot better”. I find that by following these conversations, and the pauses and small things around them to be the most beneficial in figuring out where I am in a hand.

 

[dannyssteez]

Yup this is why I only play live, never a dull moment if you're paying attention, and so much information constantly being given and it's up to you to decipher it.

 

[ImaHalfwit]

The more you practice, the better you will get at seeing information in places you previously hadn't noticed. Good luck!

 

[theedegen]

I've been playing just under two years. I naturally started off with strong ranges and that alone was good enough at low stakes to book consistent wins. But as I do more research and watch more vloggers up to $2-$3 (the non-maniacs), I see that to really enhance win rate, a good player has to be a "detective": looking for behavioral clues, going over past history, deciphering action timelines, taking psychology into account, spotting visual evidence (tells), and including some degree of probability (e.g. "the husband/boyfriend is always the first suspect for a reason"). And heads up kind of feels like an interrogation in the box. Whether that's figuring out if you're ahead or behind, if the person is strong, or if they're weak and will crack, if they're lying or telling the truth. To be clear, I was doing these things to various extents anyway. But the new part of thinking of myself as a detective really encapsulates it all for me. It somehow strengthened everything.

It has made the game so much more fun for me, there's rarely a dull hand even when I'm not playing just because there's so much info out there in all hands.

Or, maybe I'm a lunatic. Wondering if anyone else thinks this way.

You need to understand that everything you do at the poker table, conveys information. You can't be all loosy goosy, eating a sandwich, or checking your phone.