Uncovered: The Most Common Online Poker Tells

Learning to spot and identify poker tells is essential for gathering information about your opponent's cards - but is by no means easy to do. Knowing what hand your opponent holds provides a considerable advantage and means you can make the best possible decision about what move to make. In a live game it's a lot simpler to keep an eye out for physical tells like trembling hands or nervous ticks; however spotting tells online is far trickier. But, friends, it’s not impossible. 

What is a Poker Tell?

A poker tell is an action that gives insight into the rank of your cards. Often it's unintentional, like a nervous tic or motion that is hard to hide. Most are subtle and take a keen eye to spot — especially when playing online.

Common Online Poker Tells 

Typing in the Chat Box 

The most obvious tells in online poker can come from the chat box. Every sentence typed can be a window into somebody’s cards or psychological state. A player who spams the chat for the whole game, and then suddenly goes quiet could be a sign they were dealt decent cards and have stopped typing so they can focus on the hand. 

It could also mean they have grown tired and are starting to lose concentration. People venting and complaining in the chat about a bad beat could be a sign they are about to go on tilt. A player on tilt is far more likely to make mistakes and is a prime target to play against because they are more likely to make irrational choices. 

The Avatar

Most online card rooms allow players to have an avatar or photo to personalize their account. It seems harmless enough, but it can give off a tell about what kind of player you are. What kind of picture a person uses to represent themselves online can provide valuable insight into their level of poker skills. For example, an avatar with a picture of someone’s family or pet can indicate a new player or a casual. Most regular players will not be keen to give others any information about themselves because it could be used against them in a hand. An avatar with a picture of a sports team, cars and motorbikes could be a sign the player likes sports and could be very competitive by nature. 

Betting Patterns

Betting is a huge tell in online poker; it can provide insight into your cards, your level of playing experience and your demeanor. As a general rule of thumb, especially when up against newer players, big bets mean good cards, small wagers mean weak cards. An overbet, which is a wager significantly higher than the current pot, can signify an amateur who is new to poker. Typically, overbets occur on the river and can indicate somebody is trying to scare everyone out of the pot. However, it can also happen when a player has a high ranked hand and is trying to make it look like a bluff to lure more callers in and chip up. 

Instant Calls 

Instant calls are always suspicious and generally done by a player who is overly eager to be in the hand. A player who calls or raises immediately, regardless of the current bet size, generally means they have good cards and can't contain their excitement. It could also mean a player is on tilt and doing it out of frustration rather than having a grander strategy planned. 

Tanking

When an opponent spends nearly all their allotted time before acting, it's known as tanking, and is a solid tell to look out for. Tanking can be a sign they were considering all the options before making a decision, which means they are probably drawing for a straight or flush. A tank check could mean a player is unsure about their hand and is hoping to see another card without risking more chips. Many online players also like to multi-screen and be involved in many games at once, so if one player keeps tanking, it might mean they are playing multiple games or performing other tasks at the same time, so their focus is divided. 

Buying in for Odd Amounts 

Everyone pays the same amount to buy into a tournament, but in a cash game, the rules will usually allow players to buy in for whatever they want within a specific range, such as $200 to $500. Most poker players will buy in with an even amount, so it's very odd when somebody enters a new game with an uneven amount like $201.20 or another strange amount. It might be their entire bankroll, meaning they are either desperate or close to tilt. It could also mean they are new to poker and unsure about how buying in works yet. 

A Few Final Points to Know About Online Poker Tells

Sadly there is no sure fire way to have a 100 per cent success rate with tells, especially online. People are unpredictable and often do weird and contradictory things when under pressure. Beginners are also incredibly hard to read because they often make odd plays. For example, they might only call with a full house rather than raise because they don't know it's a good hand, or go all in with 7, 2 for the same reason. 

For tells to be reliable, you will usually have to observe a player for a significant amount of time as well. Depending on how perceptive you are, it could take hours or even multiple playing sessions to get a good read on your opponents. There are also people who will attempt to lead you astray with false tells. 

Known as "poker actors," these players are mainly intermediate to advanced, and have enough knowledge and experience to give a credible performance. A good poker actor might start complaining in the chat, or asking questions about how much to bet, what a raise is, and other general statements to appear like a clueless beginner, when in reality they are extremely experienced at the tables.

Frequently Asked Questions: Online Poker Tells

1. What is a poker tell in online poker?
A poker tell is a subtle action or behavior that gives away information about a player’s hand. In online poker, tells can include betting patterns, chat box activity, and timing of decisions.

2. Are online poker tells as reliable as live poker tells?
Online poker tells are generally harder to spot and less reliable than live poker tells because physical behaviors (like trembling hands or facial expressions) are not visible. However, observing patterns such as bet sizing, timing, and chat box behavior can still provide valuable insights.

3. How can I spot a bluff in online poker?
Common indicators of a bluff include unusual betting patterns (like overbets), instant calls or raises, and sudden changes in chat box activity. However, it's important to analyze your opponent’s overall behavior for patterns rather than relying on a single action.

4. What are the most common online poker tells to watch for?
Some of the most common online poker tells include:

• Sudden silence in the chat box
• Instant calls or raises
• Buying in for odd amounts
• Tanking (taking a long time to act)
• Unusual betting patterns, such as overbets or inconsistent raises

5. Can experienced players fake online poker tells?
Yes, experienced players—often referred to as "poker actors"—can intentionally create false tells to mislead opponents. For example, they might pretend to be a beginner in the chat box or intentionally tank to appear uncertain about their hand.

6. How can I avoid giving off online poker tells myself?
To avoid giving off online poker tells:

• Maintain consistent betting patterns.
• Avoid using the chat box excessively.
• Take a reasonable amount of time for each decision.
• Buy in for even amounts in cash games.
• Stay calm and focused to avoid emotional reactions or tilt.

7. Is it worth studying online poker tells?
Absolutely! While online poker tells aren’t foolproof, identifying and interpreting them can give you a significant edge over less observant opponents. Over time, mastering tells will improve your decision-making and overall strategy.