Reading cards

[Cross]

So whats up with the bullshit about reading cards during poker?

[Anthony]

[Black Dynamite]

the card below me will be the Ace of hearts.

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[Matt]

i've done it a few times, where i accurately guessed the person's hole cards by their betting patterns through the night (and from playing w/ them often) and their position. i definitely can't do it consistently.......though i wish i could.

i've HEARD that some pros were reading cards with exceptional accuracy in exhibitions. i haven't seen it, though, so it might be a load of crap.

[ojay]

i've done it a few times, where i accurately guessed the person's hole cards by their betting patterns through the night (and from playing w/ them often) and their position. i definitely can't do it consistently.......though i wish i could.

i've HEARD that some pros were reading cards with exceptional accuracy in exhibitions. i haven't seen it, though, so it might be a load of crap.

Anyone ever take a probability class? Taking one myself, I wouldn't doubt that some of those card sharks can figure out the likelyhood of what everyone else has holding (or rather, what they can't have), based on what's visibile and burned.

Combined with that, the good ol' body language, the timing and amount of bets, the confidence of chip movement, etc.

Not surprisingly, many amateur players think they're unreadable...

[Fool]

It's never too late to learn.

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[Matt]

Anyone ever take a probability class? Taking one myself, I wouldn't doubt that some of those card sharks can figure out the likelyhood of what everyone else has holding (or rather, what they can't have), based on what's visibile and burned.

Combined with that, the good ol' body language, the timing and amount of bets, the confidence of chip movement, etc.

Not surprisingly, many amateur players think they're unreadable...

stuff like that's probably more applicable in blackjack, where people try to count cards. in hold 'em, you're seeing seven cards out of 52 on any given hand. of course, if you'v got two aces in the hole and two are on the boards, you can make some safe assumptions

stuff like body language can be easily manipulated, as most people will act strong when weak and vice versa. personally, i pay most attention to position, preflop betting, and bets after the flop. and that only seems to work with people who've studied the game. when noobs come in and start betting randomly, that's when it's tough to read.

[realistic]

stuff like body language can be easily manipulated, as most people will act strong when weak and vice versa.

Which is why, as Mike Caro says, the first thing you should decide is whether or not your opponent is acting. If he's acting, then his hand is the opposite of what he's projecting. And if he's not acting, then just go by what he's projecting.

The More You Know.

[ojay]

Anyone ever take a probability class? Taking one myself, I wouldn't doubt that some of those card sharks can figure out the likelyhood of what everyone else has holding (or rather, what they can't have), based on what's visibile and burned.

Combined with that, the good ol' body language, the timing and amount of bets, the confidence of chip movement, etc.

Not surprisingly, many amateur players think they're unreadable...

stuff like that's probably more applicable in blackjack, where people try to count cards. in hold 'em, you're seeing seven cards out of 52 on any given hand. of course, if you'v got two aces in the hole and two are on the boards, you can make some safe assumptions

stuff like body language can be easily manipulated, as most people will act strong when weak and vice versa. personally, i pay most attention to position, preflop betting, and bets after the flop. and that only seems to work with people who've studied the game. when noobs come in and start betting randomly, that's when it's tough to read.

Oh yeah no doubt. A couple of math geeks and I read/watched almost everything we can get our paws on for beating the house in blackjack, as it does have better odds than most other casino games.

But naturally I wouldn't be surprised at all if someone could calculate probabilities on the fly in hold 'em. Sure you only see 7 cards, but you can even take into consideration of assuming what others have (like folded hold cards before the flop = garbage) and what the player did in previous hands, etc.

And amen to noobs playing. I CAN'T STAND IT, as much fun as it seems beforehand to rob them of their money. I love poker, so many variables in the cards and people, but those noobs just ruin the rhythm and feel of the game.