Jittering
Sometimes you can induce a tell in your poker opponents. If you get raised and you’re looking for a sign as to what your opponent is doing, reach for your casino chips.
I was playing a home game, not poker online, with a group of friends and I had been raised half of my chip stack. The river was out and I had middle pair. Normally I would have folded, but I knew this guy, and he loves to steal pots, so I had a decision to make. As he sat there chatting away, I absently reached for my chips-not to call, just to shuffle them around as I considered my bet. When I reached for my chips, I saw him suddenly stop his conversation and pay attention to what I was doing. As soon as I saw him tense up, I called his raise. He turned over an Ace-high, doubling me up and teaching me an invaluable lesson.
If you’re not sure whether or not to call a raise, reach for your chips and look at your opponent’s reaction. If a player changes his position or otherwise tenses up as you reach for your chips, you can bet that he’s hoping you fold, and if he wants you to fold, it’ll be profitable for you to do otherwise.
