The Trap And Poker Psychology
Author: Chris McElroy

Everyone who plays poker has heard of "having a poker face" or
being trapped. Having a poker face is more than just the look
on your face, it's all of your body language and actions
combined.

A good poker player is an observant poker player. You have to
learn to associate your opponents facial expressions, body
language, speech, and even the bet amounts with what they
eventually are revealed to have been holding in their hand.

Facial Expressions: With online poker, you of course cannot use
this. But in a real poker game you can. Start with the eyes.
When they call or raise a hand, do they look down, to the
right, to the left, at an object in the room? Then what did
they have when they did that?

Do they smile? Grind their teeth? Immediately take a sip of
their drink after or before the bet? Look for these things each
time they call or raise.

Body Language: Do they play with their poker chips under
certain circumstances? Lean back or forward? Look for things
they do with their body and then what kind of hand they had
each time they do that action.

Betting Amounts: Some poker players don't realize they have a
pattern at all or they figure no one will figure out the "code"
they use for themselves. Watch how much they bet, then what type
of hand they had and see if you can associate a particular hand
strength with a specific range of bet or even a specific raise
amount.

If you find a pattern where your opponent always does a
specific action in relation to having a good hand or bluffing,
you have their number and can beat them at poker easily . . .
or can you?

The Trap: You can establish a pattern that will be picked up by
the other players. Let it cause you to lose a little money here
and there. Let your poker opponents think they have your number
by doing specific actions associated with different hand
strengths.

Don't let it cost you too much money and watch for the signs
they are taking the bait and are using your patterns to beat
you.

Then you can spring the trap. Wait until you get a really good
hand, a sure winner and do the actions you had been doing when
bluffing or when you had a lower strength hand.

Your poker opponents will think they have you and bet the
limit. You'll win what you lost and a lot more.

Playing poker is a lot more than just knowing how to bet the
cards in your hand. There is a lot of psychology involved, mind
games, if you really want to play with the best.


About The Author: Chris McElroy made a living playing pool and
poker for years and still enjoys a game now and then. For more
information about online poker visit
http://www.starthereforpoker.com or
http://pokertipsandtools.blogspot.com