Fri, 02/25/2011 – 03:36 – PokerPages Staff

#5 – Change in betting pattern
You cannot see your opponents’ faces online but you can watch their deeds.  A sudden change in playing pattern is a good sign of weakness; someone who has been smoothly playing several tables simultaneously will send out a message if they suddenly stall.  The reverse is also true.  Something’s up.

#4 – Virtual Tilt
Forget about the more colorful pros you have seen on the net or on TV.  If a player is ranting and bullying online, he substituting words for intimidating looks – and telling you he is a bad player.  Some will rage about they’re geniuses being thwarted by rigged software – but then, a bad workman always blames his tools.  However, keep your cool – he is just told he is playing on tilt and will probably lose.  Big-time.

#3 – Bad Behavior Bragging
This is related to #4.  Anyone who seems proud of the fact their chat has been revoked is trying to say, “I’m the daddy.”  However, he is actually saying, “It doesn’t take much to get me on tilt.”  Try complementing the winning hand politely – the bad behavior bragger will likely go into meltdown.

#2 – The Einstein Syndrome
Anyone who wishes to impart his genius-level knowledge of the game to all and sundry is again trying to say one thing (“Bow before the Master”) but actually ends up saying something totally different – “I’m compensating for being an ignoramus.”  You can usually tell, because this gold-plated advice is usually revealed in moments as disastrously wrong.

#1 – Carping and Gloating
Copper-bottomed tells, these: players who whine endlessly about their online misfortunes to a bunch of virtual strangers who do not want to know are openly declaring their feebleness as players.  Equally, if a player has to brag after a win, the chances are that he is a weak-tight player (consistent winners just don’t need to boast).