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Practice Deception in Poker

Great players have a saying. "I play the opponent's cards, not mine." Or "I put the opponent on a hand, and play against that hand." That's called "reading an opponent."

You can't afford to allow yourself to be read simply. The chumps make it easy. For example, in most small limit games, their idea of deception is to throw money aggressively in, "splashing it," as they say, when they're weak, and halfheartedly yet when they have monster hands.

For example, you were playing against one of the locals in Vegas, and he'd say, "one more heart and you're in trouble." So, Immediately you knew he didn't have a draw to a heart flush. If another heart came out and you got a rag, and couldn't win anyway, you should throw away your cards and say, "Kings up isn't going to beat that flush." And he'd arch his eyebrows as would every other local at the talbe. It was a joke, and the joke was on them.

In the smaller games, if a player drops in his chips with a wary gesture and says "I'm in this far, I might as well see another card," you'd be best advised to get out right then and there. He probably has a formed winning hand already.

If he splashes his chips aggressively, pros usually would recommend an immediate reraise. These guys are playing infant poker, and are as subtle as The Cat in the Hat.

However, in the bigger games against better players, it isn't that simple to figure out hands. Some of these players are professionals themselves, and have perfected various moves over the lifetime of their poker career. They try and set other players up for deceptive moves. If they've raised steadily only on strong hands, they may now change gears and slow play a big hand.

By slow play we mean not raise but limp in with the big hand. Fast play is aggressive raising poker, slow play is the opposite. It has nothing to do with how fast or slow the gambler plays his cards in terms of speed.

Or they may fast play mediocre hands with good drawing posibilities, something weaker players hardly ever do. These good players try and avoid "tells" against them, that is, moves that signal clearly what their cards are. Though they occasionally alter their play, a number of locals with professional aspirations usually play the same type of game, good enough to beat the tourists in Vegas casinos, but not good enough against really fine, strong players.

As for yourself, don't let your gestures give your hand away. Don't fall into predictable patterns against strong players in big games. Alter your moves.