Poker face ... what are the techniques to developing a good poker face? My emotions display on my face, how?

Question

do I stop it?

Is there a technique to it?

I try to be very aware, but usually my eyes give things away?

Besides wearing sunglasses or regular eyeglasses with the reflective lenses, anyone got any suggestions?

Greatly appreciated, thank you!

Answer 1

Oh this requires practice and an inner detachment that you will have to cultivate so that you don't display shock on your face when something comes to you out of left field.

Go to law school. By the time you graduate, that "poker face" will come naturally whenever you need it to surface.

Answer 2

I don't play a lot on physical tells, i play more on how they play there hands and how much do they bet, and when they bet . But if you are worried about giving away a tell, just make sure that you do the same thing every time weather you have a big hand or not. I myself never look at my cards before it's my turn to act, there are two reasons for this, first is i want to see what the other players are doing and how they look if they are going to bet so i can get a feel for how strong they are, and the other reason is i don't want to give away that i have a big hand. When you finally do take a look and you have a big hand, never get excited or sit up in your seat, these are the kind of things pros look for. Chris ''jesus'' Ferguson is a prime example of how to act, he does the same thing and he takes the same time, no matter what kind of hand he has. Acting to quick or two slow can be a give away that you have a hand, you don't have to sit still like a rock, just do the same thing all the time and other players won't pick up to many tells.

Answer 3

Video tape yourself playing cards with two friends (preferably friends who do not play competitively) and another friend who is there to film you (but not to play).

Each round, show the camera what your hand is (so you remember) and have your friends scrutinize anything they would think of as tells, and talk to you during the hand about their impressions of your emotional state.

Afterwards, watch yourself as the camera watches you, for things like nervous ticks, a leg shaking, things you do with your eyes, etc. And pay attention to how you react to challenges, too.

While this stuff will help you get a poker face, I would do the same thing Jim Carrey did to get a non-poker face: he practiced in front of a mirror. Draw yourself 5 cards, look at yourself in the mirror, and then, with your face still visible in the mirror, hold your cards up and to the side so you can still get a look at how your face changes.

Becoming non-reactive is key; a good thing to tell yourself is, "I have a pair of 7's"-- a neutral hand that isn't good but has teeth if you draw a good dealer hand (in Texas Hold 'Em). Thinking that what you've got isn't great but a matter of risk management will help your poker face... Instead of being disappointed or elated, your face shows you working out, "How do I make this a winning hand?"

Answer 4

The reason for wearing glasses in most cases is to shade the eyes from other's view. The many muscles in the human face can reveal more than they would like. Even as subtle as your pupils can give away many details to someone who is trained in body language.

If you want to hide your signals learn how to mix up your signals on purpose. Throwing out false subtle signals is the best way to win at poker. But this comes from an extensive knowledge on how you put out signals.

What I did was video tape myself playing poker with a friend. I videotaped my face and my body. I showed every hand after each play so I could see what hands I was bluffing on and what hands I wasn’t easier. You could also check off hands but then your body would be moving.

I watched these tapes over and over, looking for signals. I then trained myself to not give off these signals. But you don’t really want to be an automaton.

Once you know how you show your signals and then control them, you can fake out others but dropping subtle false signals.


Heres a few of my tricks:


For the first few hands I will softly yet firmly bite down after looking at my cards. Like gnashing the teeth. This often denotes a bad hand, and I will do this on a few bad hands to make the table think I have this set signal.

I may lose a few hands but now they know when I gnash to bet heavier against me. When I get a great hand I can own it. They will fall for the same gnash a few times after that too.
You want to throw a steady multitude of subtle signals.

Slightly squint or raise an eyebrow on a few good hands and then sock it to them later with it. Shuffle your chips before placing a higher bet, or a rasie. Or slightly hesitate before placing a raise. This can show uncertainty…

Theres a TON of tricks… And Poker is not a card game it’s a psychological warfare game. =)

I hope that helps a little!

Answer 5

Pretend like you're acting in a movie. Your character is an awesome poker player and never reacts to anything. THAT is what you do. I am the worst player in the world but people ALWAYS talk about my poker face.

Answer 6

Conciously develop a face for 1) condition where you have a good hand and 2) condition where you have a bad hand.

Practice in the mirror ;)

You can more easily bluff if you use your "bad hand face" when you have good hand.

Answer 7

Get someone to hit your face with a shovel. Nobody will figure out what you are thinking.

To extreme?

Okay then get loads of botox injections

Or just use amazed expression no matter what hand you get. They will not be able to tell if you are for real or not.

Answer 8

no, u don't have to stop poker, just when you like to make a poker face think about a dead fish

Answer 9

Botox helps

Answer 10

BOTOX!! The only thing is, you'd be stuck like that for a while.