Trying to keep your poker face while playing cards is harder than it seems. Especially when you’re trying to bluff your opponent or conceal a good hand, luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure you look like you’ve got it all under control. Here are some of the definitive top tips for the perfect poker face. Keep reading to learn all the information you need to get better at your poker face.
Control your expressions
The most important thing you can do to maintain a poker face is to keep your expressions in check. That means no matter what hand you’re dealt. You should keep your facial expressions neutral. If you show any emotion, your opponents will be able to read you like an open book.
To do this, you’ll need to practice controlling your expressions in everyday life. So the next time you’re feeling happy, try not to smile. Or, if you’re feeling frustrated, try not to furrow your brows. The more you can control your emotions, the better poker face you’ll have.
Another idea is to imagine a situation that would make you react emotionally and then try to keep your face neutral. For example, pretend as if you’ve just been dealt a great hand. Can you keep the excitement off your face? If not, keep practicing until you can. Your expression should be like a firewall, completely impenetrable.
Avoid fidgeting
Another dead giveaway that you’re nervous about or lying is if you start fidgeting. So, it’s important to try and keep still while you’re playing. If you can’t help but fidget, try to do it in a way that’s not too noticeable. For example, you could play with a bracelet or a ring. Just make sure you’re not fidgeting too much, or your opponents will know something is up.
To avoid this, try to keep your hands busy. For example, you could put them on your lap or on the table. Or you could hold a drink in one hand. Just make sure you’re not clutching it too tightly, or you’ll give away how nervous you are.
Practice
Of course, the best way to get better at anything is to practice. So, if you want to ace your poker face, try practicing in front of a mirror. This way, you can see what your face looks like when you’re trying to keep it neutral. You can also try practicing with friends. This way, you can get feedback on how well you’re doing.
When you play video poker, you may not need this skill as much. That’s because video poker is more like a slot game where your fate is decided by the random number generator. This is a computer program that simulates the odds of drawing a certain hand. So even if you have the best poker face in the world, it won’t do you any good. The best way to win at video poker is to learn the right strategy and play the perfect basic strategy.
Yet if you want to get better at poker in general, it’s important to have a good poker face. When it comes to practicing, try and play different games to get a feel for how people react to different situations. For example, in Texas Hold’em, people tend to get more emotional because there’s more on the line. So, this is a good game to practice with. You could even play video poker which is against a computer in order to give you a break and do something a little different. It’s still practice because you keep yourself engaged and focused, which is something that is always useful when you’re using your poker face.
Look for consistency
When you’re trying to read someone’s poker face, one of the things you should look for is consistency. This means that if someone’s face changes, it’s probably because they’re bluffing. So, if you see someone’s eyebrows raise or their cheeks flush, they’re probably trying to hide something.
Of course, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes people’s faces just naturally change when they’re bluffing. So, it’s important to pay attention to the whole person, not just their face. If you see someone’s body tense up or they start fidgeting, they’re probably bluffing.
Work on body language
Your poker face isn’t just about your face. It’s also about your body language. So, it’s important to be aware of what your body is doing. Are you slouching in your chair? Are you tapping your foot? Are you fidgeting with your chips? All of these things can give away how you’re feeling.
If you’re not sure what your body is doing, try recording yourself while you’re playing. This way, you can watch yourself back and see what you need to work on.