High Stakes Strategy Poker Forums

I'm trying to get better at getting reads on my opponents. I was hoping people could share an advanced and in depth explanation as to their processes for getting reads. Especially over a smallish sample size, and while multi tabling.

See what people showdown and try to figure out why you think they played the hand they showed the way they did.

Ya, just pay good attention to hands you're not in. Eventually, you'll get to see a showdown. When that happens, think back to what each player did on each street. For example, maybe timed out then checked turn on certain card etc etc. then use it in future hands against them. Also, remember that people will be doing the same for you, so use it against them. I won a big hand off some really stupid bluff I shouldn't have tried, but I showed the bluff and only a few hands later flopped top pair and the same guy I bluffed was willing to call me down with garbage, so use your reads concerning history between you and certain players.

Think about why people do the things they do...

also, small sample size and multi-tabling you should probably look for things that are just the 'in general' principles of poker. Like bet-sizing, timing tells, etc.

thanks guys for the responses. I'd like to take this a step further and ask.

I watch my opponent play a couple hands to the river. I see there cards. How do I turn this into a read. I am trying to guess there thought process but there are usually multiple explanations for every action.

What tips do you have for matching your guess with someones actually intentions. Or is this just a skill that I will have to learn that does not have a logical explanation.

thanks guys for the responses. I'd like to take this a step further and ask.

I watch my opponent play a couple hands to the river. I see there cards. How do I turn this into a read. I am trying to guess there thought process but there are usually multiple explanations for every action.

What tips do you have for matching your guess with someones actually intentions. Or is this just a skill that I will have to learn that does not have a logical explanation.

yeah I'd def be interested in this as well.

when i take reads I write down the hand then a summary and anything I can deduce from it like "ATo call btn open sb, T54ss cc, 6s cc, K cc (cc 2 streets TPTK, blf catch river vs.3barrel)" but yeah I really want to focus on why people do this rather than just what happened.

any good video series on this? i seem to remember someone saying DogIsHU having good content on how to get general poker reads.

When looking at hand histories i typically look for how they play strong and weak draws (ie passively or aggressively), how they value hands i.e do they stack off with one pair light or do they tank call when its an easy call, does the player make a hero call etc. specifically i look for hands that are played different from the norm.

Its also worth thinking about what a player doesnt do in a hand e.g. if a player doesnt raise this can tell you a lot more about there hand than what they did do.

Pokertracker can be really useful in terms of players frequencies for 2 and 3 barrelling and their propencity to fold to turn and river barrels. Also more obvious tight/loose passive/aggressive stats.
If they are loose passive eg 33/10 i generally value bet them relentlessly and give them big credit when they raise.

Finally if i have no other history on a player ill go to pokertableratings see if they are winning player and see how loose and aggressive they are - im not sure how these stats are compiled but if there is nothing else to go on i use this.

If a player has less than a full stack i generally believe them to be a weaker player until they show otherwise.