It’s no hidden secret that human beings often resort to lying to benefit themselves. This occurs in all facets of life, especially when the stakes are high as they often are in a heated round of poker. We’ve all been the subject of some degree of deceit in one form or another. Luckily, research indicates that you can greatly decrease your odds of being fooled, by seeking out various non-verbal cues.
Body language plays a huge role in how we communicate with others, and many of our movements are beyond our own control. By becoming familiar with these signs, you can protect yourself against even the most practiced proponents of deception, and learn to see through even the best poker faces.
Take note of hand-to-mouth gestures:
Watch your opponent’s hands, especially if they should rise above the card table. When a person is being untruthful, they tend to bring their fingers up to their mouth. While this may seem like an obvious sign, it can range in the level of subtlety with which it is executed. Those of us with children might have seen your own kids covering their mouths during or after telling a lie.
This is a normal human reaction and extends to adults, although your opponents will likely be much more causal. While men and women both succumb to this habit, women often do so in a softer manner, just slightly brushing their face with their fingertips to avoid smearing their makeup. All these signs is valid even when you play situs slot deposit pulsa online with other players so need to hold back once you master this.
Watch out for nose touchers:
While the hand-to-mouth gesture is often seen in the general public, more experienced liars will skillfully avoid such movements. They often can’t completely escape their unconscious reactions however, and will instead brush or tap their nose. This is not to be confused with the type of nose tapping that might occur when someone is considering their options or making a decision. The nose touching that accompanies a lie will generally not be as obvious and may only happen for a split second.
Look at their Thumbs:
For those skillful opponents who seem to keep their hands constantly attached to their cards, the placement of their thumbs may be where you need to look. Our thumbs can say a lot about our intentions. A dishonest individual will usually have their thumbs pointing outward as a subconscious show of dominance and power. Check to see if they nervously tap their cards or rub them with their thumbs. This could mean that they are withholding something big.
Pay close attention to nervous movements:
While it would look odd to remain motionless in most situations, a person who is attempting to fool you will tend to give themselves away by making small nervous movements. This tip is especially useful in poker as there tends to be less overall body movement than in normal social situations. Even the most experienced liars often give themselves away with what Allan Pease (author of the research-based book, Body Language,) describes as “micro gestures.” These subtle physical cues include tiny movements of the facial muscles and eyes. Be keen on a poker face with even the slightest furrow of the brow or twitch of the nose. This could mean your opponent is working a bit too hard to mask their emotions.
Observe any touching of the hair or facial hair:
Sometimes when people are hiding something they will subconsciously display self-grooming behaviors. A woman may reach up and coil a lock of hair around their finger, or casually brush their hand down their hair. Men may also touch their hair, but it’s also possible that they will stroke their mustache or scratch their beards.
Study the rate of their blinking. Players who seem to otherwise be incomplete physical control may just blink their way into being caught. Be wary of individuals who blink more often than necessary; while there is the possibility that this is due to environmental causes, such as allergies or smoke, it can also be an expression of foolery. Now that you know what signs to look for, you can detect a liar’s fraudulent acts before your own losses become their gains. Just try not to be overly suspicious. You may come across as dubious yourself!
