The Context Machine

Putting your opponent on a online poker hand is one of the most exciting aspects of online poker . It’s like magic-from recognizing subtle (and some not-so-subtle) signs, a good poker player can ascertain what cards his opponent is holding, sometimes down to the suit. Many people who are just starting out in poker see players like Daniel Negreanu read an opponent’s hand and think that they’ll never be able to do what he does. You may not be able to do it as well as Mr. Negreanu (few people can), but by picking up little signs here and there and allowing them to accumulate into a bigger picture, it’s possible for anybody to accurately read their opponents hands. One of these little signs is the speed with which your opponent places his bet. It’s a bit like reverse psychology-if your opponent bets quickly, it’s likely that he’s got a bad hand, but if he places his bet slowly, he’s probably got something pretty good. A quick bet is usually compensating for a bad hand, and it can also show a player’s anxiousness to see the next card to see if his hand improves. A slow bettor has little to worry about, so he can afford to take his time.