Reading Your Opponents: Real Life Applications
Being read like a book in poker is never fun. My first experience at truly having my pages turned was in a Venetian Deep Stack tournament. I survived 300 players and made it to the final two tables. I was getting short stacked. With the blinds and antes inching up, I knew I had to make a move – soon.
In middle position, I looked down at pocket 10s. Under the gun, I led out with a bet. One caller and a vocal big stack three bets. If I call, it’s for everything. A tough spot. Big decision. I had to do some serious thinking. Ended up, big stack did it for me.
With a surprisingly friendly, southern accent he says:
“Well, you can’t be happy with that move. You finally got a pocket pair, 10s MAYBE Jacks. Best hand you’ve seen for hours. You liked the call behind you. You hate my push. You have no fold equity, lousy position.”
If that commentary wasn’t enough, he took a long sip from his Bud Lite and added:
“You are the type of player that wants to have the best of it in, pre-flop for your tournament life. Right now you’re thinking you are either beat or at best in a race. Probably beat. It would be a bummer to whimper out now. Might as well hang on for a better hand, better position. Save us some time and grey hairs. Fold already.”
I did. So did the other guy. Maybe I should have been folding his laundry as well. The dude owned me. He knew my hand, playing strategy, and tournament goals. I think he knew my family tree and what I ate for dinner the night before.
I was pissed, in part because I had nowhere near his reading skills. Of course, that’s probably why he makes his living at the game and I’m a weekend warrior flying in from Texas for a few tourneys. The good news? This was a key moment for me. I was finally grasping the importance of a critical skill I was missing.
Successfully reading opponents = winning poker. Some players have almost a sixth sense (or sick sense) for the reads. It’s as if they know their opponents cards before they are dealt.
As a researcher, I decided to use my interview skills to figure out exactly what “it” is. If I couldn’t do “it” I could at least do research and draw some conclusions.
So, I talked to several pros known for their reading abilities. I learned a few points. For one, expert “readers” give different answers as to how their skill developed and how it unfolds. Some attribute their reads to practice—a refined skill, honed over time. Others say they had their reads from day one at the tables.
The “how to” descriptions also differed. Some attributed their reading to intuition. These players have a gut reaction of what others are holding and make their reads accordingly. It’s instinct—a decision made almost instantaneously.
Others describe a more calculated, logic-driven process. These players take mental notes. They accumulate facts. They keep track of what reads are and are not working and go with the best data available.
Where it gets really interesting is hearing more about what “reading” involves. Of course, hand strength is at the top of the list. But that’s just part of the equation, the tip of the iceberg. “It” goes much deeper. Expert players describe the process as “putting themselves in the shoes” of their opponents.
Those who are really able to read their opponents, envision how others would respond to different poker situations. It’s about switching seats, carefully attending to how someone else is likely to react, think and feel. If you genuinely know this much about your opponent, their hand strength is “second best” information.
With this new data, I realized I did know something about reading opponents. I just had to put on my psychologist’s hat, use a different language. In psychology, we have a term for this as well: Perspective Taking.
Like in poker, perspective taking is not easy to do. And it has serious value, if you can pull it off.
But here’s the deal and the irony: In poker “perspective taking” is used to distance yourself from your opponents, to help take their money. In life, “perspective taking” brings you closer to others, reduces conflicts, and increases shared winnings.
The truth is we need reading and perspective taking skills on and off the felt. Consider your skills in both areas. In life and poker, figuring out the strength of others’ hands is a decent starting point—but it won’t take you to the next level.
The real value is understanding others’ perspectives and communicating that viewpoint back to your opponent or partner.
It’s also about knowing how others are responding to your moves. That pays off.
Give it a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Poker and life have many parallels. But life, unlike poker, is a team sport.
Treat those on your team less like opponents.
Aaron Rochlen, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor in Counseling Psychology at the University of Texas. While not at work, in Vegas, or discovering new poker-life parallels, he spends time with his wife and two young children.
