Tell
Any unintentional behaviour that reveals information about a player's hand: a glance at chips, a change in breathing, how quickly they act, or how they size a bet. Live tells are famous; timing and sizing tells exist online too.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tell in poker?
An involuntary habit or reaction that gives away information about a hand — a change in breathing, how chips are handled, how quickly a decision comes, or how a player talks when they are strong.
Are physical tells actually useful?
Less than films suggest. The reliable ones tend to be about tension and timing rather than facial expressions, and they vary by individual, so a tell is only useful once you have a baseline for that specific player. Online, timing and bet-sizing patterns replace them entirely.
What is the most valuable kind of tell?
Betting patterns. How a player sizes their bets, which streets they give up on, and what they do with marginal hands tells you far more than their hands or their eyes — and it is information they cannot stop giving you.