It takes one to know one, as poker celebrity Michael Greco picks off an opponent indulging in some amateur dramatics
As an actor, I have the advantage of being able to spot someone at the poker table who is so eager to impress with their acting skills that even Robert De Niro might have to start looking for a new job.
In all walks of life, whether it be a barrister, policeman, footballer, even the Queen, we see people acting out their chosen profession on a stage.
It’s no different at a poker table. You’ve probably noticed it yourself – an opponent has the nuts and he’s putting on the performance of his life to convince you he has a bad hand. A shake of the head, continuous glances at his cards and the Academy Award-winning sigh he lets out when he’s trying to convey that he really doesn’t want to put all his chips in the middle, but that he has no choice and just hopes and prays he doesn’t get called.
Every now and then you may hear him say, ‘Oh, what the hell, let’s gamble. I’ve got to go home anyway.’ This kind of amateur dramatics is probably why I prefer live poker to internet poker.
Of course, most of the top pros are too good to go down that road but there are still tells you can pick up from even the strongest players. I was in a big Omaha cash game with a top pro, who shall remain nameless, and by reading his body language I knew he didn’t want me to call his bluff.
I held a strong starting hand – 9♦-10♦-K♣-A♣ – and, as I found out, my opponent had J♦-J♥-7♠-8♠. The pot preflop after I had come in for a raise was $200. The flop came down J♣-Q♥-4♦. Beautiful! I had a complete wrap and, more importantly, position. He checked. I bet the pot. He raised the pot and I just flatcalled. The reason I didn’t re-raise with my huge draw was that if the board paired on the turn I could get away from it relatively cheaply.
The pot was now $1,800, and the turn came down 8♥. BINGO! He checked, I bet the pot, and he called, taking the pot to $5,400. The river was a scare card, the 3♥, which made a backdoor flush. After about 10 seconds he moved his remaining $3,000 in the middle. My instincts were that he was definitely ‘at it’.
I stared at him. His shoulders were high and tense. His arms were locked tight. His neck muscles were slightly bulging. I felt he did not want a call. ‘Okay,’ I said, ‘you either have a set of Jacks or Queens. I don’t believe for a moment you have a flush.’ Then, just as he spoke, he made a huge swallow, ‘Well, if that’s what you think, you’d better call.’ So I did, and I was right – he had a set of Jacks.
So remember, next time you see me at the table, no dodgy De Niro impressions please. It might cost you…
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