Verbal tells are just as important

Re-printed courtesy of Joe Navarro and our content partner Ante Up Magazine.

How do you loosen up someone who is using techniques to hide tells, for example, the Navarro Perch? — Zorag, asked on the Ante Up PokerCast

The best way is to say things to them. To question them. Ask them what they have. “Are you going to hurt me if I call you?”

I think we miss a lot of opportunities by not challenging players. Just by asking them, “Is this going to hurt me? Do you want me to call?” Just to get them to react or talking about a subject that maybe arouses their interest in conversation. We know that when we lack confidence our voice has more hesitation and we even speak louder and have a higher pitch. Mike Matusow uses this quite a bit.

— Ex-FBI counterintelligence officer Joe Navarro of Tampa specialized in behavioral analysis for 25 years. He’s a star lecturer with the WSOP Academy. Email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

At Chicago Poker Club, we're big fans of studying verbal, betting, and physical tells.  We're also big fans of Joe Navarro.  In case you missed it, check out ChicagoJason's interview with Joe Navarro from last fall.

What tells have you observed?  Share with our community.