The same ten tells from the cheatsheet — now with the full reasoning. Each card has its reliability score, the read, the exploit, and the situations where the pattern reverses.
No. 01
⚡
Instant check
Almost always the pre-action 'Check/Fold' button. Most common from the big blind with a trash hand. Also seen post-flop from multi-tablers who didn't connect and are speed-running their tables.
Use it
Bet out in position after an instant check — they fold most of the time. Ragged flops are especially good. As a reverse, use Check (not Check/Fold) with a big hand and let them fall into the same pattern.
When it lies
Tricky regs sometimes use it as a reverse tell — instant-checking trip 6s to induce a bet. Rare, but possible.
No. 02
💣
All-in overbet on the river
Overbet shoves to a river are rarely bluffs at micro and low stakes. Classic pattern: opponent rivers a full house when a flush completes and shoves, hoping you call thinking it's desperation.
Use it
Don't call without the nuts or near-nuts. At showdown the overbettor wins 80–90% of the time. Use sparingly yourself as a polarized bluff vs. tough opponents.
When it lies
Tough regs will balance this — but you have to actually know they're tough. Default to fold.
No. 03
🪤
Min-check-raise
The minimum check-raise narrows their range to two extremes — almost never the middle. At low stakes it tilts heavily toward strong. They want you to call cheaply and pay off later streets.
Use it
Call wide with medium-strength hands; see the turn. If they check-raise min then check the turn, the bluff frequency goes up — barrel.
When it lies
Some thinking players use it specifically against perceived c-bets. Read the player.
No. 04
🎣
Donk bet (leading the flop)
Out-of-position lead into the preflop raiser usually means a marginal made hand or a weak draw. Real strength check-raises. Real bluffs check-call and float.
Use it
Raise these. Most fold. Of those that call, you have position and information for the rest of the hand.
When it lies
Observant opponents will turn this against you. Watch for the lead-flop check-raise-turn line.
No. 05
😤
Tilt rant in chat
Chat-box anger is the most reliable tell online. They are not in control. They are going to play the next ten hands like the last one owes them money.
Use it
Play your strong hands fast. Don't slowplay against tilt — value-bet huge, they pay. If you delivered the bad beat, even better. They'll target you specifically.
When it lies
Some players fake-tilt to induce action. Less common at low stakes.
No. 06
🐟
Posting blinds early (late position)
At low stakes a few extra bucks isn't strong evidence of weakness. Worth noting, not worth pricing decisions on.
Use it
If you can steal their blinds after they post early, do — they look loose to the rest of the table. Don't size up decisions on this alone.
When it lies
Some regs post-early to disguise normal tight play. Don't over-read.
No. 07
💸
Posting blinds early (odd buy-in)
Buy-in amount with cents = whatever was left in the cashier. Posting blinds out of order on top of that = desperate to play and stack quickly.
Use it
Pressure them in position. They'll play fast trying to double up — let them shove into your value hands.
When it lies
Rare, but the read is genuinely reliable when present.
No. 08
📞
Habitual limp-caller
This is the most common bad-player pattern online. They want to see flops cheap, refuse to fold any pair, and only get aggressive when they have it.
Use it
Isolate with larger raises. Value-bet relentlessly. NEVER bluff — they call down with second pair.
When it lies
None really. Just keep value-betting.
No. 09
🎭
Long delay → big bet
Break from baseline timing followed by a big bet/raise = almost always real. The performer wants you to think they're agonizing. They aren't — they're stacking.
Use it
Shy away from delayed big bets unless your hand is genuinely strong. Use the same pattern as your own reverse bluff against opponents who know the tell.
When it lies
Multi-tablers are slow by default — calibrate against their baseline, not the clock.
No. 10
🔒
Check-raise on the river
Because they have it. Outside of high-stakes tough games, the river check-raise is the strongest signal in online poker. Bluff frequency is near zero.
Use it
Fold unless you can beat trips on a paired board or hold the actual nuts. Hero-calls here are tuition.
When it lies
At nosebleed stakes against known thinking regs, the bluff frequency goes up. Below that — fold.
