Nobody can catch the body language of other players over the
Internet, but your opponents will interact with the site’s
software system in telling ways.
As you read these samples about pauses in internet poker games, think about the fundamental psychology of what they actually represent and start making a list of things and events to watch for.
Observe opponent’s common behaviors and compare them against their recent activities. If someone pauses before doing most actions, he can be playing at multiple poker games at the same time or perhaps just doing something else with his works or games in computer. As a matter of fact, if a slow player starts acting quickly, it can be because he has picked up a great hand and put aside his works for the moment. Dramatic behavior changes make an excellent online clue.
Pausing Post-Flop
When you play Omaha online or Hold ’Em against a player who always acts promptly (either betting or checking) in the initial betting position post-flop, be extremely cautious if you see his pause, especially if he pauses and then immediately checks. When many players flop a great hand, the natural tendency is to pause, read it over to be certain they see it properly (perhaps with a bit internal gloating too), and then act.
The real reason you see this take place more often in earliest position is because you never have sufficient time to react in the early position. In other spots, players have time to use or evaluate advance action buttons. Except, if your opponent has stopped to get a cup of ice cream out of the fridge, an unusual interruption is highly suspicious.
Pausing On Large Calls
A serious large calls pause is even scarier for everyone than an opponent who stops post-flop. If you encounter an opponent who stops until his action timer is nearly out, and then he does it once again in the same hand, you will be able to bet 9 times out of 10 that his current hand can clobber other callers – this is a reliable poker tell. What he seeks to do is make it appear like he has to make an awkward call, when, in fact, he gets an extremely potent hand. Players who stop and truly struggle with a decision on betting nearly always fold.