There are a number of ways to tell when someone is bluffing when you are playing poker face to face. These are usually called 'tells' – signs or signals that someone unconsciously gives off when they are feeling confident, or bluffing.

The most common thing that casual players look at is the eyes of their opponent – the belief being that you can tell if someone is lying by making eye contact with them. This is not always the case, however – some people always seem uncomfortable with eye contact, and others – especially experienced liars, can keep a neutral expression at all times.

The same is true with very pronounced behaviours – if someone really seems to be sending incredibly obvious signals that their hand is weak, or strong, then it could mean the opposite. For example, someone trying to act intimidating may be bluffing, while someone who seems very disinterested in their hand, or is acting in a very timid manner, may be deliberately sending signs of weakness.

Reflexive Tells

The signs that are hardest to control are the more reflexive ones – for example, dilated pupils mean excitement. Shaking hands can indicate stress – although this is something some people can control. Rapid/deep breathing, however, is much harder to control, however – so watch your opponents chest to see if it starts moving more, or rapidly.

Also, watch their shoulders, and listen for changes in their voice. Hunched shoulders, and a dry throat, are both signs that people with a good hand frequently exhibit. Conversely, if someone seems very relaxed, however, then it is likely that they know they are out of the round, and are planning to fold.

If a player looks at their hole cards when the board is showing the possibility for, say, a 3 card flush, this could mean that they think they have a card that connects, but they only remember the suit. If they then glance at their chips, this often means that they do have a strong hand, and want to see how much they could bet.

If a player moves their hand to cover/touch their mouth as they are speaking, this can often mean that they are lying.

Once you have played with someone a few times, you may begin to notice patterns in their betting – try to remember these, and you will be able to combine them with body language signals to reliably read your opponent.

Remember that the more experienced the player, the more likely they are to give off false tells. The first thing you should try to judge is how experienced the player is. Study them as the game goes on, and don't get over-confident.