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Reading Poker Tells: The Book

Reading Poker Tells book“10 out of 10. Clearly the best book ever written on this subject, and if you’re a live player who takes poker seriously, it should add to your win rate.   – Mason Malmuth, author, co-owner TwoPlusTwo Publishing

“Elwood has established himself as an authority on poker tells. His book is the current gold standard. This book earned its cover price tenfold for me the first day after reading it.”  – Ed Miller, pro player and poker book author

Read more reviews…

Purchase Reading Poker Tells

The Reading Poker Tells ebook is available below. It comes in a bundle of three ebook file formats: PDF, EPUB, and Kindle. I’m confident that you’ll get a lot of practical value from this book, because I’ve had so many players tell me that. For evidence of this, check out the Amazon reviews or some more reviews here.

Buy Reading Poker Tells ebook, $18

This package includes:
• Bundle of PDF, EPUB, and Kindle files: The ebook is yours, forever, with no digital rights restrictions. EPUB is the recommended format. If you have a Kindle, you can easily forward to your Kindle email address to get it in your Kindle library. I don’t sell the paperback on my site, but you can get it on Amazon.
• A free 10-minute video from my video series: “Physical hesitations when betting.”
• A discount on my second book, Verbal Poker Tells.

About the author

My name is Zachary Elwood. I’ve played poker seriously since 2003 and played as my main source of income for three of those years. I’m the author of three books on poker tells: Reading Poker Tells, Verbal Poker Tells, and Exploiting Poker Tells.

I’ve worked as a poker tells consultant for two World Series of Poker “November Niners” (i.e., WSOP Main Event final table players). I’ve written poker strategy articles for such publications as Bluff Magazine, PokerNews, and All-In Magazine. I’ve conducted live poker tells seminars in Las Vegas during the WSOP.

I also have a poker tells video training series called Reading Poker Tells Video.

About the book

Reading Poker Tells is 227 pages long in paperback format. If purchased on this page, it comes with a bundle of all popular ebook formats: PDF, EPUB, and Kindle formats. The ebook bundle has no digital rights management; the files are yours to use as you wish.

Here are just a few of the topics covered in Reading Poker Tells:

♠ The common poker tells shown by amateurs
♠ More subtle tells that experienced players may have
♠ Situations where tells are likely to be displayed
♠ Common verbal statements and their likely meanings
♠ A practical way to categorize and remember tells
♠ Methods of manipulation and deception
♠ How to recognize and avoid “angle-shooting”
♠ Strategies for becoming unreadable
♠ Other tips on poker psychology

Go to the bottom of this page for a complete Table of Contents of the book.

More reviews

“Reading Poker Tells is one of the most helpful poker books I’ve read.”
       – Andrew Brokos, professional poker player, co-host of Thinking Poker Podcast

“A fantastic introduction to [tells].”
       – Jared Tendler, author of The Mental Game of Poker, from this review

“Reading Poker Tells is far and away the best book on live reads. I recommend it to everyone.”
       – Max Steinberg, pro poker player

“The first refreshing look at live tells in poker since Caro. The hypothetical situations covered in the book prepare you for almost every conceivable situation in live poker where players give off information…a treasure trove of tells.”
       – Jonathan Aguiar, aka FatalError, pro poker player

“Anyone who is a fan of Caro’s book will find this 21st century update easier to read and understand, as well as far more useful.”
       – Paul “Vookenmeister” Gordon

Want to read more reviews? Click here. 

Table of Contents

Below is the complete table of contents for the book Reading Poker Tells:

  • Poker Tell Theory
    The importance of tells in poker • A system for interpreting tells
  • Tells
    General poker psychology • Waiting-For-Action Tells: Weakness • Looking at you • Grabbing chips defensively • Indicating a fold • Staring at bad board cards • Staring at weak hole cards • Defensive expressions and postures • Shuffling cardsd • Fake smiles • Exclamations about board cards • Waiting-For-Action Tells: Strength • Looking away from you • Looking disappointed • Looking away from good cards • Pre-loading chips • Real smiles • Acting strangely early in a hand • Relaxes eyes • Glancing at chips • During-Action Tells • Bet-timing • Betting motions • Exaggerated betting actions • Announcing a bet • Making speeches • Shrugging and uncertainty • Looking at the dealer • Aggravated expression while betting • Betting in the dark • Trembling hands • Post-Bet Tells: Weakness • Stillness • Avoiding eye contact • Silence • Looking down after betting • Fake smiles • The little smile • Conciliatory actions • Staring at board cards • Threatening to flip a hand over • Talking you out of calling • Grabbing chips defensively • Getting fidgety • Hands near mouth • Post-Bet Tells: Strength • Looking at you • Looking away from you • Getting loose • Real smiles • Acting strangely • Looking irritated, worried, or fearful • Talking • Handling cards loosely • Acting ready to muck • General Verbal Tells • Disclaimers • Listening to players who are out of hand • Liars and truth-tellers • Expressing fears of a bigger hand • Complaining less
  • Deception and Manipulation
    Influencing play in multi-way pots • Acting like you’re going to bet • Acting like you’re going to call to prevent a bet • Acting like you’re going to call to induce a tell • Stalling before putting in a bet to get info • Showing your hand to gather info • Conversational probes • Lying about your hand in a friendly way • “Good bluff” • Image-building • False tells • Becoming unreadable
  • Appendices
    About me • Common criticisms of using tells • Tips for using tells

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a refund or money-back guarantee policy?

Yes! After you purchase Reading Poker Tells if you are, for any reason, dissatisfied with the book, simply reply to your receipt requesting a refund within 60 days of your purchase and I’ll refund you in full. I  want to help you improve your poker game and I stand behind every product I sell.

Buy now

Buy Reading Poker Tells ebook, $18

Poker tells videos. Click for info.

Purchase the book Verbal Poker Tells

Purchase the book Reading Poker Tells

Most popular blog posts

  • Poker tells in the movie Rounders
  • Analysis of Will Kassouf's speech play in WSOP Main Event
  • Poker tells at $1/$2 no-limit cash
  • Stretched lips facial expression when betting
  • Scott Seivers's verbal behavior in One Drop tournament
  • Verbal poker tell in EPT High-Roller tournament

Reviews/Testimonials

“Interestingly enough, your book has made me a better doctor. I work with many nonverbal children with developmental disorders who can't just tell you what they want and how they feel. Sometimes facial expressions and other forms of body language are all you have to work with.”
           - James Miles, M.D.
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-17T10:56:05-07:00
“Interestingly enough, your book has made me a better doctor. I work with many nonverbal children with developmental disorders who can't just tell you what they want and how they feel. Sometimes facial expressions and other forms of body language are all you have to work with.”            - James Miles, M.D.
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3292/

“Elwood has established himself as an authority on poker tells. His book is the current gold standard.”
           - Ed Miller, pro player, poker author

“As a serious tourney/cash game player, the lessons from Reading Poker Tells have improved my game exponentially.”
           - Cody Chandler, poker player
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-07T14:41:01-07:00
“Elwood has established himself as an authority on poker tells. His book is the current gold standard.”            - Ed Miller, pro player, poker author “As a serious tourney/cash game player, the lessons from Reading Poker Tells have improved my game exponentially.”            - Cody Chandler, poker player
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3063/

“Reading Poker Tells is far and away the best book on live tells. I recommend it to everyone.”
           - Max Steinberg, pro player

“I played live and saw tells popping up everywhere. I started to almost feel sorry for some people who were just so obvious.”
           - Brian Bell, poker player
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-07T14:40:38-07:00
“Reading Poker Tells is far and away the best book on live tells. I recommend it to everyone.”            - Max Steinberg, pro player “I played live and saw tells popping up everywhere. I started to almost feel sorry for some people who were just so obvious.”            - Brian Bell, poker player
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3062/

"What I loved about your book is the concept that everything is situation-dependent. Your classification of the situations was very valuable."
           - Amir Lehavot, pro player, 3rd place in 2013 WSOP ME

"Anyone who is a fan of Caro's book will find this 21st century update easier to read and understand, as well as far more useful."
           - Paul Gordon, semi-pro player
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-15T17:39:55-07:00
"What I loved about your book is the concept that everything is situation-dependent. Your classification of the situations was very valuable."            - Amir Lehavot, pro player, 3rd place in 2013 WSOP ME "Anyone who is a fan of Caro's book will find this 21st century update easier to read and understand, as well as far more useful."            - Paul Gordon, semi-pro player
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3232/

"I'm constantly impressed with how the info from your books has provided me value time and time again at the poker table. I started playing poker professionally last summer, and I can say that your books have easily added a solid $10/hour to my winrate, if not more. Thanks for all the hard work you've put into your material."
          - Dan Podheiser, poker player
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2017-05-10T19:07:04-07:00
"I'm constantly impressed with how the info from your books has provided me value time and time again at the poker table. I started playing poker professionally last summer, and I can say that your books have easily added a solid $10/hour to my winrate, if not more. Thanks for all the hard work you've put into your material."           - Dan Podheiser, poker player
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/4473/

“I took your book with me to the WSOP and it definitely helped my game. I found myself watching and exploiting other players even more than usual. I really like the organization and delivery of your book. Bravo.”
           - Tommy Angelo, poker pro and author
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-17T10:57:38-07:00
“I took your book with me to the WSOP and it definitely helped my game. I found myself watching and exploiting other players even more than usual. I really like the organization and delivery of your book. Bravo.”            - Tommy Angelo, poker pro and author
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3293/

“Reading Poker Tells is one of the most helpful poker books I’ve read.”
           - Andrew Brokos, poker pro, co-host of Thinking Poker Podcast

“I'm a fan of Mr. Caro. I think his book moved human understanding forward. But I think that this is likely to prove as big a step forward, or more so.”
           - Thomas Foster, poker player
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-15T17:40:38-07:00
“Reading Poker Tells is one of the most helpful poker books I’ve read.”            - Andrew Brokos, poker pro, co-host of Thinking Poker Podcast “I'm a fan of Mr. Caro. I think his book moved human understanding forward. But I think that this is likely to prove as big a step forward, or more so.”            - Thomas Foster, poker player
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3233/

“Elwood's Reading Poker Tells is clearly the best book on this aspect of live play.”
              - Mason Malmuth, poker author, co-owner of TwoPlusTwo

“Good info. I sincerely hope this book does not become popular.”
              - Kathy Liebert, poker pro
Reading Poker Tells - Poker Tells Training
2014-07-17T10:55:19-07:00
“Elwood's Reading Poker Tells is clearly the best book on this aspect of live play.”               - Mason Malmuth, poker author, co-owner of TwoPlusTwo “Good info. I sincerely hope this book does not become popular.”               - Kathy Liebert, poker pro
https://www.readingpokertells.com/testimonials/3291/
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    • Home
    • Products
      • Reading Poker Tells book
      • Verbal Poker Tells book
      • Exploiting Poker Tells book
      • Video series
      • Kindle ebooks
      • Poker Tells in $1-2 book
      • Poker tells consultation
      • Translations
    • Free course
    • Blog
    • Video series
    • Reviews/Press
    • Contact