It's no secret that a good poker face is a must-have for any serious player. Not only does it help you keep your opponents guessing, but it also helps you stay focused on the game and avoid giving away any information about your hand. But how do you keep a poker face? In this guide, we'll show you the steps you need to take to master the art of keeping a poker face.
Master The Art Of Keeping A Poker Face
1. Practice mindfulness
Pay attention to your breathing and focus on staying relaxed, calm and centered. This will help you avoid physical reactions that may give away your hand.
Mindfulness exercises, such as meditation or yoga, can also help you develop better control over your thoughts and emotions.
2. Grounding your emotions
Put the focus on the feeling of how your feet are touching the floor and feel the feelings of your legs. This will help ground your emotions so you are less reactive at the table.
3. Relax the muscles in your face (Resting B Face)
This is easier said than done, for some anyways, but you almost want to have no muscles contracting in your face and just let your entire face go. Like it's almost drooping down and you look dead in the face. It's ugly but it works.
4. Constant focus
You can give away tells even when you're not in the hand and at your most relaxed. This is how other players might establish the baseline of your poker face.
5. Video Yourself While Playing Online
You need to pretend as if others can see you. But this is a decent way of getting started. Obviously, you will feel less pressure than when people are looking at you. OR you can setup a cash game with your friends and you can ask them if it would be okay to tape your face while you play.
6. Avoid muscle tics
Be aware of any physical reactions you might have when you have a good or bad hand, such as tapping your foot or biting your lip, and work to avoid these actions.
7. Control your breathing
Take slow, deep breaths to calm yourself and avoid giving away any nervous energy.
8. Use physical cues
Some players find it helpful to adopt specific physical cues, such as keeping their eyes down or their hands in a particular position, to help them avoid giving away their hand.
9. Focus on your body language
Pay attention to your body language, such as your posture and the expression on your face, and work to maintain a neutral, calm appearance.
10. Keep a neutral expression
Avoid making any facial expressions that might give away your hand, such as smiling or frowning.
11. Practice regularly
Keeping a poker face takes practice, so make sure to regularly play games and work on developing your poker face.
By following these steps, you can improve your ability to keep a poker face and become a more successful player.
Conclusion
Keeping a poker face is an essential skill for any serious player. With the right techniques, you can learn to keep a poker face and increase your chances of winning. By understanding the basics of body language, practicing controlling your emotions, working on your facial expressions, learning to disguise your tells, and staying focused on the game, you can master the art of keeping a poker face and take your game to the next level.
