Poker Lessons: The Art of Deceiving
Poker is perhaps the only game throughout history that lying and deception are encouraged, except of course cheating. It's funny to think that when you lie and deceive in poker by using your skills, you're still considered an honest person. Win the game by deception and bluffing, you become a role model. You wouldn't see that anywhere.
The first lesson you need to practice deceit is to keep your desires hidden. This keeps your opponents off guard because one of the most readable tells you can display is the desires you show during the game.
Desires come in many forms. The usual ones are discussing weaker players. Try not to discuss anything in and off the poker table. Don't discuss weaknesses whatsoever because your opponents can turn this information against you. Your discussion of what you think is a weakness is a dead giveaway of your limitation.
Sometimes you want a faster betting pace. Sometimes you ask for players to bet faster by telling them. Avoid doing so. You can increase betting pace without saying it. What pros do when they want a faster betting pace is to complain about playing fast. By reverse psychology, players do what their opponents don't want to do.
When you want higher stakes, never suggest it unless it is certain. Quite subtly, you can increase your stakes as a means to give losers a break. But of course, that's only your hook, line and sinker. If you want more games, never express excitement to play but do organize them.
Another way to practice deceit is to conceal facts. Facts arouse suspicions that are unfavorable to you. For instance, when your opponents are playing poorly, never mention that they do after every game. In fact, praise them for their skills even. The bluffing doesn't stop even after the game anyway. When you're winning, don't remind your opponents about your winning. What you should do is to appear as negative and skeptical as you can be to a believable extent. Appear worried.
Another concealment of facts is to fold cards without excuses or further commentaries. Appear lose when you're tight, appear tight when you're lose. When you've employed a good strategy and it succeeds don't discuss it ever. When asked about what you've done that pulled that stunt, provide them with erroneous reasons. Don't brag in this situation.
Last but not the least way of practicing deceit is your method of lying. This stunt can give you dozens of strategies at your disposal. Appearances always deceive in a poker game, use that. Never show what goes inside you, always show something else. But show a lie that is so natural, opponents read it as true.