How to Keep a Poker Face

The game of poker is not a game of luck. It is a game of skill. The ability to outsmart the other players, by getting them to hold 'em or fold 'em, when it is most advantageous for you, is key. It's vital, therefore, to not let other players know what kind of hand you have. A poker face keeps the other players guessing, and it lets you lead them into the actions you wish them to take.

Instructions

1. Keep your mind clear, grasshopper. Concentrate on serenity and your own breathing, rather than what you'll spend your winnings on or how to explain the losses to your spouse. Keep your mind clear, and your face will follow.

2. Try to separate your feelings from the poker game. Be detached emotionally, or the game will be almost impossible to remove from your face.

3. Keep your body as still as your face. A poker face is not just your facial expression. Do not give telltale signs of nervousness or doubt, such as foot or finger tapping, squirming or slumping. Resist scratching or other nervous habits.

4. Measure your eating and drinking, since how you eat can give away tips to other players. Eat and drink over the course of the game, not only when you are winning or losing.

5. Keep from revealing any emotion by wearing dark glasses, a hat that comes down over your eyes or other such camouflage. Grow a beard, if you can, to delineate the face and cover any inadvertent emotion.