Things You'll Need:
- A keen sense of observation
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Step 1
The most important thing you can do is to establish patterns. Most people have a "tell," which is an indicator that they might be bluffing. If you play poker with the same people over and over again, you will start to notice certain things they do when they are bluffing. Try to watch your opponents every round, so if it turns out to be a bluff, you can remember what visual clues might have been there.
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Step 2
That being said, there are various things to watch out for. People who are lying often touch their face a lot, be it nervously or otherwise. If your opponent is touching her face a lot, it may well be a sign that she is bluffing.
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Step 3
People with nothing to hide are often more expressive with their hands. If your opponent is holding his cards very close to his chest, or has his arms folded and his hands drawn inwards, that may be a sign that he is bluffing.
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Step 4
Some people are so worried about being caught in a lie that nervousness spreads throughout their body. You may notice a slight coloration in the cheeks, or a slight shaking of the hands, either of which can be a sign of a bluff.
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Step 5
People who look to the right (your left, if you are facing them) are often making things up and may be bluffing.
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Step 6
Understand some people are good liars and can lie without exhibiting any of these behaviors, or may exhibit all of these behaviors and still be telling the truth. There are no perfect methods to detect liars, which is why poker is not a solved game.
