He's Bluffing - Clear Indicators of a Bluff
Many poker players want to know how you can tell if your opponent is bluffing. What are some clear indicators of a bluff? If that were easily answered, then the game would definitely not be the same. Unfortunately there is no clear indicator of a bluff. There are a lot of common indicators, but that doesn't mean they are always legitimate. A indicator for one player might be a false tell for another. For the most part, you just simply need the instincts to know when your opponent is bluffing. Everybody has their own poker tells and they are typically different among each player. Still, there are a handful of common indicators of a bluff and they are as follows.
The Tough Act
The tough act is very simple. Many times when players have weak cards and they are trying to pull off a bluff, they will act tough. They will try to scare you away from the pot. Sometimes they will get louder to sound intimidating. Other times, they will toss chips into the pot aggressively. It is quite common to see a player slam a stack of chips into the middle. Be careful though, because that is also a common characteristic for a strong hand of a player on tilt. Either way, when a player is bluffing he or she may try out the tough act to get a fold.
Facial Expressions
Believe it or not, it is not always hard to tell when a player is bluffing. Sometimes it is as easy as looking them right in the eyes. Sometimes you can see it right on their face that they do not want you to call. If you get that feeling and you see that they do not want you to call then you must raise. It doesn't matter what hand you are holding. This one is hard to explain, but you will know exactly what is being talked about next time you run into it.
The Eyes
Although many players wear sunglasses these days (which is a smart move), the eyes are a good indicator to tell you what a player has. It is not likely that the common person can look you in the eyes and lie to you. Some can. The better poker players will do this without hesitation. However, your average fish cannot. Ask your opponent if they have a strong hand. Look them in the eyes and see how they react.
Chips
Some players do not touch their chips when they are bluffing and vice versa. Pay close attention to your opponents when they are involved in hands. Some are very active no matter what. Others are active when they have a good hand but they do not touch their chips when they are weak. Then there is the complete opposite for other types of players.
For the most part, there is no way to tell for sure if someone is bluffing based off of a specific indicator. Some players are very good at acting while others are not. Some may give off the vibe that they are bluffing based off one of the above indicators. That does not mean they are bluffing. Someone with a strong hand could easily still approach the tough act. The point is, that you are on your own when it comes to figuring out if your opponent is bluffing. It is up to you to get the correct information about your opponents to put them on a hand.
Each player has his or her own clear indicators of a bluff. It is a player by player basis. You will have to study each player you are playing against and figure out how each of them bluff. It might not pay off for a long time, but eventually it will pay off in dividends.