Becoming an Information Gatherer

In order to become an accurate, efficient profiler, realize that information is your greatest asset. Fortunately, poker players quickly grow accustomed to their adversaries studying and scrutinizing them. Inspection that people would consider rude in other venues - staring, and looking-over an opponent - is very normal in a poker room.

When I begin to evaluate an opponent, I start by noting anything obviously out of the ordinary. Whatever is the first thing that strikes me about a person is what I assess. If it is obvious, the person usually was aware of it when they left home. I ask myself, "What does that represent to that person?" If it is not initially obvious, I look for more information one-step at a time.

You will need to make mental notes of that which grabs your attention. Try not to assign immense significance to any one thing right away. Start out by looking for consistencies or inconsistencies in their outward appearance. Certainly, you will not often see anything as extreme as; a conservatively dressed 85-year-old woman sporting a nose ring, but other things may strike you as odd upon close observation.

It can be difficult to understand how knowing all the details about a person will affect their reaction in a certain poker hand, but in crucial spots, they rely on what they have experienced to help them make decisions.

A hard-bitten, Medal of Honor bearing combat veteran is likely to react differently than someone who just recently completed a parent-funded college education when they are making a decision for a good portion of money.

Of course, only some people you study will be at these extremes in backgrounds. You must be keen in your ability to piece together a little history about an opponent.

the details about a person

a person relates

the human experience