You want to be in control of the situation and if you’re too stressed, you can lose that control. Hiding your reactions is power because no one knows what you’re thinking or what you’re about to do.
Excessive blinking can also show nervousness, so don’t go overboard. There’s a balance between blinking enough to keep from staring and keeping your eyes focused so they don’t flit around. Staring too hard can also cause your shoulders to bunch up and posture to suffer. Focusing too hard on one thing visually can also distract you and you may miss an important play.
Avoid showing your teeth. Whether it’s for a small grin or grimace, visible teeth means your mouth is moving and movement can give you away. Don’t grind your teeth. Your jaw will show the pressure your teeth are under.
Knuckle cracking Fingernail biting Tapping fingers Leg cracking Pulling on your collar or tie or shirt sleeves Rubbing your face, hands together, or arms[6] X Research source
Conceal any movement or tension that you have. For example, hold your fist under the table or press your knees together to redirect any tension to where no one can notice it. Don’t grip your cards too tightly or you’ll have white knuckles which will show.
One-word answers are acceptable, especially in high-stakes games like poker. You need to concentrate more on the game anyways rather than shooting the breeze with your opponents. If you’re playing a game with friends and there isn’t real money at stake, the atmosphere may be a little more relaxed so talking may more appropriate. Just watch yourself when examining your hand.
To distract yourself and keep from speaking, chew gum or keep snacks at the table. It helps to think about what you want to say before you speak. That way you can keep yourself from sounding excited or disappointed.
Bluffing is an important part of poker. For example, you can receive a bad hand and pretend like you just got a winning hand. If you’re consistently inconsistent with your reactions, no one will be able to guess your true reactions. This is much harder to do but can work in your favor.
