Poker concept

What is Tell in Poker? Definition & Examples

Here's a clear definition with real-hand context, plus how it connects to the rest of your strategy.

Quick answer

Tell — A behavior that gives away information about a hand.

In more detail

Live tells: trembling hands often = strong hand, eye contact = strength, reaching for chips out of turn = often weak. Online tells live in timing and bet sizing.

Common questions

What does Tell mean in poker?

Live tells: trembling hands often = strong hand, eye contact = strength, reaching for chips out of turn = often weak. Online tells live in timing and bet sizing.

Related terms

Action

Your turn to act, or the overall betting activity in a hand.

Bad Beat

Losing a hand where you were a heavy statistical favorite.

Board

The community cards dealt face-up in the middle of the table.

Cooler

A hand where two players have very strong holdings — unavoidable losses happen.

New to poker? Start with our preflop strategy guide and the free TAG cheatsheet.