We have all watched poker tournament television and seen some players make reads on their opponents that might have some of us wondering if they were indeed psychic. Two players will bet down to the river card and one will muck his hand with a comment that his opponent must be holding two specific cards and sure enough those are the exact two cards that the other player has. To many viewers it may almost seem supernatural but in essence it is one of the skills that separate the great players from their competition. Reading your opponents hand is one of the key skills that must be developed in order for a player to succeed in the higher limit games and tournaments.
A Vital Skill
Reading your opponents to determine what cards they are holding is part science and part art or psychology.
It is not an easy skill to learn, if it was everyone would be doing it and the games would be a lot harder to beat. It takes hard work and patience to develop your reading skill. It also involves paying attention during the game even when you are not actively involved in a hand. Reading the Board
One of the first skills that a Hold