Texas Hold'em Poker Tells That Indicate a Drawing Hand

Success in Texas Hold'em poker relies heavily on your ability to gather information. Because you can't see the cards that other players hold, you have to deduce the strength of their hand through observing their behavior. Knowing which signs to look out for to spot a certain hand will help you make a runaway with the pot.

Poker tells that show that a player has a drawing hand is slightly more difficult to spot than those that show a strong or a bluffing hand. This is because the drawing hand is somewhat in the middle of the two, and depending on the board cards, will either push a player into a bluffing or playing strong.

Here are the more common Texas Hold'em poker tells that indicate that a player is holding a drawing hand.

1. Indecisiveness

If a player takes a long time before they make their bet, then they most probably have a hand that could somehow improve. This tell is especially obvious before the flop, as one will need to do a little computing on the odds that one's hand will improve.

The most common tell that show indecisiveness is holding a stack of chips that one intends to bet but not really placing it yet. If you see a player doing this, it is best that you scare them out into folding by raising. That is, if you have a good hand.

2. Looking at hole cards post-flop

This Texas Hold'em poker tell is most often seen in new poker players. This is because they are not used to memorizing their hole cards yet. A player with drawing hand will most probably check to see if that King they are holding is a club or a spade after the flop.

If you spot a player peeking at their cards again post-flop and then looking at the flop again, they most probably have a drawing hand. As what we previously said, that player could either become a bluffer or the player to beat. So it would be better to observe what their actions will be next, so you can adjust appropriately.

Always keep in mind that your aim in looking out for tells is not to know the exact cards a player has in hand, but to have a simple idea of the strength of their hand. If you suspect that a player has a drawing hand, try to make them fold before they have a chance to improve; or if the flop has already been dealt, adjust your strategy depending on that player's situation. By catching the right tells, you will surely run away with that precious pot.