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Cannabis Edibles for Sleep: A How-To Guide

There’s no question that we need sleep and a good amount of it. Sleep is an extremely important part of our lives, and any minor change in its pattern can disrupt our day-to-day activities. Something else you may not know is that cannabis or marijuana is one of many substances that can aid in sleep and rest.

If you’re looking for a natural remedy for sleep instead of medications and other external support, cannabis edibles can be a good idea. They are gentle, effective, and don’t have a ton of side effects. Today, we’re delving into the science behind cannabis edibles’ impact on sleep patterns. So join us on this installation of cannabis edibles for sleep.

Cannabis and Sleep: How On Earth Do They Relate?

Cannabis and sleep are closely related, as you probably know, but the relationship between the two is much more complex than you would expect. This relationship also depends on a number of factors, such as the specific type of cannabinoid used, the dosage, when you’re taking it, and other factors.

Let’s take a look at how cannabis and sleep can relate to each other:

1. Inducing Sleep

Several scientific studies have concluded that cannabis edibles induce sleep. The results showed that it helped participants to fall asleep, and it also helped induce uninterrupted and deep sleep.

This happens due to certain THC levels in the cannabis strain present in the edible you’re taking. High THC levels have sedative-like effects on the body, causing people to fall asleep faster and into a deeper rest. Effects often depend on user tolerance. Taking higher THC edibles often leads to a hangover effect the next morning for beginners or occasional users, but for those with tolerance, a daily dose of delta 9 thc gummies 50mg can contribute to an improved quality of sleep. Also, it helps to reduce anxiety and stress throughout the next day.

Higher than usual THC consumption for both novice and expert users can result in increased hunger, dry mouth, and the signature post-high glee the next day.

Some strains, such as Indica in particular, are often associated with relaxation and can help you sleep without the added drowsiness and grogginess the next day.

2. Sleep Onset and Duration

As briefly mentioned above, taking cannabis edibles to sleep might reduce the time it usually takes to fall asleep, known as sleep onset latency. Falling asleep quickly is beneficial if it keeps every other stage in your sleep constant, but taking cannabis edibles to sleep has been shown to reduce REM time (rapid eye movement) and impact the balance of these stages.

REM is important in your sleep because this phase initiates dreams and the depth of sleep. In general, the longer the REM cycle is, the better you’ll sleep, but if you take cannabis edibles, that won’t happen.

3. Relief from Pain and Discomfort

Experiencing any form of pain, be it major or minor, can disturb your sleep. If you’re able to reduce the pain or aches, you’ll obviously sleep better, and that’s where cannabis edibles come into play and can help you out.

Cannabis, especially strains with higher CBD content, are effective in relieving pain, inflammation, and discomfort that might otherwise impact your quality of sleep. When pain is well-managed, it will be easier to fall asleep, and the quality of sleep obtained will be improved.

4. Anxiety and Stress Reduction

One of the greatest benefits of cannabis is that it helps reduce anxiety and stress. If you know how stress and anxiety can affect sleep, then you probably would do anything to alleviate the problem. Cannabis edibles can help you manage that for sure.

5. User Tolerance

People react differently to cannabis, and with edibles, the variability in sleep quality will also differ. What helps one person sleep better might have the opposite effect on another, keeping them awake all night. Dosage, tolerance, and individual biology play significant roles in how cannabis edibles affect sleep.

How To Use Cannabis Edibles for Sleeping

Using cannabis edibles for sleep can be an effective way to deal with your sleep problems. But it’s important you approach it responsibly and carefully to prevent any potential negative effects or accidental overconsumption.

Here’s a how-to guide on how to use cannabis edibles for sleeping:

1. Check Those Laws

First things first, you need to make sure you can use cannabis edibles before you use them. Make sure that the use of cannabis is legal where you live, and get them from a legal and reputable source.

2. Talk To A Doctor

Before you start popping those cannabis edibles, talk to your doctor about any underlying medical conditions you might have or if you’re taking any medications so that you’re not risking your health unknowingly.

3. Choose The Right Edible

Select edibles with balanced CBD and THC levels. CBD will help with relaxation, and THC will help induce that sleep you’ve been wanting forever. Make sure you research the impact of the CBD and THC levels on your edible, especially if you’re a beginner.

4. Start With Low Doses

If you’re new to cannabis edibles or have not used them for sleep-related reasons before, start with a low dose at first. Observe for 2 hours to assess the effects before going in with another dose. Also, consult professionals before you start multiple-dosing for sure.

5. Timing Is Everything

Take the edible 1-2 hours before bedtime since this allows enough time for the carbinoids to work their magic and settle you into a good sleep. It is also recommended not to eat or drink anything after the edibles, especially caffeine or alcohol. Those might impact the effectiveness of the edible in helping you sleep..

6. A Sleep-Friendly Environment

Create a nice, relaxing, and calm environment for sleeping. Turn off screen time at least an hour before you hit the bed, dim the lights, and make your bed super comfy and cozy. Then, lie back and let the edibles take their course and work their magic.

7. Patience Is Paramount

Be patient because relief is not going to be an instant experience. The cannabis edible will take some time before it starts inducing sleep. It may also take some time to find the right product and dosage before you experience the full benefits.

The Not-So-Great Things About Using Cannabis Edibles for Sleeping

While many people find cannabis edibles beneficial for sleeping, there might be bumps on the road for some.

Check out these 5 potential drawbacks to using cannabis edibles for your sleep.

  1. Reduced REM Sleep: Cannabis, especially high THC levels, can suppress REM sleep, which is important for renewing energy and dreaming. Long-time use might lead to a disruption of sleep quality overall. It’s important to monitor the changes and note any negative impacts when you start taking edibles for sleeping.
  2. Next-Day Grogginess: Depending on when it was taken and how much edible you used, you can feel groggy and super tired the next day. You might be less alert or be unable to concentrate on work or school as well. It can feel like a hangover, which will impact your lifestyle.
  3. Dependence: Regular use of cannabis edibles to sleep can cause you to become dependent on the drug. This can create a cycle where you won’t be able to sleep without it, creating a harmful dependence or addiction in extreme cases.

FAQs

1. What Form of Cannabis Is The Best For Sleep?

Ans: It really depends on the user. If you’re somebody who’s already consuming or smoking cannabis, you might be fine with any form. But for those who are beginners, you might like flavored gummies, tinctures that are concentrated liquid cannabis, or cannabis-infused tea to brew before bedtime.

2. Do Edibles Affect Your Skin?

Ans: There has not been any concrete evidence that consuming cannabis edibles has any negative impact on the skin.

Conclusion

It’s very important to exercise caution before you consider taking cannabis edibles for sleep. Talk to others who have done it, look at reviews of the products you want to buy, and read the user experiences thoroughly.

Reach out to professionals online or at the dispensary to find out more and do your own research. Be sure to observe and monitor your own experiences when taking the edible, and share your journey with friends and family who might be interested in trying them as well.

Remember that taking edibles alone won’t get you the best sleep ever, You have to tweak and change your lifestyle to further contribute to a healthy sleep quality.

6 Best Movies With the Best Cinematography to Watch on Television

Cinematography is one of the most important factors for the success of any movie. Movies with good cinematography captivate you and take you on a rollercoaster of emotions to show you why we all love cinema. 

The list of movies with outstanding cinematography is endless. However, here are some of the best movies that deserve a lot of praise. They’re also perfect for watching on your TV with their amazing effects.

Movies With the Best Cinematography on Television

I don’t prefer watching movies with top-notch cinematography on my phone or laptop. Trust me, the whole effect gets ruined! Instead, I use a Firestick with my television to watch movies on the (slightly) big screen.

The only drawback I’ve to face sometimes with the device is buffering, as it requires high-speed Internet.

Hence, watching movies with high-definition video or vivid cinematography on it can get a little annoying. When I watch such movies, I often use a few methods to stop buffering on FireStick like clearing App cache & restarting modem for a seamless experience. I recommend you do the same with whichever streaming device you own and enjoy the below-mentioned movies!

  • Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s latest hit, is a total masterpiece. From the cinematography to the acting, everything is on point. 

It’s about the extraordinary life of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb. An event that has changed our world for good. It’s a 3-hour movie but the story is so engaging that you won’t even feel the time passing. 

This film’s cinematography, great story, and brilliant acting managed to convey the darkness of that era and how it has reshaped our world. 

Christopher Nolan did not use any CGI in this film, which is astonishing considering that the movie includes the explosion of an atomic bomb.

Although they did not have an actual nuclear device on set, they did a great job showing us the magnitude and horror that comes along with an atomic bomb. 

  • There Will Be Blood 

There Will Be Blood is a classic American movie that withstood the test of time and is still considered a masterpiece today. The movie is about ruthless Daniel Plainview and his quest for wealth in oil-rich California. It talks about capitalism, religion, and industriousness. 

The way the camera captures the vast, sweeping landscapes of the American West is truly breathtaking. They used long camera shots and fewer cuts to make you feel the tension of the scenes and their intensity. 

The movie won the Oscar for Best Cinematography back in 2008. It was even nominated for Best Picture. 

I cannot miss talking about the outstanding performance of Daniel Day-Lewis, who managed to walk away with an Oscar for Best Actor that year.

  • Interstellar 

Any list of best cinematography movies must include Interstellar. It’s another Christopher Nolan movie that will take you to distant galaxies and remind you of why exactly we love cinema. 

Christopher Nolan always prefers using practical effects over CGI and VFX. He didn’t use any green screen in the whole movie. To make the characters look out of the spacecraft and see celestial bodies on set, they used digital projections of planets, wormholes, and black holes outside the spacecraft’s windows.

This movie is also based on real science and theories. Scientists praised the movie for its scientific accuracy. 

Moreover, the first image of the black hole which was released in 2019 was very similar to the black hole that was created in the movie.

  • The Revenant 

The Revenant is based on the true life events of Hugh Glass and his journey to survive after a brutal bear attack. 

The cinematography and philosophy of storytelling in the film are brilliant. The movie is successful at keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety. The filmmakers captured the environment and the cruelty of nature and managed to keep the tension throughout the movie. 

The dialogue in this film is very less but it focused on cinematography and conveying the harshness of the events to the audience. But even the less dialogue was outstanding that every sentence could be used as a separate quote. 

Leonardo DiCaprio won his first-ever Oscar for Best Actor after his top-notch performance in this movie. 

  • Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 uses both practical lighting and CGI to create jaw-dropping environments that you have never seen before.  

It is a sequel to the first Blade Runner movie that came out in 1982. The original Blade Runner was a turning point in the world of visual effects, and Blade Runner 2049 follows its lead. 

The cinematography, camera movement, and utilization of usual effects truly gave us an exceptional experience. The movie won 2 well-deserved Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.

  • 1917

How about a movie that appears to be taken as a single shot? 1917 is actually composed of numerous shots but they are added together in a way to look as if the entire movie was taken in a single shot. 

The one-shot technique added a lot of complexity to the movie and its cinematography, but it was necessary. It supported the idea that the movie was trying to convey, connected the audience with the characters, and made it a lot different than any other war movie we’ve seen. 

The cinematography of this film was exceptional regardless of the complexity. With a limited range of camera movement to use the one-shot technique, the movie well-informed us about the geography, history, and even the weather of the events. It also properly conveyed the horrors of the war to the audience.

Final Thoughts 

Movies with good cinematography give us unforgettable scenes that stick in our memories forever. 

From the stunning visuals to the myriad of emotions, cinematography keeps us eager for more magic!

Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter Shares New Song ‘I Will Be With You Always’

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Having retired the Lingua Ignota moniker, Kristin Hayter has released a new song as Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter. ‘I Will Be With You Always’ follows last month’s ‘All of My Friends Are Going to Hell’, and it will appear on her new album SAVED! – out October 20 via Perpetual Flames Ministries. Check it out below.

Hayter has also announced her first performance under the new moniker, which will take place on January 25 at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. “I cannot express how wildly grateful I am to have the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall for my first performance as the Rev, it doesn’t seem real,” Hayter said in a statement. “I will be playing a piano that the world’s greatest pianists have played, and giving my voice to a room where the world’s greatest vocalists and personal idols of mine have sung. What a privilege and honor it is for me to be added to the unending energy of that room.”

Troye Sivan Shares Video for New Single ‘Got Me Started’

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Troye Sivan has released a new single called ‘Got Me Started’. It’s the second preview of his upcoming LP Something to Give Each Other, following July’s ‘Rush’. Produced by Ian Kirkpatrick, the track was co-written with Kirkpatrick, Leland, Tayla Parx, and Kaelyn Behr. It samples ‘Shooting Stars’ by the Australian electronic duo Bag Raiders. Check it out via the accompanying video below.

“When we were writing this song, I was emphatic about using ‘Shooting Stars’ — I just kept humming it in the studio,” Sivan explained in a statement. “It’s a huge sample and was a big ask; and I knew that they had never approved it in the past. So I’m over the moon about the opportunity to sample that track because this song is iconic to me. And then we have Ian Kirkpatrick on production, who is a genius. I love his work – he had this plan to record the vocal at a slower speed and then speed it up, and ultimately that’s what you hear in the chorus. I instantly loved the way it sounded.”

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Sivan said:

It was one of the first songs that we wrote for the album and it just stuck around. [Bag Raiders] were like, ‘By the way, we’ve had hundreds of requests and we’ve never said, ‘Yeah, so don’t fuck this up.’ And I was like, ‘I promise you, I’m going to make a video. It’s going to be sick.’ Like, I really believe in this. And I also, I think it’s tacky when people sample something like out of term, you know what I mean? And I really, really, really didn’t want to do that. And I wouldn’t be doing this if I felt like that’s what I was doing.”

It was something that came in the studio naturally,” Sivan continued. “I started seeing the sample laughing because I was like, there’s no way that they’re ever going to let me do this. So while we were in the studio, I texted my A&R from Australia. And obviously because we’re all Australians, it was like within 20 minutes he had reached them and I get this text with the stem in my phone. I’ll never forget the moment I like play and it just came out so clean completely like solo. And I was like, oh my God. And we put it in and it worked.

Something to Give Each Other is due out October 13 via Capitol / EMI Australia.

Sufjan Stevens Reveals Guillain-Barré Syndrome Diagnosis

Sufjan Stevens has revealed he was hospitalized last month due to complications from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks nerve cells. “Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk,” he wrote on a post on his website. “My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility.”

The singer-songwriter added that he was transferred to acute rehab on September 8, and is currently undergoing “intensive physical therapy/occupational therapy, strength building etc. to get [his] body back in shape and to learn to walk again.” He also said the medical situation is one reason he has not been doing press in promotion of his upcoming album, Javelin, which is out October 6. Read his full statement below.

Hi Friends. Quick update on my life. I’m very excited about having new music to share, but I just wanted to let you know that one of the reasons why I haven’t been able to participate in the press and promotion leading up to the release of Javelin is bc I am in the hospital. Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk. My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility. My brother drove me to the ER and after a series of tests—MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), echo-cardiograms, etc.—the neurologists diagnosed me with an auto immune disorder called Guillian-Barre Syndrome. Luckily there’s treatment for this — they administer immuno-hemoglobin infusions for five days and pray that the disease doesn’t spread to the lungs, heart and brain. Very scary, but it worked. I spent about two weeks in Med/Surg, stuck in a bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilize my condition. I owe them my life.

On September 8, I was transferred to acute rehab, where I am now undergoing intensive physical therapy/occupational therapy, strength building etc. to get my body back in shape and to learn to walk again. It’s a slow process, but they say I will “recover,” it just takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work. Most people who have GBS learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I am hopeful. I’m only in my second week of rehab but it is going really well and I am working really hard to get back on my feet. I’m committed to getting better, I’m in good spirits, and I’m surrounded by a really great team. I want to be well!

I’ll keep you posted as I progress. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. And a huge shout out to all the incredible caretakers of the world working night and day to help us heal. They are living saints.

Be well, be joyful, stay sane, stay safe. I love you.

yours truly from a wheelchair XOXOXO Sufjan Stevens

 

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Lowertown Leave Dirty Hit, Announce New EP ‘Skin of My Teeth’

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Lowertown have announced a new EP, Skin of My Teeth, their first independent release since leaving Dirty Hit – the label that signed them as teenagers in 2018. It’s out October 27, and its first single, ‘Bline’, is out today. Check it out below, along with their upcoming tour dates in support of Wednesday.

In a press release, the band’s Olivia Osby described ‘Bline’ as “a song about insecurity, rejection, and old baggage inspired by my experiences of first moving to New York and London when I was 18-20 years old.”

Of the new EP, Osby said: “This is our first project we’ve released independently since our first album, and that feels like a new chapter opening up. Things are gonna be just a little bit different with how we approach music—this is the first time in our lives where we feel a little bit settled-in and self-assured. As musicians, and just in life generally. We feel like we don’t have to prove ourselves as much.”

Lowertown released their debut studio LP, I Love to Lie, last year. Read our inspirations interview around the album, and revisit our Artist Spotlight feature with the band.

Skin of My Teeth EP Cover Artwork:

Skin of My Teeth EP Tracklist:

1. Bline
2. Root Canal
3. Obscurity
4. Marionette

Lowertown 2023 Tour Dates:

Sep 20 – NYC @ Baby’s All Right
Sep 21 – Boston @ Rockwood Music Hall
Sep 22 – New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
Oct 20 – Rotterdam, NL @ Left of the Dial Festival
Oct 21 – Rotterdam, NL @ Left of the Dial Festival
Oct 25 – Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere *
Oct 28 – London, UK @ Mirrors Festival
Oct 29 – Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
Oct 30 – Bristol, UK @ Strange Brew
Nov 1 – Cologne, DE – Bumann & Sohn *
Nov 2 – Zurich, – Bogen F *
Nov3 – Luxembourg – Rotondes *
Nov5 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds *
Nov6 – Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall *
Nov7 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand *
Nov10 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club *

* supporting Wednesday

boygenius Share New Video for ‘Cool About It’

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boygenius have shared a new music video for ‘Cool About It’, a track from Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus’ debut album the record. The animated visual was created by Lauren Tsai. Watch it below.

“‘Cool About It’ is a beautifully melancholic and piercing song that puts words to feelings often unexplained,” Tsai said in a press statement. “It is an absolute dream to collaborate with the genius that is Boygenius. I made animated videos on YouTube when I was 11 and I cannot imagine something I’d lose my mind over more if I could go back in time and tell myself. I will always be grateful to the band for the many ways in which their work has affected my life.”

Bleachers Return With New Single ‘Modern Girl’

Jack Antonoff’s band, Bleachers, are back with a new single called ‘Modern Girl’, out now via their new label home of Dirty Hit. It’s the first taste of a forthcoming album, which will follow 2021’s Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night. Check out a video for the track, directed by Alex Lockett, below.

Last month, Bleachers released Live at Radio City Music Hall, a 21-track live album recorded on July 26, 2022 during their sold-out headline show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Dragon’s Dogma II Will Capitalise on the Cult Following of its Predecessor

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Dragon’s Dogma is one of the best-kept secrets in gaming. The game was released in 2012 as what looked to be yet another fantasy RPG with an open world. However, while it received superb reviews out of the gate, Capcom’s first foray into the genre simply didn’t sell very well. At the time, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was still riding high as the pinnacle of fantasy RPGs, and was still releasing DLC.

Over the years, though, people have been able to come back and check out Dragon’s Dogma, getting it more cheaply than at launch and inspired by the countless ‘Top 10 RPGs’ articles dotted around the internet. Helped by an expanded version, Dark Arisen, released between 2016 and 2019 to consoles and computers, what was a sales count of 6.8 million units in mid-2022 is now at 7.7 million, according to the publisher’s sales data sheet.

That’s an incredible haul for a game that launched to relatively low sales over a decade ago, clearly spurred by good word-of-mouth and retrospective appreciation. Soon, Dragon’s Dogma II will arrive, and when it does, Capcom can expect its RPG to hit a far higher sales mark from the get-go than it did as an original IP.

Dragon’s Dogma II knows what’s made the original so popular

Like many new entries into the fantasy RPG genre of the age, Dragon’s Dogma didn’t get everything right. The opening is fairly slow, generic, and quite unhelpful, but get past that, and you open up a crazy, quirky, and engaging world with incredible game mechanics. Chief among these is the Pawn system, which is your AI-controlled party members who help in battles and have their own personalities.

In the upcoming sequel, Pawns will remain a crucial part of the gameplay, but now, you’ll also have a fully customisable Main Pawn and two Support Pawns – who borrow from Main Pawns that other players have created. It’ll still be a single-player game, but with greater technology in play, the AI characters will feel much more real – as will the monsters. There’ll also be a new race to consider when making your characters.

The Beastren are humanoids with features of big cats, like snow leopards and tigers, and look to play a significant part in the game’s story and setting. What will remain somewhat familiar is the launching point of the story. Once again, your heart will be stolen by a mighty dragon. However, you won’t be enjoying your time in a quaint seaside town. This time around, you’ll need to break out of prison to commence your revenge quest.

The people demand dragons!

Dragon’s Dogma II, expected to arrive sometime in 2024, is building hype at precisely the right time – when dragons are right at the front of entertainment again. Despite how its predecessor concluded, the HBO show House of the Dragon dazzled viewers and critics while being very heavy on the fabled scaly beasts. Plus, Season 2 is reportedly unhindered by the strikes in the US, so it will likely be on screens in 2024.

Along with huge entertainment events like the return of House of the Dragon, the creatures remain popular draws in just about every corner of pop culture. It’s why plenty of movies have drawn them in and why so many are the main characters in games at the best-paying online casino. As a rule, slots that offer an RTP over 95 percent are the preference, and titles like Dragon’s Fire, Dragon’s Keep, Dragons Awakening, and Dragon’s Breath available at LeoVegas tick this box.

In the home of Dragon’s Dogma, dragons have again been key to the immersion, grandeur, and success of what might just go down as the best game of 2023. Baldur’s Gate III is so varied in each playthrough, technically superb, and as close as you’ll get to a digital game of Dungeons and Dragons that it’s bound to land a boat-load of awards, which will partially be spurred on by the awesomeness of the dragons in the setting.

More news on Dragon’s Dogma II likely isn’t far away following the trailer and expanded presentation shown so far. If it does stick the landing in 2024 – preferably early 2024 – it’s bound to be a big seller.

Poker Tells: How to Use Them to Your Advantage

Poker has successfully transitioned from the smoky saloon back rooms of the American frontier and dimly lit casinos into a cultural phenomenon that resonates with a diverse range of audiences. Occupying an enviable position in mainstream society, a place that chess has recently begun encroaching upon, there are millions of regular players that are on the constant lookout for ways to improve their game.

And with poker being the rich and complex game that it is, there’s no shortage of information available to help Friday night hobbyists become formidable tournament opponents. At the heart of poker’s enduring appeal lies the concept of tells.

These subtle, often involuntary cues provide invaluable insights into an opponent’s hand, and their intentions. Whether it’s a nervous tic, a change in posture or a flicker of excitement in the eyes, mastering the art of reading these non-verbal signals can be the key to success in the game.

Types of Poker Tells

  • Verbal Tells – Verbal expressions can betray a player’s emotions or intentions. Listen for changes in tone, speech patterns or choice of words. For instance, a shaky voice when raising a bet may reveal nervousness. Similarly overconfidence might suggest a bluff.
  • Facial Expressions – The face often reveals the most telling signs no matter how hard we try to conceal them. Watch for microexpressions, raised eyebrows or twitching lips, especially as a player sees their hand for the first time. A player might involuntarily smile when they have a strong hand or furrow their brows when bluffing.
  • Body Language – A player’s posture and movements can offer critical insights. Leaning forward may indicate confidence, while fidgeting might signify anxiety. Rapid tapping of fingers or feet can be a sign of impatience or nervousness. Try to build up a mental rolodex of each of your opponent’s movements.
  • Eye Movements – The eyes are the windows to the soul, as they say. Prolonged or intense eye contact can be a sign of strength, while avoiding eye contact may indicate deception.
  • Betting Patterns – Pay attention to how much and how frequently a player bets. Sudden changes in betting behavior, like an abrupt increase in bets or a hesitation to call, can be indicative of a hand’s strength. Betting patterns have enormous currency especially in the world of online poker, where the majority of players now play.

Obviously, physical tells are concealed when hidden behind a computer monitor or smart device so a player’s betting patterns become your primary focus. When first embarking on your poker journey, online poker gives the welcome respite of not having to worry about the majority of your opponents’ and indeed your own tells.

  • Timing and Speed – The pace at which a player acts can reveal their level of confidence. Quick decisions may suggest a strong hand, whereas hesitation may imply uncertainty.

Spotting and Using Tells

  • Observation – Start by observing your opponents closely. Look for consistent patterns in their behavior. Do they always tap their fingers when bluffing? Do they pause before making big bets?
  • Context Matters – Consider the context of the game and the player’s history. Are they known for aggressive play or have they been conservative throughout the game? This information can help you interpret their actions more accurately.
  • Disguise Your Own Tells – Be aware of your own behavior at the table. Try to maintain a consistent demeanor, so as not to inadvertently reveal your own hand.
  • Mind Games – Use your understanding of poker tells strategically. If you’ve identified an opponent’s tell, exploit it to your advantage. For instance, if you think you’ve identified a tell when a player bluffs, consider making a bold move to force them into a mistake.
  • Stay Calm – It’s easier said than done of course, but endeavor to control your own emotions. A calm, composed player is less likely to exhibit tells. Avoid giving away any information through your own body language or speech.

In the high-stakes world of poker, mastering the art of reading and using poker tells can be the difference between victory and defeat. It’s a skill that requires practice, keen observation and a deep understanding of human psychology.

Improving other areas of your game will also allow you to dedicate more time to observing other players. When new to the sport, players are often overly consumed in their own cards that they forget the other important part of the game, which is the other players around the table.

As you become more attuned to the subtle signals at the table, you’ll find yourself making more informed decisions and gaining a significant advantage over your opponents. So, the next time you’re at the poker table, keep a sharp eye out for those elusive tells – they just might be your ticket to success.