FBI Spy Catcher Brings his Skill to the Poker Table
23rd October, 2007
A former FBI spy catcher has transferred his behavior reading skills to the equally devious world of international poker. Joseph Navarro says the same techniques for understanding body language that he used when interrogating people for the FBI can be used at the poker table. Mr. Navarro was one of the world’s leading experts on behavior and was involved in almost every US spy investigation from 1993 to 2003.
He is now retired and has become an instructor at the World Series of Poker Academy where he teaches players how to read their opponents. He says that it is impossible to hide non-verbal mannerisms as they are shown sub-consciously. The attempts by poker players to hide their mood behind hooded tops or dark glasses can only do so much.
Now retired, he is an instructor at the World Series of Poker Academy where he teaches."The involuntary non-verbal mannerisms dictated by the brain will always betray the strength or weakness of a player's hand," he said.
Mr. Navarro says revealing gestures of good hand can be the bouncing feet of a player, on the opposite side a week hand can often be conveyed by pursed lips, a crinkled nose and squinty eyes. Mr. Navarro says that posture is another clue.
"If your boss asks at a meeting, 'Who is not pulling their weight?’ the shoulders will rise on those who are not confident," he said."It's called 'The Turtle Effect'. You are trying to hide your head inside your shoulders."Meanwhile, a person whose fingertips meet like a church steeple with the thumb pointed up is someone who thinks he has a winning hand.When players are confident, they tend to use their hands more and claim more territory at the table. When they have good hands, they generally look down at their chips.
Phil Hellmuth one of best poker players around said that he took over three pages of notes at one of his seminars and has learnt a few tricks from him. Mr. Navarro acknowledged that his techniques can also be used to mislead other players who know the same signals.
