Appreciation post: My bluff reading got better from regular board nights

Finley Craig · 2026-03-09T05:36:08.655085+00:00

Our group has been doing social deduction sessions every week for about six months. I started picking up on small things, like how someone's hands shake when they lie or how they pause before answering. It really changed how I play and made things more interesting. What other skills have you picked up from board activities?

paulellis7mo ago

Hands shaking? Could be nerves, not lying.

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johnrivera6mo ago

My cousin's poker group in Austin tracked their "tells" for a month and found most physical signs were wrong more than half the time. People fidget for a hundred reasons, like being cold or just needing to use the bathroom. Relying on shaky hands or eye contact will make you lose more games than you win. You're better off just watching the game logic and the bets people make.

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wesley_coleman47mo ago

Bluff reading really does get sharper with practice, I've seen the same thing in our group. @paulellis has a point about nerves, but sometimes those shakes are dead giveaways lmao. I started noticing how people avoid eye contact when they're hiding something, and it's crazy how often it's true. Those weekly sessions turn you into a human lie detector after a while. Makes every game night way more intense and fun.

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