In the 997th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by FanDuel Poker, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas and joined by Nacho Cuesta of Master Poker Tells.
Cuesta’s greatest strength has always been the observation of patterns and details under pressure. For more than five years, he has systematically studied how decisions are physically executed in live poker. While much of modern poker study focused on solvers, ranges, and theoretical optimization, he has focused on a far less structured dimension: the physical execution of actions.
In live poker, the mind decides. The body executes. And when cognitive load increases, repeatable patterns appear. That is where micro tells and macro tells are born.
Not since Mike Caro, the “Mad Genius of Poker,” has there been someone so devoted to live tells in poker. In this episode, he offers a trio of hands that really drives the point home.
Master Poker Tells highlights “74 Unique Poker Tells Most Elite Players Still Don’t Recognize.” They have been validated as universal tells across six categories:
- 10 Check Tells
- 20 Betting Tells
- 13 Eye Tells
- 10 Verbal Tells
- 11 Body Language Tells
- 10 All-In Tells
Click here to learn more about Master Poker Tells!
Be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
Time Stamps
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | Welcome to the show |
| 00:26 | Nacho Cuesta joins the show |
| 01:17 | What is Master Poker Tells? |
| 04:43 | A focus on live tells |
| 10:00 | Different types of tells |
| 10:48 | Hand #1 – WSOP Europe Final Table |
| 12:50 | Hand #2 – 2026 WSOP Final Table |
| 16:22 | Hand #3 – Seth Davies Heads-Up at Triton |
| 23:00 | Poker Tell – The Perfect Pyramid |
| 24:46 | Sunglasses at the table |
| 28:00 | Natural talent vs study |
| 32:53 | Master Poker Tells is for everyone |
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Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager