95% of tells in poker only become apparent when the stakes have been raised and when the players are in a stress-duress phase.
We’ll consider the Authors is talking no limit poker, where one can shove everything in when it’s their turn to act.
In this type of poker game certain hands have no value, you toss them into the muck. No tells are useful at this point. Tells only become useful when everybody in the pot will eventually have to commit or submit.
The only time I remember where Obama was caught bluffing with the red line in Syria.
Obama was a very weak player. Almost afraid of his own shadow. Folding that ‘red line’ hand in Syria was the worst play I’ve ever seen.
I forget the topic, but I remember when Obama was berating the congress and famously said "do not call my bluff". What a moron.