Im not certified but am a decent poker and Texas Holdem player. Have gone up against pros. Usually get my butt kicked, but on occasion win. That means I know how to control my body language and read others body language (including facial expressions).
She has so many bluff aka lying tells its ridiculous. Judge Kavenaugh also has a lot of tells - but the other way. He wasnt bluffing aka lying. To be blunt, he couldnt bluff even a skilled amateur.
Frankly, neither one should play poker or Holdem. The difference: her tells showed lying, his tells showed truth.
Ford is lying. She has made this story up. My take on her is that while she is definitely clever and deceptive, she not very far above average in the art of telling a lie. If Mitchell, or any competent attorney had a day with Ford in deposition, it would simply be over for her. You need to be methodical and keep a steady tone, going over the same events from different angles, alternately relaxing her and challenging her, pinning her down a little more each time. Lying and defending your credibility under such an examination takes an enormous amount of mental energy. Ford has to anticipate where the examiner is going, and craft an answer allowing her to stay several steps ahead to avoid being trapped. People can only keep that up for so long. Asking the questions is not nearly so taxing, especially if you are prepared.