Mike Caro (10 Refresher Tips)

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Mike Caro looking back

While browsing through my collection of quick poker tips at my online poker university (MCU), it occurred to me that most readers have never seen any of them. Why not simply present a list all in one place?

But, then, a frightening thought came to me. Will my readers understand that quick tips sometimes are necessarily too short to provide useful explanations and to investigate the exceptions to the rule? I thought and I thought, and I was done thinking, I concluded that, hey, I’ll just explain that the tips are sometimes too simplistic and can benefit from fuller explanations. In the future, I’ll select some of these tips, explain them in depth, give play-by-play examples, and more.

But today, I’m just providing 10 of the tips, beginning with the most recent ones and working back in time to the beginning. I’ll continue the process in the future. I have enhanced many of the tips for this presentation. Here goes…

When to hesitate



In poker, the time to hesitate is when you really need more time to resolve a close decision. Often things will occur to you given a little extra time. Or, under the extra pressure, your opponent may provide you with a tell. You might occasionally also hesitate for deception, so that alert opponents can’t determine that your pause always means you have a close decision.

Also, sometimes when you make a final bet with a big hand, you’ll be more likely to be called if you don’t bet instantly. Well, if you don’t bet almost instantly, I mean. Because both a bet delayed for a few extra seconds and an unreasonably quick one are apt to make your opponents suspicious, those bets are more likely to be called.

But, unless there’s a specific reason to hesitate, you should usually make all your bets, calls, and raises crisply and confidently — because this enhances your image and speeds up the game.

Don’t fold instantly unless you’re sure



(This one is closely related to the previous tip, but has a more specific application.)

Sometimes you can get a tell on an opponent simply by not folding too quickly. I’m not telling you to slow up the game, but occasionally — when you’re in doubt about whether to call — you should conspicuously study your opponent. This extra scrutiny will sometimes make a player who’s bluffing uncomfortable enough to give you the clue you’re seeking.

In general, if the player remains relaxed, you should fold, as you originally intended. But if there seems to be growing tension in the opponent and he becomes totally “poker faced” and motionless, even not breathing, you should consider calling. Remember, a player who is bluffing will usually do nothing unusual for fear of triggering your call. It’s the absence of animation and the suspenseful tension that let you know that an opponent is more likely than usual to be bluffing. When you’re in doubt and fold too quickly, you often lose the opportunity to capitalize on this powerful tell.

Raising with small pairs from late position in hold ’em

Although you can often call profitably with a small pair against a long line of players in hold ’em, when you’re in late position and no one has entered the pot, it’s different. Then, you should usually raise, not just call.

The reason is that against many players, you’re trying to take advantage of pot odds by calling and seeing the flop. You realize that you’ll almost certainly need to improve your hand to win against that many opponents. But when you’re in late position, you can raise hoping to end up one-on-one or to win the blinds outright. If you do end up against just one opponent, there’s a good chance your small pair might be enough win the pot, affording you an extra chance to win that you would seldom enjoy against many opponents. The raise is designed to chase players out and give yourself that extra chance to win.

Maximizing positional advantage



Remember, players to your left always act after you and get to see what you do before they decide. This “positional advantage” in poker is so powerful, that you should neutralize it by making opponents on your left less likely to pick on you.

I do this by striking up friendly conversation, sharing information about my hand (after the pot is determined, of course), buying them coffee, and more. I never intentionally irritate players on my left. There’s no reason to motivate them to maximize their positional advantage. I usually go to war with players on my right, where I have position working in my favor, not against me. That’s what you should do, too.


The simplest truth about beating poker



The main secret to winning at poker is simply to play your best game all the time. I know, that’s too silly to mention. But, apparently, most players don’t do it. Do you realize that you can give away a whole month’s worth of disciplined poker profit in one night? So, it isn’t good enough to play your best game most of the time. All of the time is what you should strive for.

(This single “obvious” concept is so important that I devoted an entire cassette tape to it. The title was Positive Poker, and many players have reported back to me that it has been the most profitable tool in their poker arsenal. So, just do it – play your best game.)

Tournament chances

If all players are equal, the odds against you winning first place in a poker tournament corresponds to the amount of money you must still gather vs. the amount you already control. For instance, if ten opponents each have $500 in chips and you have $1,000 in chips, it’s 5-to-1 against you winning the tournament. That’s because there’s $5,000 you still must win weighed against the $1,000 you already have. (Note that in real life tournaments, this estimate will be imperfect for several reasons. The most important is that players who can go all-in have a better chance of winning pots.)

This measurement holds true if there are just two players left, you and an opponent. If he has $5,000 and you have $1,000, it’s still 5-to-1 against you winning.

Truth about aces in hold ’em



Despite common advice, you do not want to raise with aces in order to chase players out of the pot before the flop in hold ’em. That pair of aces usually makes as much money or more with extra opponents chasing you. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t raise. But it means when you do raise, you’re usually doing so hoping opponents will call, not fold.

Thinning the field has its moments, but — contrary to what you’ve heard — raising with aces before the flop for that purpose isn’t one of them.

How tipping is like the rake



You should think of tipping the same way as the rake. The winners of the pots pay. Therefore, there’s a penalty for winning, and you need to play somewhat more conservatively. When the method of paying the house is seat rental (called “collection” in some places), everyone pays the same amount and there’s no penalty for winning pots. In that case, you can play marginal hands that average only pennies in profit.

With tipping, a few professional players pay a fixed amount when each dealer sits down or after they’re done with their half-hour shift. If you do this, and don’t vary the amount — win or lose — there’s no tip penalty for winning pots, and you can actually play somewhat looser. (However, I seldom do it this way, myself. I usually just tip by the pot.)

Hold ’em danger on the flop



When you’re check-raised on the flop, be prepared to surrender often unless your hand has promise. It’s tempting to bet aggressively when checked into and you hold a fairly weak hand. Betting is okay, because you might win the pot now, or you might win the pot against other opponents with similarly weak hands, even if they call. But a check-raise can mean trouble. It’s tempting to call, because the price is cheap considering the amount of money already in the pot. But figure it’s going to cost a lot more money to chase your opponent to the showdown. Unless you’re against a tricky and sophisticated opponent, who often check-raises as a bluff, you should frequently pass. You’ll save money.

How much are your chips worth in a tournament?



Don’t be discouraged if you only have as many chips as you started with late in a common “proportional payoff” poker tournament (where the prize money is pre-determined at fixed percentages for first, second, third, and so on). Most players think it’s necessary to gather chips, but it isn’t. If you have the same $500 you started with after three-quarters of the players are eliminated, the same amount of money is out there against you as when the tournament began. It hasn’t gotten any better or any worse. But what has gotten better is that there are fewer players contending for the cash prizes. Mathematically, your prospects of profit have increased.

So, you’re always better off with the same amount of chips later in this type of tournament than when the first hand was dealt. Remember, the trick is to survive. Don’t panic if your stacks don’t grow. You’d rather they would, but you’re still better off, even if they stay the same.


Whom to Attack in Tournaments



The most common types of poker tournaments are the “proportional payoff” variety. That’s where, as players are eliminated, tables are consolidated until the survivors meet at a final table and first place wins all the chips. But first place doesn’t get to keep all the money, so there is — in effect — a penalty for winning. This means survival is more important than using many sophisticated tactics that would earn extra profit in non-tournament games. So, you should avoid high-risk, seemingly profitable finesses and play more conservatively in order to survive and win more of the prize pool. Fine, we’ve talked about that before.

But, correct strategy for these tournaments also requires that you attack mostly players with fewer chips than you have. This provides two advantages: (1) You can’t be eliminated by those players, so you’ll survive even if you lose the pot; (2) If you win the pot, you’ll eliminate the short-stacked opponent and automatically move up in the money.

Hold ’em – Four Suited Cards on the Board



You should, of course, exercise caution when there are four cards of one suit on the board and you don’t have a flush. But sometimes you should bet right into that board without a flush.

The best time to bet is when you have two pair, three-of-a-kind, or a straight against a lone sophisticated player who has checked into you. If there were raises before the flop and parts of the four-flush on the board are high cards, especially an ace, figure it’s more likely that your opponent does not have a flush.

He is more apt than usual to hold high cards, and those high cards are likely to match the suited cards on the board. There are fewer likely ranks that will provide your opponent with a flush, and it’s more likely than usual that he has a pair. So, sometimes bet two pair. Not only can this be a profitable decision, the play will enhance your image.

Why Convey Optimism?



One of the big mistakes players make is to slump in their seats and seem defeated when they’re losing. This just encourages opponents who are ready to take advantage of your misery. They’ll play better against you, because you’ve made yourself a target — someone they have increased hopes of beating.

Of course, the fact that you’re losing, in itself, inspires your opponents. But don’t make it worse. Continue to act confidently, laugh, make your moves animated and assured. This will make your opponents less likely to leverage all their advantages against you. If you can keep them from betting or raising just one time when they have an advantage, you’ve earned something. And you’re more likely to do that if you convey optimism, rather than surrender emotionally.

Are Kings Almost as Profitable as Aces in Hold ’em?


Kings are nowhere near as profitable as aces in hold ’em. The difference is much slighter between smaller adjacent pairs, such as eights and sevens, but there’s a very large gap between aces and kings in terms of profit when played correctly. Averaging all situations together, figure aces to be worth up to 40 percent more than kings.

Hold ’em Open-End Straight Draws are Often Unprofitable



One of the tough decisions in hold ’em is whether to call a bet on the flop when you have an open-end straight draw. Often you should. But when it’s close, you need to consider other things. Here are three:

1. If there are two suited cards on the flop, you’re somewhat more likely to be beat by a flush, even if you make your straight. This can often turn a hand that would otherwise be slightly profitable (with three different suits flopping) into one that’s slightly unprofitable.

2. If there is a pair on the flop, you’re somewhat more likely to be beat by a full house or four of a kind, even if you make your straight. This, too, can often turn a hand that would otherwise be slightly profitable into one that is slightly unprofitable.

3. Is your extra card high in rank? When a single card provides the open-end straight possibility (such as a flop of 9-7-6 when you hold K-8), the rank of that extra card is important You want an additional chance of making a pair big enough to win if, for example, your opponent makes queens on the turn. Ace is best, of course. You won’t often start with hands that give you the opportunity to flop a small straight attempt with an unrelated extra card, but when you do, the rank of the extra card should often be the deciding factor.

When whether to call with an open-end straight attempt is a close decision, you can use the three factors above – among others — to break the tie.

Don’t “Over Concentrate”



I believe that some poker players try to concentrate too hard in the course of a game. They burn themselves out in the first hour and can’t play extended sessions in top form, even when the games are very profitable. Concentration is good in poker, but don’t force it to the extent that you’re uncomfortable. That adds pennies to your immediate profit, but can actually cost you money overall. Sometimes if you don’t pace yourself, you can’t get as many winning hours into profitable games.

Don’t Rebuy Yet



When you’re down to your last few chips and can play for just the cost of the ante or blind, you should often wait to rebuy until after the hand! That’s because there are no better pot odds than to be able to see the showdown for free with everyone else at the table matching your money with their antes.

If it’s a blind they’re matching, only some will voluntarily call. But, even then, the point is powerful: Other opponents may knock each other out of the competition, while you remain to see the showdown. You’ll often arrive at the showdown with hands you couldn’t have afforded to call with if you’d had more money. This means you have an extra opportunity to get lucky and “draw out” — and that’s worth enough to defer your rebuy until the next hand.

If There’s No Tell, Ponder



If you have a close decision about calling or folding, hesitate for a few seconds and watch. Pretend to be pondering the situation. Often you won’t get a tell from your opponent until you drive home the fact that it’s necessary for him to sway your decision. Your hesitation will often shift your opponent into “acting” mode, where the same “weak means strong” and “strong means weak” clues apply as usual.

When in doubt, conspicuously ponder for a few seconds — and observe how your hesitation affects your opponent.

Betting a Flush Draw on the Flop in Hold ’em



Here’s one of my favorite hold ’em plays that you can use quite often without opponents adapting. It’s a well-know play, and many of your sophisticated opponents will use it quite often, too.

You have a flush draw on the flop — two of your suit in your hand, two on the board. You’re last to act. Everyone checks to you. Bet. Sometimes you’ll win the pot immediately without a struggle, but even if you don’t, you’ll frequently have helped your cause.

Now, everyone is apt to check to you on the 4th board card (the turn). If you make your flush, you just keep betting, natural as natural can be. If you miss, you check along. And the great thing is that you got a partially free card which could have costs double in common limit games where the size of bets increase after the flop. Yes, you paid to see it by betting on the flop, but the price was only half. The final (river) card is also effectively free, because if you miss, you’ll usually fold.

There’s another twist to this tactic. You don’t want to overuse it, because astute players may catch on and adapt, but one of the built-in tools of deception comes from mostly betting these flush draws when you have at least one card higher than the board. That way, you have additional chances of making top pair and continuing to bet on the turn.

When this happens, many opponents won’t notice at the showdown that you were originally betting the flush draw. They sometimes just see the top pair and forget when you made it or how. This psychologically camouflages the fact that you’re often betting flush draws “on the come,” hoping to get a free card.

Omaha High-Low and Psychology



It’s important to understand that high-low split poker games, and Omaha high-low, in particular, do not demand the emphasis on psychology that other forms of poker do. When you’re playing Omaha high-low, don’t sacrifice sound mathematical strategy to try to influence opponents.

Advertising is often costly. Why? Because high-low players tend to play their cards like bingo. They make their decisions primarily on the strength of their hands and are often almost oblivious to the strategies of opponents. In high-low, reduce you emphasis on psychology and play your cards.

Don’t Bluff Too Often in Loose Games



Obviously, opponents call too much in loose games, otherwise these wouldn’t be loose games. The main mistake opponents make in these games is to call too often. You should expect this key mistake of calling too often to hurt you when you try to bluff. When you bluff, clearly you don’t want to be called, but in loose games you should expect to be. Sure, everyone knows that, but you’d be surprised how many serious players bump their head against poker’s wall by trying to bluff anyway.

The secret is to never bluff in loose games unless you have a specific reason on a particular hand against a particular player. In tighter games, you can bluff once in a while at random, but in loose games, you must resolve never to bluff without a major motive. — MC