Poker Tips - Mike Caro University Poker Strategy

Mike Caro is capping his career as the world's foremost poker authority by launching a school for serious players - Mike Caro University (MCU).

MCU will merge Mike's own research with the collective wisdom of other great poker minds into a one-of-a-kind learning center teaching poker strategy and psychology. In addition to instructional courses, MCU will serve as a central force for popularizing poker, maintaining its integrity and standardizing rules.

Are Small-Limit Games Too Loose To Beat?

Mike Caro's Poker Tips
www.poker1.com

Many poker players complain that small-limit rake games are so loose that good players with solid strategies can't win in the long run. That's wrong. You should never complain about these small-limit games being too loose. In fact, you probably wouldn't be able to beat these games if you were against sensible opponents, even if you had a skill advantage.

Why? It's because the rake in small-limit games is a larger burden compared to the size of the pot. While you might outplay more conservative opponents, you probably won't be able to overcome the rake. You need those super-loose opponents to overcome the rake, even though it may be frustrating because they hang in there and draw out on you so often. Just remember, you'll have to endure that frustration to win.

Best-Game Shopping -- The Truth Behind This Powerful Concept

Mike Caro's Poker Tips
www.poker1.com

Some say that the success of a business often depends on three things: Location, location, and location.

Well, I teach that when you play poker professionally, you're in a business where you have the luxury of CHOOSING your location every time you play! Think about it. Always try to sit in the most-profitable game that your bankroll will comfortably accommodate, rather than just accepting the most convenient table. And don't get glued to your seat when there's money to be made by changing tables. Do business where the profit is. It's worth the effort.

Seldom Re-raise As The Big Blind In Hold'em

Mike Caro's Poker Tips
www.poker1.com

First, you need to know that I frequently re-raise as the big blind when an aggressive, blind-stealing-type opponent raises in the small blind after everyone else folds. I don't need a very strong hand to justify that re-raise, because even if I'm beat by a mediocre hand, the re-raise gives me psychological leverage to add to my positional advantage. Remember, I'll get to act last on all betting rounds.

But in all other circumstances, while you should vary your play, and you can certainly sometimes justify re-raising when you're in the big blind position, usually you'll make more money by waiting to see the flop. Among the many reasons for this, these important ones come to mind:

1. If the small blind isn't involved in the pot, you will have the disadvantage of acting first on all future betting rounds.
   
   
2. With all but aces and, perhaps, kings, the strength of your hand is not usually defined until after you see the flop. You really don't know if it is strong or weak. Unlike stud games where your strength often changes slowly, one card at a time, the three-card flop strongly defines your hand in hold 'em. Although your cards may be strong enough for you to believe that you have a likelihood of having the best hand, that edge is usually not enough to justify a re-raise and risk facing yet another raise from a rare hand that might truly dominate you. This is especially true because of your poor position.
   
   
3. Why announce that you have a fairly strong hand if you don't have to? The very tiny edge of pushing a hand you think might be slightly better than your opponents' hands is often overwhelmed by the fact that you are giving away information unnecessarily. Of course, this show of strength can sometimes work in your favor (and you CAN use it deceptively with weak hands), but it is more likely to work against you by chasing away weak callers and the long-range profit they might supply on future betting rounds. If you just call, opponents will think you might have anything, from very weak hands to moderately strong ones or better. You keep your options open on future betting rounds, and you can fold more easily, having invested less, if the flop disappoints you. For these reasons and others, I recommend usually not re-raising in the big blind with moderately strong hands, except when isolated with only the small blind.