Brunson: Be patient when you teach poker
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MCU poker tip: Know how your opponent is playing

It’s a mistake to categorize most poker players as loose or tight and respond accordingly without taking into consideration their present frame of mind. There are very few players who consistently play one rigid way.

The exceptions might be the true “rocks” who never waver, only playing their very best hands, and those rare super-loose foes who consistently show no discipline about hand selection. Aside from that, most opponents change their strategy frequently. Sometimes this is calculated and sometimes it is governed by emotions.

Notebooks

I’ve known players who keep notebooks about the way frequent opponents play. And, of course, some players use tracking software to record trends regarding their online opponents decision making. Fine.

Having a history of opponents’ play can help. But it isn’t always accurate. That’s because the poker players are often out of step with their past. Mood changes. Determination changes. Focus changes. And opponents can be playing much better or much worse at the moment then they typically have in the past.

More profitable

The important thing is to adjust your strategy to the way an opponent is playing right now. That’s usually more profitable than adapting to the way an opponent plays on average. — MC

Brunson: Be patient when you teach poker
Entries by others, Tips
Favorite poker tips revisited: Part 1
General, Psychology, Tips
Favorite poker tips revisited: Part 2
General, Manipulation, Motivation, Tips
Games you can beat update and two tips
Gambling, General, Other games, POKER1 EXTRA, Strategy, Tips
Important poker tips thoroughly shuffled
POKER, Psychology, Strategy, Tips
McHaffie: MCU lesson 074 / Poker tips
Entries by others, General, Manipulation, Tells, Tips
MCU poker tip: A check can cost money
ALL (newest first), General, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: A good time to bluff
ALL (newest first), General, Manipulation, POKER, Strategy, Tells, Tips
MCU poker tip: A quick bluff is more likely to succeed
ALL (newest first), General, Manipulation, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Adjusting to wins and losses
ALL (newest first), General, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Aggression in the blinds
ALL (newest first), General, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: All-in, late in a no-limit tournament
Hold 'em, Manipulation, Strategy, Tips, Tournaments
MCU poker tip: Always be pleasant to play against
ALL (newest first), POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Are kings almost as profitable as aces?
The profit gap between these two hold 'em starting hands isn't what most players think
ALL (newest first), Hold 'em, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Ask opponents for their opinions
ALL (newest first), General, Manipulation, POKER, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Babble and bluffing
Tells, Tips
MCU poker tip: Bad news for hold ’em small pairs
Hold 'em, Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Best-game shopping in poker
ALL (newest first), Strategy, Tips
MCU poker tip: Betting a flush draw on the flop
ALL (newest first), Hold 'em, Manipulation, Tips
MCU poker tip: Betting correctly into aggressive foes
General, Tips
1 2 3 7

Everything is everywhere

Any Poker1 page takes you anyplace you want to go!

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Gambling  •  Hold 'em  •  Info  •  Life beyond poker

Poker (all)  •  Poker dictionary  •  Poker psychology

Poker statistics  •  Poker strategy  •  Poker tells

Prediction*  •  Shopping  •  Zone 2*

↓ Tip collections ↓

All*  •  Gambling*  •  Life*  •  Poker*  •  Various*

↓ Contributor collections ↓

Brunson  •  Caro  •  McHaffie  •  Wiesenberg  •  Others*

↓ More collections ↓

Poker1 FAQ  •  Poker-tell videos  •  Review of poker lessons

Sunday sessions*  •  Targeted poker quizzes  •  Tuesday sessions

* Any collection followed by an asterisk ( * ) has no entries yet.

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Published by

Mike Caro

Visit Mike on   → Twitter   ♠ OR ♠    → FaceBook

Known as the “Mad Genius of Poker,” Mike Caro is generally regarded as today's foremost authority on poker strategy, psychology, and statistics. He is the founder of Mike Caro University of Poker, Gaming, and Life Strategy (MCU). See full bio → HERE.

6 thoughts on “MCU poker tip: Know how your opponent is playing”

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  1. You are absolutely correct.. No argument whatsoever from me.. Thanks Mike’

  2. Hey, give Mike a “waver” on that one… (we read him for his poker, not his punctuation)

    1. Hi, Elliott —

      I corrected the error that Jake tried to alert me about last December. I didn’t see his comment until now. It was your comment that brought his to my attention.

      Thanks for joining our Poker1 family.

      Straight Flushes,
      Mike Caro

  3. There's a typo in the second paragraph; "waiver" should be "waver," I imagine. Great tip!!! Thank you as always.

    1. Hi, Jake —

      Here’s a way-late thank you for catching that spelling/usage error. I’ve corrected it now. I try to read all comments, but somehow I overlooked yours.

      Straight Flushes,
      Mike Caro

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