If and when I write the Encyclopedia of Poker, there will be a special chapter entitled "Mike Caro." There are many celebrities who have made their mark in our poker world; but I believe no one has contributed as much to poker as Mike Caro. I soak up every word he offers in his books, videos, columns, seminars. He is more than the "Mad Genius of Poker;" he shares his knowledge and analyses with us.
In the November 23, 2009, Poker Player Newspaper, Mike discussed the "Keys" to winning poker. As the overall key, Mike suggested, "Play your best game all the time." Great idea! Some refer to this as playing your "A" game. Losers either don't bother to use this key or don't know what it means. When I am having a losing session, which happens to all of us occasionally, I'll go for a brisk walk outside of the casino and ask myself, "What mistakes am I making? What about the players at the table? Should I change tables?" Then, as I go back into the casino, I resolve to play my "A" game." Great advice!
I was pleased that Mike offered other keys related to playing poker for profit. One, on game/table selection, agrees so well with one of my Four Basic Rules for Winning at Poker (Ref: The Greatest Book of Poker for WINNERS by Dr. Dan Abrams and myself), I thought it appropriate to comment on this key.
Table Selection. "Finding the best games is a key to poker success," Mike wrote. He explains: To be a consistent winner, it is important to be one of the best players at that table. Actually, my Basic Poker Rule No. 2 goes a bit further, advising players to, "Carefully select the game and table at which you play." Select a table with lots of PokerPigeons-people who came to play. They never saw two cards they didn't like. They play hand after hand. These are players who call raised bets before the flop in any position with any two suited cards or A-rag in the hole, or chase an inside straight to the river even when the pot odds don't merit the investment. And it's great to be seated at a table where everyone is having a good time, drinking, flirting with the cocktail waitress, watching the football game on the big TV up on the wall. On the other hand, avoid tables with lots of PokerSharks-people who play to win.
The objective in playing winning poker should be to win as much money as possible. Since PokerSharks are highly selective in their starting hands and know when to fold, the pots will be much smaller. You won't win very much with your full-house-on-the-flop. Play at tables predominantly populated by the losers. One or two PokerSharks is OK, but certainly not half the table....
Poker and Life. In closing his keys column, Mike discussed the key to understanding life beyond the poker table. Poker is "a game that mimics life," he wrote. Comparing poker with life, he said, "Each hand is a mystery, because if everyone knew the cards, then what?"
Indeed, the game of poker is a microcosm of life. Let's expand on that idea. In life as in poker, we constantly strive to improve our knowledge and skills. To solve a problem in life, we first analyze it and gather as much relevant information as possible; then we can make the best decision-just as in poker.
What's your thinking on this? Perhaps you can offer other ways that poker mimics life.
. . . So readers, what's YOUR opinion?
George "The Engineer" Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! and Hold'em or Fold'em?-An Algorithm for Making the Key Decision and teaches poker at the Claude Pepper Sr. Citizen Center in Los Angeles. Contact George at geps222@msn.com.
