Poker gems, #263

Mike Caro, in Bluff magazine column, May, 2009, p. 75.


[I]n most cases, you'll make the biggest profit by choosing the obvious straightforward play. That's why it is the recommended play. Whenever you stray from that first choice, you'd better have a good reason....

Don't use deception unless the situation screams for it. Not because it's been a long time since you did it. Not because you feel inspired. Not because you want to gloat. Not because it's fun. Never use deception without a clearly profitable motive....

While it's hard to deceive your opponents profitably, it's easy to deceive yourself about the results.

Never make it your mission to be deceptive. Money materializes while finding inexpensive ways to make deception unnecessary.