Post deleted by Mat Sklansky

[golfinguy5]

[theRealMacoy]

Hello,

Reading Caro's book is a great place to start, although it is geared for casino play. Also if you can get your hands on his video it gives most of the same information in a condensed visual fashion (I liked it better).

I play in a home game as well. One thing i have noticed is that newer players tend to show the most tension when they have a really strong hand (not actually when they are bluffing). Caro talks about this in the "hands shaking" tell (means strong hand). I haven't seen hands shaking yet but i have seen guys stiffen up, act a little more nervous, stop talking as much or more, or just act a litte stilted in thier converstation. Especially in small limit games as it doesn't seem like there is enought riding on any one bet to put make a bluffer really nervous (vs NL). Caro talks about a bluffer being the better who sits really still, not wanting to invoke your call.

One of my opponents has a habit of lightly tossing his cards onto the table when he has a folding hand, versus when he places then on the table.

Finally, it is amazing how the people's speech can give a clue to their hand (whether tone, or unusual idioms, etc.). With one opponent i always try and spark up a conversation if i think he is strong and if his resonse is stilted it often indicates a solid hand (i.e., he gets too tense to converse fluidly).

cheers,
the Real Macoy+

[jimymat]

Ive noticed the adams apple and hand movements lately. After an opponent makes a bet watch his throat. If the adams apple goes up he's swallowing and has a weak hand. If they lean back and reach for a glass and take a drink, there weak. Varkony did it in 03 before he got knocked out. Watch hands and chip movement. Theres a good example between Helmuth and Tony D in 03 where Helmuth bluffs Tony D and he gets so scared with his trips that he knocks over his neighbors chips. He had a strong hand but Helmuths reraise put the scare in him and he becomes weak. Not a big Helmuth fan but that was one of the most powerful plays Ive ever seen. Fumbling chips and tipping over stacks represent weakness. If you drink when you play it might just be the alcohol talking.
Online the betting pattern and size are good tells. If a guy bets pot size on the flop and gets a few callers and then makes the same size bet on the turn giving you 4-1 odds you should reraise. Basically if there under betting the pot than there weak for the most part same applies in a ring game. Come over the top and represent something and make them fold. A check raise bluff is good here.
Caros book is good except everyones read it and knows what not to do. It will still be helpful against your home game. Good luck.

[mshalen]

Harrington say watch the players hands (see HOH, a great overall book).
I have won hands by acting the opposite of what Caro says, if I know my opponent is observant.

[CWilly]

All the Mike Caro tells video clips are available at the MCU website for free. Here's the link:

http://www.poker1.com/mcu/mculib_video.asp

Hope this helps!