Hi, this is my first post here (obviously) but this thread kinda caught my attention. I think micro stakes play (I play 0.05/0.10 and 0.10/0.20) can be played in any number of ways successfully I often read in forums people saying "never bluff because everyone will call" and that "no one ever check raises" or ABC TAG play is the only way to make money at micro stakes.

Firstly you can definitely bluff, quite a lot for that matter, if of course you pick the right spots like any game. For instance you get a lot of players at these stakes that will bet any flop 3 or less handed (maybe more) who will bet at any flop that is checked to them. I have watched these people do this mechanically for about 20 hands in a row, yet they might well be making profit by doing it. So these players can easily be check raised with nothing on a board for instance with one paint card and I often employ this tactic.

Conversely you get the players who are too tight and will always fold to a continuation bet unless they have something so in a 3-way pot or less it is fine to c-bet if the flop is the right texture.

As for games tightening up, I often play at Betfair, and although I often find myself just blind stealing when I raise 4BBs in mid position, I do also notice that calling other peoples raises with AQ, KQ or AJ is definitely profitable unless you know for a fact they are a rock. I attribute this to the fact that a lot of people probably have watched things liked High Stakes Poker and see Daniel Negreanu or someone raising with 65o and think that they can do the same.

Also if people call your raise when you have a holding like AJ and you hit your A, bet and they just call 90% of the time I would say you are ahead (even more so if its a limper who called) unless you know the player is a rock because people really value ace rag especially if its suited at this level. One thing I do notice is how often people just flat call on the flop though especially in a limped pot (which occur way too often in my experience).

However like someone said micro stakes, is still poker so position is absolutely key so when you get 1 or 2 limpers and play reaches you on the button its fine to raise up with K7 or some rubbish like that if you're fine getting rid of the hand if you hit. Also people will see you raising more and not take into account your position, so later in the game people will call you when you raise in early position with AK or the like.

One final point, some players I have played against seem to think that going all in on the river will always look like a bluff, even if this means betting $10 into a $1.50 pot. I love this mentality, for instance yesterday a flop came J33 after I raised on the button with 44 I bet he flat called (by this point I know I am beat) turn came a 6 so I checked and he checked, then the river comes a 4 and I bet half the pot or so for value, he raises me all in I take my chance here that he is on JJ and he turns over K3, thinking he had the best hand that it would look like a bluff.

What I'm saying is all basics I'm sure you all know but I do question sometimes when I read people saying playing micro stakes is not playing poker at all. I'm not saying any of you have this view, I'm merely saying surely a good poker player can adapt to the table.

Anyway hope my ramblings make sense and don't bore you too much.

Cheers Rob