Discover the optimal 4bet sizing that poker pros use to dominate the tables. In this insightful video, BlackRain79 breaks down the precise strategy and the reasoning behind it, ensuring you never second-guess your 4bet sizes again.
Nathan Williams: Nathan Williams, known online as 'BlackRain79', is a highly experienced poker player and coach specializing in small and mid-stakes games. Starting his poker career with just $60, Nathan has built a reputation for having some of the highest winnings in online poker history at these stakes. His achievements include becoming a three-time best-selling poker author, with books such as 'The MicroStakes Playbook', where he shares his expertise in advanced poker strategies. Nathan's approach emphasizes in-depth analysis of hand histories, optimal betting sizings, and a solid understanding of poker mathematics. He is also the face behind the BlackRain79Poker YouTube channel, where he provides educational content for poker enthusiasts looking to improve their game. With a background that resonates with many aspiring poker players, Nathan's story from micro stakes to poker pro is both inspiring and educational. He offers resources like his free poker cheat sheet and guides through his website and social media platforms, and he runs the BlackRain79 Elite Poker University, where he instructs players on crushing the lower limits of poker. His analytical skills and didactic approach make him a reputable figure in the poker learning community.
Pre-Flop Aggression: With strong hands like Pocket Kings, a 3-bet or squeeze is highly recommended to take control of the pot early on.
4-Bet Sizing: A standard 4-bet size should be about 2.2x the opponent's 3-bet to convey strength without committing too much of the stack, allowing for potential folds if re-raised by very strong ranges.
Hand Analysis: Don't assign an opponent a narrow range solely based on a large 4-bet; consider unconventional sizings as potential indicators of uncertainty or a non-premium hand like Ace-King.
Commitment Threshold: With 100 big blind stacks in 6-max games, getting all the money in pre-flop with premium hands like Pocket Kings is usually the best strategy, barring specific reads or deeper stacks.
Opponent Behavior: Unusual betting patterns, like an excessively large 4-bet, may suggest that an opponent is not a strong, thinking regular and might be overplaying their hand.
Psychological Approach: Remember the actual probability of unfavorable outcomes (like an opponent having Aces when you hold Kings) instead of succumbing to selective memory bias.
Hand Analysis: Nathan Williams reviews a hand sent by Carol, focusing on her play with Pocket Kings in the big blind in a 1 cent/2 cent, 6-max game on PokerStars.
3-Betting Strategy: Nathan advises that facing a 3x big blind raise, holding Pocket Kings in the big blind is a clear situation to 3-bet or squeeze, suggesting a raise to about 30 cents.
4-Betting Dynamics: Discusses the ideal 4-bet size, which Nathan suggests should be around 2.2x the 3-bet size, to commit about 20% of one's stack and maintain fold equity without being overly committed.
Player Reads and Behavior: Nathan mentions the lack of reads on the players involved and analyzes the psychological aspect of bet sizing, interpreting an excessively large 4-bet as indicative of a weaker player or a plea for opponents to fold.
Mathematics of Poker: He quantifies the probability of an opponent holding pocket aces when a player has pocket kings in a 6-max game, which is approximately 2.8%, emphasizing the rarity and suggesting not to fold kings preemptively.
Stack Depth Strategy: Williams advises that for 100 big blind stacks in a 6-max cash game, it's generally correct to get all the money in pre-flop with strong hands like pocket kings, while noting that strategy shifts with deeper stacks or different game formats.
Specific Hand Outcome: Reveals that the opponent had AceJack of hearts, confirming Nathan's read that the opponent's large 4-bet was likely a bluff or a sign of uncertainty.
General Poker Advice: Nathan reiterates not to fold pocket kings in a 6-max game with 100 big blind stacks and invites viewers to share their own thoughts and experiences with similar situations and bet sizing.
This article is a summary of the video You Need to Use THIS 4bet Sizing (ADVANCED STRATEGY!!) by BlackRain79Poker published on June 12, 2020 at 02:26:37.
Q: How do I handle playing against unknown opponents in poker? A: When facing unknown opponents, focus on playing a solid and fundamentally sound strategy. Observe any information provided during the game to make informed decisions as the game progresses.
Q: What is the optimal bet sizing when 4-betting in poker? A: An optimal 4-bet size is roughly 2.2x the previous bet, which usually commits around 20% of your stack, signaling strength without risking too much.
Q: How can I deal with the pressure of making big decisions in poker? A: To handle pressure, stay calm, focus on logical decision-making based on the information available, and avoid being influenced by the stakes involved.
Q: How do I interpret an opponent's bet sizing in poker? A: Analyze the context of the game, consider your opponent's playing style, and compare their current bet sizing to their typical patterns to deduce the strength of their hand.
Q: What strategies can I use to maximize my profit in microstakes poker games? A: To maximize profits in microstakes, develop a strong understanding of game dynamics at these levels, employ a tight-aggressive play style, and focus on exploiting common mistakes made by opponents.