Join Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams as he reveals the nine critical mistakes that distinguish amateurs from the pros. Learn the strategies that good poker players use to maintain their edge at the table.
Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams: Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams is a highly experienced professional poker player and a leading authority in the field, with over 10 years of professional play under his belt. He is renowned for his exceptional record in online poker history, particularly at the small to mid-stakes tables, where he has generated some of the highest winnings on record. Nathan's success is attributed to his mastery of poker strategies, which he shares through his educational content, including a variety of coaching materials, books, and his Elite Poker University. As a 3-time best-selling poker author, his work has significantly influenced both novice and veteran players, guiding them to improve their gameplay and achieve greater success. Nathan's approach to teaching poker revolves around aggressive play, understanding player types, and avoiding common pitfalls that many players encounter. His YouTube channel, BlackRain79Poker, is a testament to his commitment to educating players, as he consistently provides valuable insights and strategies to help his audience outmaneuver the competition and make profitable decisions at the poker table.
Avoid Giving Cheap Draws: Do not give opponents a cheap price to chase their draws; make sure to size your bets properly to force them to pay the right price or fold.
Raise Against Limpers: Be aggressive and raise against players who limp (just call the blind) to take control of the pot and capitalize on their apparent weakness.
Three-Betting Strategy: Mix up your three-betting range by including both premium hands and speculative hands like suited connectors or lower pairs to be less predictable.
Targeting Specific Player Types: Identify and exploit weaker regulars who are risk-averse by using aggression, especially when they show a tendency to fold often to re-raises.
Avoid Bluffing Fish: Refrain from bluffing against players who are unlikely to fold (fish), as it can lead to losing money unnecessarily.
Playing Against Nits: Exercise caution when tight players (nits) make big bets or raises, as they often have very strong hands.
Handle Top Pair Wisely: Manage the size of the pot with top pair hands to avoid building a large pot when you might only be ahead of bluffing ranges.
Calling Out of Position: Avoid calling out of position with trap hands like King-Jack that can lead to difficult situations post-flop, especially against tight and aggressive players.
Playing Ace-King: Evaluate flop board textures carefully with Ace-King to avoid overplaying the hand on highly coordinated boards.
Game Selection: Always play in good games where there is at least one clearly weaker player (fish), and avoid bad games where you're up against only strong players.
Avoid Giving Cheap Chases: Emphasizes not to allow opponents, especially weaker players or 'fish', to chase their draws without paying a significant price to do so. Betting around 80% of the pot is recommended to prevent this.
Raise Against Limpers: Advises players to raise against opponents who only call the blind ('limpers') as they show weakness, suggesting a more aggressive play to take control of the pot.
Diversify Three-Betting Range: Encourages players to not only three-bet with premium hands but also to mix in speculative hands to avoid being predictable and easy to play against.
Avoid Bluffing Fish: Warns against trying to bluff players who are known to call frequently ('fish'), as these players are unlikely to fold, which can lead to frustration and potentially tilt.
Fold Against Tight Players' Aggression: Recommends folding in situations where very tight players ('nits' or 'rocks') show aggression, as they are likely to have a strong hand.
Play Top Pair Cautiously: Suggests playing hands like top pair with caution, especially in 'way ahead, way behind' situations, to avoid losing large pots against stronger hands.
Avoid Trap Hands Out of Position: Advises against calling re-raises with 'trap hands' like King-Jack or Queen-Jack out of position, as they often lead to difficult situations post-flop.
Manage Pot Size with Ace-King: Recommends managing the pot size with hands like Ace-King, particularly on coordinated boards, to avoid building a large pot when the hand is potentially behind.
Choose the Right Games: Stresses the importance of playing in good games with clear recreational players ('fish') and avoiding tough games with many skilled players to maximize profits.
Positional Advantage: Highlights the importance of having a positional advantage over weaker players, allowing for better decision-making after observing their actions.
This article is a summary of the video 9 Things You Will NEVER See Good Poker Players Do by BlackRain79Poker published on September 22, 2023 at 13:56:18.
Q: How do I understand and calculate basic poker odds like pot odds, implied odds, and hand odds? A: Learn the mathematical foundations of poker, which can be found in various poker strategy resources and tools, such as a free poker cheat sheet mentioned in the video.
Q: When should I raise against limpers in poker? A: Always consider raising against limpers with a decent hand to take control of the pot and collect what could be seen as 'free money'.
Q: How can I improve my three-betting strategy in poker? A: Expand your three-betting range to include speculative hands, like jack-ten suited, in addition to premium hands, to make your play unpredictable.
Q: How do I select the best targets for my three-bets? A: Target weaker regulars who are risk-averse. Use tools like HUDs to identify players who fold often and exploit their tightness by stealing pots.
Q: When is bluffing in poker a bad strategy? A: Avoid bluffing against 'non-folding' players, as they are likely to call down with a wide range of hands, leading to potential significant losses.
Q: How should I adjust my play against different player types? A: Understand player types and adjust accordingly. For example, play cautiously against 'nits' and avoid falling into traps they set with conservative play.
Q: What is the best way to manage top pair hands? A: Play top pair hands cautiously, especially on highly coordinated boards where there are many hands that could beat you. Aim to manage the pot size to minimize losses.
Q: Why should I avoid playing trap hands and how? A: Recognize trap hands like King-Jack and fold them pre-flop against tight and aggressive players' re-raises to avoid difficult post-flop situations.
Q: How can I effectively play Ace-King? A: With Ace-King, focus on reading flop textures and when to control the pot size, to avoid over-committing when the board presents many hands better than yours.
Q: Why is game selection important in poker? A: Choosing the right game is crucial for maximizing profits; look for tables with clear recreational players and avoid games with many strong opponents.