Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams reveals three poker hands that are notorious money drains for beginners and amateurs. Learn why King Nine, Six Four, and Ace Deuce should be approached with caution or avoided altogether to improve your poker profits.
Nathan Williams: Nathan Williams, known online as 'BlackRain79', is a highly experienced poker player and coach, particularly acclaimed for his expertise in small and mid stakes poker games. He boasts one of the highest winnings in online poker history at these stakes and is a three-time best-selling poker author. Nathan's journey in poker began with just $60 in the micro stakes games in 2004, and by 2007, he transitioned to playing poker professionally full-time. His success in poker has afforded him over a decade of world travel and financial freedom. Through his channel 'BlackRain79Poker', Nathan dedicates himself to teaching others how to achieve success in poker, offering strategies and insights that have been proven effective in his own career. In addition to his educational content, he provides resources such as a free poker cheat sheet, access to his Elite Poker University, and advice on poker tracking software like PokerTracker, all designed to help players improve their game and achieve competitive success.
Avoiding Costly Hands: Refrain from playing fishy hands like King Nine, Six Four, and Ace Deuce, as they often result in losing money due to weak top pairs or non-nut straights.
Board Texture and Hand Reading: Develop the ability to read board textures accurately and assess the relative strength of your hand to avoid costly mistakes.
Hand Selection: Choose hands for your range that are appropriate for the situation, particularly favoring late position plays as mentioned in the free poker cheat sheet.
Understanding Hand Strength: Recognize that speculative hands are not premium and should not command large bets or involvement in big pots post-flop.
Use of Poker Analytics Tools: Utilize tools like Poker Tracker to review and understand which hands are winning or losing in your own play history.
Poker Hand Selection: Discusses the importance of avoiding certain 'fishy' poker hands that often cost beginners and amateurs significant amounts of money.
King Nine (K9): Explains the problems with playing King Nine, such as making a weak top pair with a poor kicker that's easily dominated, and advises against getting involved in big pots with this hand.
Six Four (64): Highlights the issues with Six Four, including the tendency to make a weak top pair or chase inferior straights that are not the nuts, warning players to be cautious and often fold this hand pre-flop in face of aggression.
Ace Deuce (A2): Outlines the weaknesses of Ace Deuce, like making the worst top pair and being unable to make the nut straight, cautioning players to avoid large pots with this hand.
General Strategy Advice: Emphasizes the necessity of a balanced strategy, selective play of speculative hands in the right situations, mostly late positions, and the importance of understanding board textures and hand strengths.
Resources for Improvement: Mentions available resources such as poker tracking software, a free poker cheat sheet, and additional educational poker strategy videos to help players improve their game.
This article is a summary of the video Stop Playing These 3 Fishy Poker Hands! (Costly Mistake) by BlackRain79Poker published on December 11, 2021 at 15:55:50.
Q: What are some common poker hands that beginners should avoid playing? A: Beginners should be wary of playing hands like king nine, six four, and ace deuce as they can lead to being outkicked or chasing weak draws, resulting in significant losses.
Q: Why is king nine considered a fishy hand and how should I play it? A: King nine is considered fishy because it often makes a top pair with a poor kicker, making it vulnerable to being dominated by hands with higher kickers. It's best to play this hand cautiously and avoid getting into large pots.
Q: What are the problems with playing six four in poker? A: Six four can lead to making a weak top pair or chasing the lower end of a straight, which can be detrimental if the board pairs or if an opponent holds a higher straight.
Q: How can ace deuce be a costly hand in poker? A: Ace deuce is a troublesome hand because it makes the worst possible top pair and cannot make the nut straight, increasing the likelihood of losing to stronger aces or higher straights.
Q: Can you explain the importance of positional awareness in poker? A: Positional awareness is crucial because it affects the range of hands you should play. Playing speculative hands from late position can be more profitable, as you'll have more information about your opponents' actions.
Q: How can I improve my ability to read board textures? A: To improve board reading skills, study different board layouts, practice identifying potential draws, and understand how they connect with possible hand ranges. This will help you make better decisions on whether to continue with a hand.
Q: What's a good approach to bankroll management in poker? A: A good approach to bankroll management includes only playing stakes your bankroll can sustain, avoiding overcommitting to pots with weak hands, and being mindful of bet sizing in relation to the strength of your hand.