Join Nathan Williams, aka BlackRain79, as he breaks down a fail-proof strategy to greatly enhance your cash game victories in poker. Discover the four key steps towards cash game success that Williams has perfected over his 10+ year career.
Nathan Williams: Nathan Williams, also known as BlackRain79, is a professional poker player with over 10 years of experience, particularly in cash games. He is recognized for his significant online poker winnings at small and mid stakes, which are some of the highest recorded. Nathan has authored best-selling poker strategy books and has a strong presence on his YouTube channel, BlackRain79Poker, where he shares his insights and strategies. He also offers a training course called BlackRain79 Elite Poker University, where he teaches players how to win at poker, especially focusing on small and mid stakes games. As a coach, he emphasizes the importance of playing a tight and aggressive range, being assertive in the game, and the strategic application of continuation bets and value betting. His approach to poker includes using well-defined ranges, maintaining aggression, and applying constant pressure post-flop to maximize profits in cash games.
Understanding Hand Values: Adopt a tag (tight and aggressive) play style, playing a tight range of hands such as pocket pairs, Broadway hands, suited aces, and suited connectors, adjusting the range based on the number of players in the game.
Pre-Flop Strategy: Implement aggressive betting by raising or re-raising before the flop around 90% of the time to take control and apply pressure to your opponents.
Post-Flop Strategy: Continue to apply pressure after the flop with continuation bets, even when you miss the flop, as opponents often do not connect with the board.
Value Betting: Relentlessly value bet when ahead, targeting a wide range of your opponents' possible hands, and use strong bet sizing on the river to ensure maximum profit from your winning hands.
Skill Development: Cultivate the ability to assess hand ranges rather than focusing on specific hands and make strategic decisions based on this range analysis.
Personal Growth: Work on removing passivity from your play and focus on small edges to maximize long-term profits over thousands of hands.
Understanding Realistic Poker Expectations: Nathan emphasizes that no one wins at cash games every single time, countering unrealistic expectations.
Playing a TAG Range: Explains the concept of playing 'tight and aggressive' (TAG), including recommended hands to play in 6-player and 9-player cash games, emphasizing adjustments based on the number of players.
Aggression Pre-flop: Highlights the importance of raising or re-raising before the flop around 90% of the time, rather than just calling, to take control of the game.
Post-flop Pressure: Advises on making continuation bets on the flop as a strategy to force opponents to fold, leveraging the statistic that hands miss the flop two-thirds of the time.
Relentless Value Betting: Nathan shares his key to success through value betting, especially on the river, and suggests betting 75% of the pot on strong hands to maximize profit.
Professional Poker Career Insights: Nathan shares insights from his over 10-year career in professional poker, emphasizing small edges and large hand sample sizes for long-term success.
Resources for Improvement: Mentions his free poker cheat sheet, YouTube videos, books, and training courses as resources for players looking to improve their game.
This article is a summary of the video How to Win at Cash Games Every Time (Just Do This!) by BlackRain79Poker published on May 26, 2023 at 15:08:32.
Q: Is it possible to win at poker cash games every single time? A: No, it is not possible to win at cash games every single time due to the inherent variability and element of chance in poker.
Q: What does TAG mean in poker and why is it important? A: TAG stands for 'tight and aggressive'. Playing TAG means selecting the right hands to play and being assertive in your betting, which is a fundamental strategy for winning in cash games.
Q: What hand ranges should I play in six-player versus nine-player cash games? A: In six-player games, play the top 20% of hands, which includes all pocket pairs, nearly all Broadway cards, suited aces, and connectors. In nine-player games, be more selective and play the top 15% of hands due to the increased odds of someone having a strong hand.
Q: How can I transition from a passive to an aggressive playstyle in poker? A: Raise or re-raise before the flop about 90% of the time, take control of the game, and make bets that show you're in charge, making it clear that others are a guest in your pot.
Q: What's the strategy for betting post-flop when my hand hasn't improved? A: Continue to apply pressure by making a continuation bet (C-bet) on the flop, betting about half pot. This encourages opponents to fold, as a random hand misses the flop approximately two-thirds of the time.
Q: How do I master value betting in poker cash games? A: Value bet when you believe you are ahead of your opponent's range, especially on the river. Bet around 75% of the pot for a strong value bet, and remember to also include thin value bets with hands like third or fourth pair when appropriate.
Q: How do I balance bluffing and value betting on the river? A: Assess the range of hands your opponent could have and determine if your hand is ahead. If so, make a strong value bet of about 75% of the pot. Use the same bet sizing for bluffs to keep opponents from making easy calls.