Discover the 6-step formula that poker pro Nathan ‘BlackRain79’ Williams swears by to get good at poker fast. This video unpacks the secrets to hand selection, positional play, and more.
Nathan Williams (BlackRain79): Nathan Williams, commonly known by his online moniker BlackRain79, is a seasoned professional poker player and one of the biggest winners in online poker history at the small and mid stakes. Starting his journey in 2004 with a modest bankroll, Nathan quickly rose through the ranks, managing to quit his job by 2007 to play poker full-time. His strategic insights and teachings are encapsulated in his best-selling poker strategy books and his Elite Poker Training University, which includes over 17 hours of advanced training and multiple cheat sheets. With a decade-long professional career and more than 10 million hands played, Nathan focuses not only on the strategic aspects of poker but also emphasizes the psychological resilience required to endure the inevitable bad beats of the game. His contributions to the poker community extend beyond playing, as he has coached hundreds of students and shares his knowledge through social media and his YouTube channel, BlackRain79Poker.
Preflop Hand Selection: Play the top 20% of hands to enter pots with a mathematical advantage.
Understanding Position: Prioritize playing more hands from profitable positions like the button and the cutoff to act last and gain informational advantages.
Postflop Strategy: Maintain controlled aggression by raising preflop around three times the blind and following up with continuation bets most of the time, even when missing the flop.
Value Betting: Maximize the value from strong hands by building the pot and avoiding slow play, especially against bad players who tend not to fold pairs.
Approaching Bad Hands: Minimize bluffing against recreational players in small and mid stakes games as they are less likely to fold their hands.
Mental Resilience: Prepare for inevitable bad beats and maintain focus on the long-term process of poker, rather than becoming emotionally affected by short-term losses.
Hand Selection: Emphasizes the importance of selecting the right hands before the flop, suggesting playing the top 20% of hands for a mathematical edge. Provides a chart and includes a reference to a free poker cheat sheet for further guidance.
Table Position: Highlights the significance of the button and cutoff positions at the poker table for their advantage of acting last post-flop, leading to better-informed decisions and, thus, higher profitability.
Post-Flop Strategy: Advises controlled aggression with continuation bets post-flop, even when missing the flop, to give opponents reasons to fold and maintain control of the pot.
Value Betting: Encourages building the pot when holding a strong hand, rather than slow playing, to maximize profits from players in small and mid stakes games who are less likely to fold.
Handling Bad Hands: Recommends against frequent bluffing in lower stakes games due to the tendency of less experienced players to call down with mediocre hands.
Psychology and Tilt Management: Stresses that psychological resilience is critical in poker, advising to prepare for frequent bad beats and to focus on long-term results rather than short-term outcomes.
Skill Development Resources: Mentions resources such as the Elite Poker Training University, multiple videos on strategy, and the book 'Crushing the Micro Stakes' for in-depth learning and strategy enhancement.
This article is a summary of the video How to Get Good at Poker Fast (Just Do This!) by BlackRain79Poker published on August 30, 2022 at 15:38:14.
Q: What starting hands should I play to have a mathematical advantage pre-flop? A: Focus on playing the top 20% of hands, such as those shown in red on the chart for a six max poker game. This strategy positions you favorably before the pot is entered.
Q: Why is my position at the poker table important and which are the most profitable seats? A: Position at the poker table is critical because having a positional advantage, particularly from the button or cutoff seats, allows you to act last on the flop, turn, and river. This gives you a 'statistical advantage' as you gain more information, allowing for more effective value betting, bluffing, and folding.
Q: How should I approach post-flop strategy to be successful in poker? A: Post-flop strategy involves maintaining controlled aggression. Making a standard raise pre-flop, around three times the blind, followed by a continuation bet on the flop, even if you miss, is key. This approach pressures opponents and can lead to profitable outcomes.
Q: What is the best way to maximize value with strong hands? A: Avoid slow playing when you have strong hands. Instead, build the pot by betting and taking opponents to 'value town.' Strong hands should be used to win big pots, especially since weaker players in small and mid stakes games are less likely to fold.
Q: How should I handle situations when I have a bad hand? A: When holding a bad hand, be cautious with bluffs, as many players in small and mid stakes games are reluctant to fold. Instead, focus on solid play and avoid attempting bluffs against recreational players who are likely to call down.
Q: What's the best way to deal with bad beats in poker? A: Prepare yourself mentally for bad beats and maintain a long-term perspective. Understand that poker involves a significant psychological aspect and resilience is key. Focus on the process and long-term strategy rather than short-term outcomes.