Explore the 'stop and go' strategy that has earned poker pro Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams millions. This video provides step-by-step guidance on how to exploit weaker regulars and maximize your chip gain in small to mid stakes games.
Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams: Nathan 'BlackRain79' Williams is a professional poker player and one of the top winners in online poker history at the small to mid stakes. He started his poker journey in 2004 with a modest $60 bankroll and quickly ascended through the ranks, eventually quitting his job in 2007 to pursue poker full-time. Known for his robust strategic approach and his ability to teach others, Nathan has authored three best-selling poker books and created the BlackRain79 Elite Poker University to share his knowledge. His YouTube channel, BlackRain79Poker, is a platform where he offers poker strategy advice through videos and is known for giving out a free poker 'cheat sheet'. He emphasizes the importance of playing responsibly and within one's limits, acknowledging the challenges of making a long-term profit in poker.
Stop and Go Strategy: Employ the stop and go strategy against weaker regulars by applying pressure and then slowing down to create deception, before making them pay on the river for maximum value.
Exploiting Opponent Weaknesses: Capitalize on decent but not sophisticated players by understanding that they hesitate to commit lots of chips without a strong hand and exploit this by adjusting your play.
Hand Ranges and Reads: Categorize opponents' probable hand ranges and use this information to make informed decisions throughout the hand.
Continuation Betting: Make continuation bets on the flop with top pair to get value, but also do it with weaker hands to balance your range.
Deception Value: Create deception by checking the turn with strong hands like top pair to disguise the strength of your hand and induce mistakes from opponents on the river.
River Value Betting: Make strong value bets on the river when the board and opponent's perceived range favor your hand, to extract maximum value from worse hands.
Adjusting Strategy Based on Opponent Type: Tailor your strategy to the type of player you are against; use straightforward betting against fish and more complex betting patterns against skilled players.
Stop and Go Strategy: Introduces a poker strategy known as 'stop and go' which is effective against weaker regular players at small and mid stakes games, focusing on maximizing chip gain with decent hands like top pair.
Player Types and Tendencies: Distinguishes between weaker regulars and recreational players, noting that regulars tend to avoid committing many chips without strong hands and generally think less sophisticatedly.
Hand Ranges and Board Texture: Discusses the typical hand ranges of decent regular players and how to assess board textures, using an example where the player holds Ace Queen offsuit.
Continuation Betting: Explains the importance of continuation betting on the flop when hitting top pair and the concept of range balancing, including betting when holding nothing.
Turn Play: Advises slowing down on the turn when it doesn't change the board, to create 'deception value' and set up for a river bet, as explained in the presenter's third poker book.
River Value Bet: Recommends making a strong value bet on the river when harmless cards appear, expecting calls from worse value hands due to the deception created on the turn.
Adapting to Opponent Skill Levels: Explains that the stop and go technique does not work against very inexperienced players (fish) or very skilled players, suggesting different strategies for those groups.
Educational Content and Resources: Mentions the presenter's poker strategy videos and the free poker cheat sheet, encouraging viewers to subscribe and access provided materials for further learning.
This article is a summary of the video The Simple Poker "Stop and Go" Strategy (Works Every Time) by BlackRain79Poker published on July 22, 2023 at 12:33:42.
Q: How can I effectively exploit the weaknesses of weaker regular poker players? A: Target their reluctance to commit many chips without strong hands by applying pressure in the right moments and creating deception to make them think you don't have a strong hand when you do.
Q: How do I determine the range of hands my opponent might have? A: Consider the types of hands they would likely call with pre-flop, such as broadways, pocket pairs, suited connectors, and some suited aces, and use the post-flop action to further narrow down their range.
Q: When should I switch between aggressive play and deception in poker? A: Be aggressive when you have strong hands or when the board allows for it, but use deception by checking in situations where continuing to bet does not add value, especially against decent players who may fold worse hands.
Q: What should my continuation betting strategy be in poker? A: You should continuation bet on the flop most of the time, whether you hit top pair or not, to balance your range. Adapt your betting strategy on the turn and river based on the opponent and the board texture.
Q: How do I adjust my poker strategies for different player types? A: Against weaker regulars, use a stop and go strategy; against fish, bet consistently as they are likely to call; and against top-tier players, mix up your game to keep them guessing.