Nathan Williams, aka BlackRain79, highlights a frequent poker error and introduces the concept of delayed c-betting to improve your post-flop play. Learn strategies to handle middle pair and top pair hands effectively in his latest tutorial.
Nathan Williams: Nathan Williams, also known as BlackRain79, is a professional poker player and one of the most successful players in online poker history at the small and mid stakes. With a career starting back in 2004 with just $60, Nathan has proven his skills and strategies by creating some of the highest winnings online at his level. He is recognized for his expertise in crushing small and mid-stakes poker games and is known for his insightful educational content. Nathan is a 3-time best selling poker author, sharing his knowledge and experience through his books and his BlackRain79Poker YouTube channel. He provides valuable strategy advice and has developed a 'cheat sheet' and courses aimed at helping players succeed in poker. His approach often involves discussing tactics like the delayed continuation bet (c-bet) and the strategic considerations behind such moves in various poker scenarios.
Continuation Betting: Avoid automatic continuation betting with middle pair on action-heavy boards; consider if a delayed c-bet on the turn might be more beneficial.
Delayed C-bet Strategy: Use a delayed c-bet to disguise hand strength, create deception value, and induce bluffs from aggressive opponents.
Playing Middle Pair: With middle pair, check behind on the flop to avoid getting raised, creating a good bluff catcher, and potentially inducing bluffs on later streets.
Playing Top Pair with Bad Kicker: With top pair and a bad kicker, it's often better to delay betting to maintain pot control and avoid difficult situations when raised.
Adjusting to Opponent Types: Against aggressive players (TAGs and LAGs), use delayed c-bets to your advantage; against passive players, straightforward c-bets are usually more effective.
Range Balancing: Mix up your play by checking behind with a range of hand strengths to keep opponents guessing and make your strategy less exploitable.
Continuation Betting Mistake: Explains that a common error is continuation betting with the wrong hands on incorrect board textures, which can be detrimental to the player's strategy.
Delayed Continuation Bet (Delayed C-bet): Describes the delayed c-bet as a strategic move where the player waits until the turn to continue their pre-flop aggression, especially effective with hands like middle pair.
Middle Pair Strategy: Suggests that for middle pair, a delayed c-bet can disguise hand strength, prevent difficult situations when raised, and create bluff-catching opportunities against aggressive players.
Top Pair Bad Kicker Strategy: Advises that with top pair and a weak kicker, players should consider a delayed c-bet to avoid big pots against aggressive opponents, disguise hand strength, and induce bluffs.
Value of Deception: Discusses the concept of deception value, which allows a player to get more value from their hands by inducing bluffs and creating unpredictability in their play style.
Effective Use Against Aggressive Players: Points out that delayed c-bets work well against aggressive players (TAGs and LAGs) since they are likely to perceive checks as weakness and bluff into the pot on later streets.
Range Balancing: Emphasizes the importance of balancing one's range by sometimes checking back strong hands to keep opponents guessing and to make one's play less exploitable.
Skill Development Advice: Encourages players to integrate delayed c-bet strategies into their game, especially against aggressive opponents, to improve their overall poker success.
This article is a summary of the video Stop Betting the Flop Like This! (Amateur Mistake) by BlackRain79Poker published on November 23, 2021 at 14:40:16.
Q: What is a continuation bet and when should I consider a delayed c-bet? A: A continuation bet (c-bet) is when you raise before the flop and then bet again on the flop, continuing your aggression. A delayed c-bet involves waiting until the turn to bet, which can be beneficial with hands like middle pair to create deception, prevent raises, and induce bluffs from aggressive players.
Q: How should I play middle pair on the flop? A: With middle pair, it's often advantageous to perform a delayed c-bet. This allows you to disguise the strength of your hand, avoid getting raised by aggressive opponents, and creates bluff-catching opportunities. Betting immediately may not always be the best play, especially against TAGs who could easily have hit the board in a way that dominates your hand.
Q: Why should I consider checking back with top pair, weak kicker on the flop? A: Checking back with top pair and a weak kicker can prevent aggressive opponents from raising, and you're unlikely to get three streets of value from weaker hands. This play disguises the strength of your hand, and you can extract value on later streets when your hand seems less obvious to your opponents.
Q: How do I analyze the flop texture to decide between betting and checking? A: Analyzing the flop texture involves considering how it interacts with both your hand and your opponent's range. If the board is action-heavy and matches your opponent's likely holdings, it may be better to check and see how the hand develops. Conversely, if the board favors your range, you might opt to bet for value or as a bluff.
Q: How can I effectively deal with aggressive players on the flop? A: When facing aggressive opponents on the flop, avoid giving them opportunities to bluff you out of the pot. You can do this by checking back with medium-strength hands, which can induce bluffs that you can call down on later streets, or by picking your spots carefully when deciding to bet or raise.
Q: What does it mean to balance your range, and how does this apply to delayed c-bets? A: Balancing your range means playing a variety of hands in the same way to keep opponents guessing. By incorporating delayed c-bets with different hand strengths, such as middle pair or top pair with a weak kicker, you prevent opponents from easily predicting your holdings and make it more difficult for them to develop a counter-strategy.
Q: In what scenarios should I aim to maximize the value from my hand? A: Maximize value from your hand when you have a strong but not invincible holding, like top pair or an overpair. Determine how many streets of value you can realistically get based on your opponent's range and betting patterns, and adjust your bet sizing and timing accordingly to extract the most profit.