Join Nathan Williams, aka BlackRain79, as he reveals the three common poker draws that could be bleeding your bankroll dry. Learn why gut shot straight draws, the bottom end of straights, and low flush draws can be detrimental to your game.
Nathan Williams: Nathan Williams, also known as BlackRain79, is a professional poker player and one of the top winners in online poker history at the small and mid-stakes. Starting his poker career with just $60 back in 2004, Nathan faced skepticism but rose through the ranks and left his job in 2007 to pursue poker full-time. As a poker educator, he has authored best-selling poker strategy books, sharing his insights and proven strategies to help others excel at the game. Through his YouTube channel, BlackRain79Poker, Nathan provides educational content on poker strategy, aiming to help players from beginners to those at intermediate levels improve their game. Notably, his focus is on avoiding common pitfalls and playing responsibly, as evidenced by his discussion on avoiding bad draws in poker. Nathan also offers a poker 'cheat sheet' and courses through his Elite Poker University, assisting players in their journey to consistent success in small and mid-stakes poker games.
Avoiding Fishy Draws: Stop chasing low-probability draws such as gut shot straight draws, the bottom end of straights, and low flush draws to prevent unnecessary losses.
Understanding Equity: Know your odds of winning the pot with the draws you decide to chase. High-equity draws are more favorable.
Chasing Draw Quality: Ensure you're chasing high-quality draws, ideally drawing to the nuts, to avoid putting yourself in tough, losing situations.
Positional Awareness: Be aware of the betting action and position when deciding to chase a draw. Fold in the face of aggressive action that suggests opponents have stronger hands.
Strategic Folding: Learn when to fold draws, especially in the face of significant action, to avoid being committed to a losing hand.
Game Analysis: Regularly analyze your hand's strength relative to the board and possible holdings of your opponents to make informed decisions.
Gut Shot Straight Draws: Advises against chasing gut shot straight draws due to their low equity, with an 8.5% chance of hitting on the turn and 16.5% from the flop to the river, which is not cost-effective.
Chasing the Bottom End of a Straight: Warns about the risks of chasing the bottom end of a straight, often referred to as the 'idiot end', because it sets players up for potential losses, especially when the hand isn't the best possible ('the nuts').
Low Flush Draws: Recommends caution when chasing low flush draws, as they can lead to losing situations against higher flush draws. Emphasizes the importance of folding in the face of large bets and raises, as it often indicates stronger hands in play.
Understanding Equity: Highlights the importance of understanding the odds and equity of hitting specific hands, which is crucial for making informed decisions about whether to chase a draw.
Avoiding Fishy Plays: Encourages players to avoid common mistakes seen in recreational and amateur players, like chasing bad draws and not considering the strength of potential completing hands.
Recommended Actions: Suggests checking or folding in situations with high betting action when holding weak draws to avoid losing money.
Skill Improvement Resources: Mentions a free poker cheat sheet and additional strategy videos as resources for improving at small and mid-stakes poker games.
This article is a summary of the video Stop Chasing These 3 Bad Draws! (Amateur Mistake) by BlackRain79Poker published on December 24, 2021 at 14:18:18.
Q: How do I calculate draw equity in poker? A: To calculate draw equity, you must determine the percentage of odds you have to win the pot. For example, with a gut shot straight draw, hitting your needed card on the turn is roughly 8.5%, and from the flop to the river is about 16.5%.
Q: Why should I avoid chasing gut shot straight draws? A: Gut shot straight draws have low equity, meaning the chances of hitting your card are slim, often less than 10% on the turn and only about 16.5% by the river. Additionally, even if you hit your draw, you may not have the best straight, leading to potential losses.
Q: What are the risks of chasing the bottom end of a straight? A: When you chase the bottom end of a straight, you risk running into a situation where your straight is not the best possible one, and other players may have higher straights. This can lead to 'disaster' scenarios where you think you have a strong hand but are actually drawing dead or facing superior hands.
Q: How can I discern the quality of my straight draw? A: Assess the board and consider the best possible hand you could hit. Be wary of draws that could lead to the bottom end of the straight or 'idiot end', as they can often set you up for difficult situations where you are outdrawn by higher straights.
Q: When should I fold a low flush draw in the face of big action? A: If there is significant action ahead of you, such as a big bet and a raise, it's a strong indication that someone has a very strong hand like a set or a higher flush draw. In such cases, even if you hit your flush, you could be at a significant disadvantage, so folding is often the smarter move.
Q: How do I avoid making 'fishy' poker plays? A: To avoid 'fishy' plays, focus on chasing draws with higher equity, like open-ended straight draws, and be cautious with low equity hands like gut shots or low flush draws. Always consider the strength of your hand relative to the board and avoid putting yourself in situations where you could be drawing dead or facing superior hands.