In chapter 17 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain why folding strong hands on the river in big pots is one of the most expensive mistakes a player can make, and why calling is usually correct even when the board looks scary. The Trap of “Good Laydowns” Many players pride themselves on making big…

In chapter 16 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain how much of a winning player’s profit comes from betting thinly for value on the river, especially against the loose, call-happy opponents common in small-stakes games. Why Calling Stations Are Profitable Many small-stakes players call far too often. They chase weak hands, miss their draws,…

In chapter 15 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain how to play overpairs after the flop, focusing on when to push a small edge immediately and when to wait so you can exploit a much bigger edge on the turn. The Core Idea: Not All Edges Should Be Pushed Immediately The chapter starts from…

In chapter 14 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain that slowplaying (under-representing a strong hand by checking or calling instead of betting/raising) is usually a mistake at small stakes, but can be correct in a narrow set of situations where deception is worth more than immediate value and protection. What Slowplaying Tries to Accomplish…

In chapter 13 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain how to exploit opponents’ tendency to check to the player who showed strength on the prior round, using flop aggression in position to sometimes buy a “free” turn check and reduce the cost of chasing a draw. Why the “Free Card” Works Many players automatically…

In chapter 12 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain that winning players protect their equity in large, multiway pots by using aggression to make opponents with weak draws face bad choices, and they warn that the most expensive mistake is folding a hand that has a meaningful chance to win a big pot. The…

In chapter 11 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors argue that pot size should drive almost every postflop decision, because a hand’s “worth” is really its share of the pot relative to the cost of current and future bets. Why Pot Size Changes Everything A monster hand can be low value in a tiny pot,…

In chapter 10 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain how to judge drawing hands on the flop by looking beyond “I have a flush draw” or “I have a straight draw” and instead evaluating how board texture, nut potential, redraw risk, and extra ways to win (like pairing) change a draw’s real value in…

In chapter 9 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors argue that labeling a flop hand as “top pair” or “a draw” is too crude for good decisions; you must judge how likely your specific hand is to win in a multiway pot by considering kicker strength, board texture, redraw potential, and vulnerability to being outdrawn….

In chapter 8 of Small Stakes Hold’em, the authors explain that when you’re behind, your true number of outs is often larger than it first appears because opponents’ “made” hands can be weakened by counterfeit cards, and recognizing these hidden outs can turn many folds into profitable calls. The Core Idea: Hidden Outs from Counterfeiting…