I purchased and read Crushing the Microstakes over the weekend. The book is very well written and goes step-by-step on how to play each street. There are also interesting sections on tilt and variance.

Blackrain79 emphasizes the importance of aggression and position. He basically advocates ABC poker: bet big when you think you're ahead and get out if you think that you're behind. Preflop, he recommends playing extremely tight from early position (22+ AQ+) and rather loose from the button (which include which look to me like very weak hands like K2o and T8o). There is almost no limping preflop (mostly low pairs from early position). Postflop, aggression is the key. The author has a detailed discussion of c-betting. There is relatively little discussion of turn and river play compared to playing on the flop.

I'm a losing player at NL4, so I obviously can't comment on the validity of his strategies except to say that he is a big winner at these stakes and that his recommendations will help the player mostly avoid marginal or "tricky" situations when possible.

Overall, I recommend Crushing the Microstakes. It is very detailed yet it is very easy to understand what is being taught.

I'd like to thank Blackrain79 for writing this book.

I plan on depositing a few bucks on a US friendly site and grinding some micros just for practice. I am mainly planning on playing the 1-2 live games in AC and the WOOD and SUN casinos.

I have been away from the game for a long time but as you can see from my join date I go back a ways. Just trying to re-start my beloved hobby.

I would like a resource that can help me develop my online game *AND* my live 1-2 game. Is this book for me or should I look elsewhere for a starting point?

Thanks guys.

Hey GameBreaker,

My book is mainly targeted towards the micro limits online and especially the very lowest ones, NL2-NL10. I am not much of a live player myself but I have heard many times that the game quality at your standard 1/2 game would be equivilent to those stakes online. So, short answer yes, my book would probably help you. A couple posts above this one I linked to a review from earlier in this thread from a live only player. I think he plays 1/2 specifically. So maybe that will help as well.

I bought this the other night and read threw it pretty fast. I've played for years as a hobby/recreational player. I've never bought a book and bought this mainly because of his graphs at the micros, which I play at.

I've played 3k hands since buying it and it has helped a lot with mistakes I was making at these stakes. Personally, I think it's a great beginners book. It also will help those looking to sure up some leaks at the micros (NL5/4). I ran real horrible during my 2nd session (-5bi @4NL ), but my +EV has went up quite a bit and I won my 5bi back during sessions 3/4 +some.

Really good book for beginners or players that are having trouble at small stakes.

+1 blackrain good book man.

Hey guys, i'm really interested in this book, but I'm kind of mixed up on the idea of it being FR. Is it still useful for 6max? I really prefer 6max a lot more over FR.

Here is a post from earlier in this thread where I talk about this:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...1&postcount=61

Yeah I ended up buying it, very good book for micros. Recommended.

Is this book available on Kindle?

Not yet. On my to do list still. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I really like your book crushing the microstakes.

I am reading it for the 2nd time atm. It helps me get back on the right path, when i am having the fancy play syndrom or when i watched to many coaching videos of higher stakes. They offer advice which is too advanced for NL 5.

I bought the book end of february. I had a 1bb/100 for february.
I read the book. My march results are 12bb/100 and april so far 14bb/100. It could be coincidence, but i dont think so. IMHO it is totally worth the money. (I play NL5 on PS).

I plan to reread it a 3rd time for sure. I like your writing style and how it is struktured.

I would like a book from you how to play optimally for NL10 and NL25. Please?

Here I think I can help you. I found once on the Internet a free pdf to Kindle converter. I don't remember its name, unfortunately, nor I have it installed anymore. But this program was awesome: it made the conversion from pdf to mobi or azw, but kept the files necessary for conversion into the project folder, including a HTML file.

This HTML file can be edited at will so your book can take the shape and size that you want.

If anyone knows the name of the program, I can help you with the conversion. I did it with Leatherass's Book so I think I can do it for yours too.

Just purchased the book! I can't wait to read it and play some 2nl

After reading your reviews, I am seriously thinking in buying it.

Calibre is the software, but it really sucks at converting to mobi without lots of tweaking.
Blackrain, I'm willing to give it a shot for ya, just need to email me the pdf

I know. Many do.

Bought the book. I don't regret the choice.

Uh-oh. I guess that means you won't be playing that ubernit style on 888 for much longer. I won't be able to steal your blinds!

Don't even try to

About the Kindle conversion, if you have your Kindle registered, you can send this pdf at <username of the email you registered your kindle on>@kindle.com (*) . Put "Convert" in subject and send it. In a few minutes, the Kindle version will be sent to you, wireless. Generally it's an imperfect conversion, but for this particular book it's a very good one. Except for the table of contents, everything is very well converted

(*) - this means that if you registered your Kindle with JohnDoe@yahoo.com , send the aforementioned email at JohnDoe@Kindle.com

Thanks for the kind words about the book and I am really glad to hear that it has improved your results so much at the tables. Continued success!

As for writing another book. No plans at the moment but never say never I guess.

Yes, I have tried using Calibre and it didn't turn out very well at all. I am currently talking to a couple of professionals regarding getting a proper conversion done as I won't release something that is substandard. I can't remember if I have your email address. If you would like to discuss this further please email me at blackrain79@dragthebar.com or shoot me a pm on here. Thanks.

Thanks for the advice. As I said above, I won't release something that has problems. But I will give this a try and see how it looks.

Glad to hear!

Perfect book. It helped to my winrate alot. Also like private forum acess and skype group. Good for newbies.

I would recommend it.

Im hoping for vol II with nl25 version. ((:

The book is written for stakes up to NL50

I am happy to finally announce that Crushing the Microstakes is now available on Kindle and for other e-readers. All sales through my website http://www.blackrain79.com/p/book.html will now include a mobi, epub and pdf version of the book.

If you are a previous buyer and want the mobi or epub versions please just email me at blackrain79@dragthebar.com and I will send them to you. Thank you for all the patience!

Definitely gonna give this a try.

Hey Nathan, I just checked it and I can confirm it is a perfect version now. The TOC works, formatting is great and the chapter buttons on Kindle now can be used. So yeah now it's a real ebook for ereaders. Totally usable .

Awesome, glad to hear!