I just finished reading this book and took loads of notes throughout while I was reading.
And all I got to say is, daaayyuuum!
Seriously, Blackrain, BIG credit to you my friend!

My story short is that I've been a casual loosing player 2-3 years now, but lately before I started playing poker I decided to take it more seriously and study some important things before I would sit down again. - So I started out working on BRM and such, and my game improved at SnG's, but I was still just breakeven(Alot better then before ofcourse) but I wanted more, I wanted to really learn and improving my game even more!

So I was reading some random thread here (this one) suddenly, and I read a couple of reviews about the book, and found it quite interesting, so I got it!


After I've read this book I've learned ALOT! and I mean incredible much of information that I never thought of before, It's really easy to understand what BlackRain is saying and the way he sees things are just amazing.
I have read a couple of books before, big books by big men, but they didnt give me 10% of the information that this book gave me!

I've had several sessions after I read this book, and my green line in PT goes up up up!
Just because I took this serious and studied every thing that was being told in the book.
Ofcourse I am not following the tactics 100%, but thats also something Blackrain pointed out, to not do!
Find out what works for you and do it! For hours and hours!

And I will, I will also reread this book, just because it was a good read, and incase I've missed something, I've learned so much from this, I am thankful to Blackrain who has taken time to write this book in such a fine detail.

And another positive thing about it, maybe it's just me, but I actually found a couple of things he was talking about funny, I actually laughed in real life because of some things he pointed out.


This got a bit out of hand, so sorry for that, but I am superexcited to finally find something that seem to work for me!

So guys, if you are new(heck, even if you are a reg at microstakes)
Seriously, give this a read, I'll promise you that you will have your game improved!
I bet that somewhere down in this book, there's something that will make you think/say "Aaahaa!".

Shortly, I recommend this book very much!

Thanks again, Blackrain. For writing this goldfontain!

Kindly Regards,


Edit; I used to play SnG's before reading this book. Now I'm only playing microstakes cash FR.

Yep, it did. At the postflop section of the book

Bought the book in April, after playing poker for a year recreationally, and enjoying the competition. After the book, i'm enjoying "WINNING", and yes that is a Charlie Sheen reference. I'm not getting rich, I just love the competition, on a daily basis, it's my sport.

Since May 1st :

32,000 hands ... + 14.07 bb/100.. @ 2NL
22,000 hands ... + 3.67 bb/100.. @ 5NL


I think it's an excellent book for a beginner, or for the hobbyist who's been fumbling around for a while, wondering why he can't beat any limit. His writing is amusing and he states stuff in a really easy way to learn. I have read, reread and referenced over and over again, and keep pulling things from from it that I didn't originally retain. I amm also thinking about coaching for additional help. His site that supports thje book also has forums. articles and blog posts he's written. I've noticed he seems to respond to people's poker questions and HH q's as well. He seems like a good guy, and i don't say that about too many...lol... I highly recommend it for both fundamentals and fun(WINNING) !!!

Just purchased, can't wait to get home and load it onto my Kobo.. Going on a 3 day camping trip this weekend so now I have something to read!

Is it a PDF book or is it a "real book"?

Wonder cuz I'm living in a foreign country and would like to just download the book after I bought it, or is the transport costs high?

It is an ebook, not a physical book. Upon purchase you will receive a download link via email for the PDF, epub and mobi versions of the book.

Hey Nathan, congratulations on the great book. This book is a must-have for all beginners. I just had a few questions that I would appreciate some clarification on.

Pot controlling is still something new to me, and I was wondering, should you be pot controlling vs. a reg on a wet board whether IP or OOP? I would assume that the answer would generally be "yes, because Regs and Nits shouldn't be calling your cbet's with draws since they know how to calculate pot odds", but at these stakes, there will always be the one reg that decides to peel this time for whatever reason.
Also, what do we once we get to a wet river OOP after c/calling the turn for pot control? Do we c/c again? Do we lead out? What about dry rivers?

I apologize if my questions are too in depth and I understand if you do not want to answer them on this public forum since it would be giving away valueable information in the book for free. If there is another way we can communicate about these questions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advanced! And again, great job on the book!

@gasbreakhonk: Those questions really need hand histories and player stats to go with them, as there isn't really a standard line to take. You also didn't say how strong your own hand was. You'd be better off asking in either Nathan's own forum, BQ or one of the microstakes forums on 2+2.

Glad you enjoyed the book.

I am afraid that my answer is going to pretty much echo what ArtySmokes said as these situations that you describe are pretty broad and require a lot more information.

The first question that came to my mind in both of your questions is what is the strength of our hand? I will often play it very differently depending on whether I have a nut hand, a top pair hand, a draw (not all draws are the same, so what kind of draw?) or air. And player type (you said reg but nit or tag?), position, stacks and history are all important factors as well.

So in order to answer these questions properly I would need quite a bit more information. Hand histories, whether posted here on 2+2, on my forum or elsewhere would be the best. Also, you can email me with some specific scenarios if you like at blackrain79@dragthebar.com although within reason of course

Just wanted to thank blackrain for the book. This book has helped with tilt control more than any other book. I think the reason for this is that it has kind of taught me to simplify my game. I used to get in the habit of trying to make all these complicated moves and"soul reads.". The book taught me to pick my spots much better

I am very pleased to announce that Crushing the Microstakes is now available in Spanish.
More information on "Aplastando los Microlímites" can be found on my website at:

http://www.blackrain79.com/p/libro.html

I'm half way through

Great book!

Indeed I am on my 3rd time reading it, making notes and everything.
Just wanted to add that even though it was written to FR, when I did not find FR games on my site, I tried 6-max. Now I do not know whether I am on a heater, but it seems to me that BlackRains79 aggressive tactics (Make a set: hit the pot button work even better on 6max.

How does your book compare to your videos on dragthebar crushing the micros six Max?

WOW, if Verneer and Arty like it ... just downloaded my copy.

Will report back.

It is difficult to compare a training video (or even a whole series such as the one that you mentioned) with a book. It is kind of like comparing a movie with the book that it was based on. The book is just always going to be far more comprehensive and in depth.

Everything that I talk about in the training videos that I make can be found in the book. However Crushing the Microstakes represents my complete approach to the game in every facet. In a 45 minute training video, especially a live one such as the CTM 6max series, I can really only talk about whichever situations happen to arise in that session. And there is no linearity to it either. In the book I purposely start with basic principles of winning poker, then move on to software, table selection, preflop, flop, turn, river etc.

So to sum up all I can really say is that what you will see in my training videos is just a series of thoughts that can all be found in the book. My play of course changes over time so there might be a few new things. But overall it is all based off the same strategy and approach that I have to the game. This isn't to say that training videos are useless by the way. There clearly are many benefits to them as well. But I won't go into that here.

Hi Nate, thanks for the book! I guess what's of interest to us is whether you've significantly adapted your lines or tactics to the generally more aggressive 6max game. It's one area the book really doesn't touch IMHO.

I know you've been asked this a dozen times but is it really as simple as removing 3 seats and rolling over everything from UTG1/2/MP into MP2? If I do this it feels as though I'm running fairly loose.

Any other feedback or adaptations you've made since spending some time playing 6max?

My preflop starting hand selection in 6max is exactly the starting hand chart on page 66 minus the first three seats. I do 3bet a little bit more from LP and in the blinds in 6max but not by a significant amount.

Postflop I don't really change my game that significantly either. Obviously ranges are a bit wider in 6max than in full ring in general but I feel that many players at the lowest limits especially are still just playing fit or fold for the most part. I will make small adjustments based on the player. I will barrel a little more often. I will play draws a little bit more aggressively and I will float a little lighter from time to time as well.

It's just hard to give a really complete answer without knowing the specific situation. Versus a 16/12 NL5 reg for example who hasn't adjusted his play for 6max I am not going to play him any differently than I would in full ring. He is playing fit or fold and generally has something pretty good when he is betting or raising me. Versus a 25/22 reg who has adjusted for 6max I will open up my game a little bit pre and postflop like as mentioned above.

I hope this helps answer your question to some degree. There is no question that when I write about poker it will have a bit of a full ring bias to it because I have played the majority of my hands in full ring. However I do not think that the differences between full ring and 6max, especially at the lowest limits, are that vast. The key to success is still exploiting fish and weaker regs as much as possible. And these are two topics, especially the former, are covered heavily in the book.

This topic has been covered many times including in this thread. I have always been very public with my poker results. They are listed on page 1 in the book and are found on my website as well. I believe that my success and experience at the microstakes (including at NL25, significant lifetime winner) is in fact one of my biggest strengths as an author and teacher of the game.

You posted this url, which appears to be some sort of affiliate or spam link, in another thread as well. Why not just link to the Amazon or the author's website for such a popular book? Also, there are literally dozens of other threads on 2+2 discussing this book where your comments might be more aptly suited.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/se...rchid=26249543

KR prefers " Super System " over this book? Really?

Lets not even begin to discuss about how most people looking to purchase BRs book are looking to win at TODAYS Microstakes games.

I am not even going to get into everything else that is wrong with that statement that you posted.

I guess Riley, whatever works for you. Best of luck.

hahahahahaha

Super System being applied to today's micro-stakes is pretty funny

BR's book is one of the most focused poker books I've ever read... it is to teach you how to beat microstakes games, and it does exactly that...

-edit-

Just to add, Super System was the first poker book I read, then I read Theory of Poker, Harrington on Holdem V1, and found this to be the best helper on.. guess what.. Beating the Microstakes!!!

This book was recommended to me by a player from Germany (or The Netherlands?) from Deuces Cracked, who read about some problems and leaks that I had while playing NL2 and NL6. He told me good things about this book and I decided to check it out. I surfed through BR's site and read the introductory stuff about the book.

For a few days later I decided if I really want this book or it's just an emotional response to something new (I always do that when it makes sense to. Never let me down this method). The decision was to buy it so... I bought it

The first thing that I notice is that this book is geared also towards the complete beginners, otherwise the chapters about setting the HUD or the PokerStars lobby would not be there. As I play for about three years (and soon I can say that I will be a semi-pro, by Romanian standards) there was nothing new here for me. Neither was in the preflop part, except the huge open-raising idea. This doesn't mean that these sections have no value. They do. They only tell me nothing new.

The postflop part was the juicy one for me. This book had covered every situation that I often see at the micros: min-raise, min-3bet, perceived ranges, how to play each card combination, etc. It is explained clearly and in plain English, no unnecessary math or anything. Straight to the point.

A big "a-ha" moment I had about playing one pair hands. I was consistently overplaying them and it leaked me a lot of money. At NL2 it was no big deal, because the playing level is so low that I could easily compensate with better hands. But at NL6 and NL10, that made me a break-even player, until I got this book. So, to sum it all up, I learned that playing no pair and one pair hands is mostly like playing from the blinds: lose as little as possible. The only difference is that, when I have one pair, I can control my losses. Consequence: looking at my HEM, I am pleased to see that I have a small overall profit with one pair hands and the general profit is sky-high.

The last part, "final thoughts" is another important part of the book. It mainly talks about work ethic for those who want to become good poker players: And lastly, again, play a lot. When you think you have played a lot, play some more and Give up that TV show. Make the time are the core of the work ethic in this book. And I fully agree. TV programs in Romania are a bunch of crap for so many years that I only watch soccer games and a comedy TV show which is aired every Wednesday evening. So I have plenty of time to play and play some more.

The bonuses for buying the book are access to the private section of the forum and screenshots of his stats at NL2 and NL5. I think they both have their use. Indeed, he replies to every post that is made on the forum. About the screenshots, I think they are useful if we know how to interpret them, NOT to mimic his play (something like he plays 20/17 then I must play 20/17.

Overall yeah, I like this book. Alot. It taught me many things about my postflop game and it has solid explanation and they are written in plain English.

In a future 2nd review I will post what I think it needs to be added. Just my 2c.

Since reading Crushing the Microstakes, and I've gone from breakeven to 38bb/100 (or 19ptbb/100) over this small sample (3300 hands)... I know I'm on a heater, but who cares, the timing is right

Nathan, can I buy your book via stars transfer? I am banned from paypal.

Actually it's fine. I just joined up with dragthebar and bought it off there

I have just bought the book and to be honest, Crushing the microstakes is the first book that I will ever fully read in my life. It's around 250 pages long and I have managed to read over 60 pages already.

I have taken some notes and without even taking anything into practice, I already feel more comfortable about playing the micro stakes. I read about the HUD setup and types of players and it has made things much more clearer and easier than I thought they were.

The book is really easy to read and clearly laid out. As I've said I haven't yet taken anything into practice but from what I have just read I would 100000% recommend this book for anyone who is having trouble with the micros.

I wish I had used the money to buy this book way earlier as I'm sure the books worth more than the money that can be lost by bad play.

Once again, Thanks to BlackRain.