PokerListings & BlackRain79 Team Up to Help You Beat Micro-Stakes

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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: February 12, 2025

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The micro-stakes should be the easiest games to beat, but a lot of players actually struggle to show a profit at the lowest stakes online.

While it’s important to learn poker theory and work vigilantly on your game to compete at the higher levels, it’s paramount to understand and adjust to the playing style of your opponents.

And as far as your opponents go, the micro-stakes are a totally different world.

Yes, players are getting better over the last few years. But at the micro-stakes there are still thousands and thousands (and thousands) of beginners that are almost oblivious to good poker strategy.

The irony of course is that you apply a lot of poker theory or second- or third-level poker thinking to the games at this level, chances are good you won’t actually win at the micro-stakes.

Take, for example, the famous “open-ended straight draw.” At the higher limits this can be a nice hand to semi-bluff with.

But if you’re playing an opponent who can’t fold, say, middle pair with a weak kicker, you might want to reconsider building a pot when you’re actually an underdog with no fold equity.

Advanced poker tactics like semi-bluffing are indispensable but they’re only useful against opponents who can actually fold.

Example: You open-raise to 2 big blinds with 9 8 in middle position and the big blind calls. The flop comes 7 6 2 , giving you an open-ended straight draw. You make a continuation bet, but your opponent, who rarely folds any pair, quickly calls. While a semi-bluff here might be standard at higher stakes, at micro-stakes you should often check the turn if you miss, because players who can’t fold are less likely to release their hand without a made pair. By continuing to build the pot as an underdog, you risk losing more chips when they call you down.

“Fish” are Foundation of Microstakes Poker Bankroll

If you’ve read a round a bit on the poker forums or played at all online you’ve surely heard people say/type, “I can’t play against fish” or “I need to play where they respect my raises.”

Especially at the micro-stakes, most of your profits will come from fish.

And sure, it can be frustrating when a fish calls your 4-bet bluff and wins with a hand he should theoretically never have called with.

But the reality is you want this to be the case. Fish are ALWAYS the most profitable players you can play against. These players are the foundation of a healthy poker ecosystem.

If you can’t play against these type of players, it might be time to look in the mirror and ask yourself whether these so-called fish are the problem or if you’re actually forgetting the single most important thing in poker: anticipating the play of your opponents.

If you’re still in the “I can’t play against fish” phase, this is the moment you can change your attitude and, with our help, learn to crush the micro-stakes.

Example: You open to 3 big blinds from the cutoff with K Q . A loose player on the button, known for calling with any two suited cards, calls. The flop comes K 7 4 . You make a continuation bet, and your opponent calls again. While a more sophisticated player might fold a weaker king or a draw here, the “fish” is happy to see more cards with something like 8 5 . Although this can lead to a frustrating suck-out occasionally, in the long run, you profit from these players’ mistakes because they call too often and with hands that are not profitable to chase.

Meet Mr. Micro-Stakes: Nathan “BlackRain79” Williams

So, does an effective “super system” to beat the micro-stakes in poker already exist? More or less, yes. Nathan Williams — aka BlackRain79 — has played millions of hands at the micro-stakes and beat the games at the highest win-rate in the history of online poker.

In 2012 his game-changing ebook Crushing the Microstakes came out and helped a ton of players climb through the micro-stakes much faster. Not only that, he also helped players think about their micro-stakes game in an entirely new way.

Guide to Beating Micro-Stakes Poker

Nathan Williams has played millions of hands of micro-stakes online.

Since BlackRain79 has already written the comprehensive 253-page micro-stakes “bible” it wouldn’t be much added value to just re-hash all of his strategies here.

Especially since his ebook only costs $19.95. Buying it is a no-brainer if your goal is to beat the micro-stakes. You are guaranteed to earn that money back and plenty more if you apply the stuff from his e-book.

To complement his great book – and preview some of the new strategies you’ll find in Williams’ upcoming sequel, Crushing the Micro-Stakes 2 – in the coming weeks we’re going to publish a basic framework for pre-flop and post-flop strategy in the micro-stakes based on the ebook from BlackRain79.

We’re also going to provide some added value in an ongoing Q&A and hand analysis series with BlackRain 79 himself.

Ask BlackRain79: Send in Your Questions and Hands!

Every month BlackRain79 will answer questions and analyze a few hands submitted by PokerListings readers.

If you have doubts about certain hands you’ve played or how to maximize your profit in the micro-stakes, this is your chance to ask the micro-stakes master himself.

Theory is one thing, but putting that theory into practice is another thing altogether! Keep an eye on our news section for more info on how to submit your questions.

Before we start with our series we’ve also posted an interview with BlackRain79 so you’ll have a better picture of the person behind the name, his achievements, and what you can expect in Crushing the Microstakes 2.

FAQ

What are micro-stakes in poker?

Micro-stakes refer to the lowest betting limits available in online poker, typically involving blinds of $0.01/$0.02 up to around $0.10/$0.25. These games attract a large number of beginners, making it easier to profit with a solid strategy adapted to less-experienced opponents.

Why do so many players struggle to profit at the micro-stakes?

Many players fail to adjust to the unique playing style of opponents at these levels. Overusing advanced concepts against players who don’t fold leads to bloated pots without sufficient fold equity. A basic, value-heavy approach usually works best against overly loose opponents.

Should I still use semi-bluffs and advanced tactics at micro-stakes?

Semi-bluffing is a critical concept in poker, but you must choose situations carefully. Use these tactics against opponents capable of folding. If a player never folds a marginal hand, focus on extracting value when you have a stronger holding.

How do I handle “fish” who call too often with marginal hands?

Embrace playing against them. These players are the most profitable in the long run. Instead of getting frustrated when they call down with weak hands and occasionally get lucky, recognize that over many hands, they’ll lose more money to your stronger ranges.

Is there a straightforward way to improve my micro-stakes results quickly?

One option is to study a comprehensive guide like BlackRain79’s Crushing the Microstakes, which details optimal strategies for beating these levels. Focus on disciplined pre-flop ranges, position, and extracting maximum value from opponents who call too often.

Do modern micro-stakes games require GTO strategies or advanced modeling?

While basic GTO knowledge is helpful at any level, pure GTO might be unnecessary for typical micro-stakes lineups. You can exploit weaker opponents by capitalizing on their predictable mistakes rather than relying on advanced equilibrium strategies.

How do I adjust to increased three-betting at micro-stakes?

Some micro-stakes players have started three-betting more aggressively. If you notice this happening, tighten your opening ranges or add an occasional four-bet bluff. Analyze your opponents’ stats and tendencies closely, since the right adjustment depends on their fold-to-four-bet percentage and overall aggression.

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