Do Blockers Really Matter? | Upswing Poker Level-Up

This video reveals the truth about blockers in poker. Upgrade your tournament skills and save up to 51% during the World Series of Tournaments sale at Upswing Poker upswingpoker.c...
Blockers are a fundamental part of poker strategy, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood parts of poker strategy. Many players disregard blockers and leave money on the table. Other players over-value blockers in certain situations and flush money down the toilet as a result.
**CORRECTION 11:36**
Gary meant to say "where your opponent's FOLDING range is Jacks and Tens" (he mistakenly said calling)
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00:00 Introduction to Rake Strategy
02:14 Rake Structures Around the World
03:55 Adjusting Strategies for High Rake Games
05:14 Tightening Big Blind Defense in High Rake
08:31 Adjusting for Multi-Way Pots and Rake
13:14 Additional Tips for Playing in Raked Games
16:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
20:29 Importance of Chopping the Blinds
In this episode of our poker strategy podcast, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood discuss the impact of rake on your game and how to adjust your strategy to beat it. Rake, the fee taken by the house from each pot, can significantly affect your profitability, especially in low-stakes games where the percentage of the pot taken can be quite high. Understanding how to adjust your play based on the rake structure is crucial for any serious poker player, whether you’re playing live or online.
The episode begins with an overview of different rake structures, from high-rake environments, where more than four big blinds are taken out of the pot, to low-rake games and even no-rake games, like home games or those with time-based seat fees. Mike and Gary explain how these different environments impact your pot odds and strategic incentives, emphasizing the need to adjust your strategy accordingly to avoid leaving money on the table.
Listeners will learn how to tighten their ranges and adopt a more aggressive approach in high-rake games. Gary shares his tips for three-betting more frequently and trimming marginal hands from your defending range to counteract the impact of rake. The hosts also explore how to adjust when playing in low or no-rake games, allowing for a looser style and taking advantage of the extra equity available in these more favorable settings.
This poker strategy podcast also covers the importance of understanding your opponents' tendencies and using this information to make more profitable decisions. Mike and Gary highlight the benefits of playing tighter in multi-way pots and discuss when to fold or adjust your strategies based on the rake and your opponents' actions.
Finally, the hosts provide insights into additional adjustments you should make in different rake environments, such as chopping the blinds in high-rake games to minimize the money lost to the house. Whether you’re grinding micro stakes online or playing in a home game with no rake, this episode provides practical advice to help you navigate any poker environment.
Tune in to this poker strategy podcast to learn how to beat the rake and maximize your win rate with expert guidance from Mike and Gary.

[@UpswingPoker]

**CORRECTION **11:36****
Gary meant to say "where your opponent's FOLDING range is Jacks and Tens" (he mistakenly said calling)

[@garyblackwoodpoker]

A lot of fun making this episode about an extremely important topic, happy to answer any questions.

[@3Questionmark4Profit]

When are we getting more Vegas vlog updates? :)

[@garyblackwoodpoker]

@@3Questionmark4Profit I put one out yesterday and there’s another one Friday!

[@patrick.gilmore]

Love the extra nerdy, off-topic stuff. Thank you for including it.

[@alexl2512]

This one is as good as the previous ones

[@Dplaysitcool]

Definitley doesnt work in low stakes... People will call the jam with a pair of Js

[@conorm2524]

How can you make the claim that this is the only podcast about poker? I've listened to tons of other podcasts about poker 🤷‍♂️

[@mbradycf]

🙃

[@B0bi_007]

what do you mean? there are no other podcasts about poker...

[@zencaser]

Nerds be nerdin'.

[@T-roc57]

A little bit but they aren't end all/be all the way poker vloggers make them out to be.

[@TomRauhe]

That's why I overbet for value on the river, to run into some nutjob holding blockers.

[@erebus79]

hahaha