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Watch 'STOP C-Betting Out of Position (It's Costing You Money)'

Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood reveal five key flop scenarios where you should always bet to maximize profits and simplify decision-making. From disconnected King-high boards to big-pair flops, they explain when aggressive range betting works best—and

View the written version of this episode here.

00:00 Situation 1

03:04 Situation 2

05:00 Situation 3

07:10 Situation 4

09:41 Situation 5

In this Level-Up episode, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood explain five key situations in which poker players should increase aggression and bet their entire range. Many players, they note, aren't aggressive enough post-flop — a costly leak that can be fixed with simple heuristics. Each situation is supported by solver insights and practical examples drawn from both live and online play, with the overarching goal of helping players simplify their strategy while maintaining strong expected value.

Situation 1 focuses on flops with no draws and one high card when you're in position — for example, King-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce rainbow. These boards are dry and disconnected, giving the preflop raiser a strong equity advantage. Solvers show nearly universal continuation betting, since opponents in the big blind have mostly missed. However, if the flop adds flush or straight possibilities, players should reduce c-betting frequency because resistance from opponents will increase.

Situation 2 arises when you're raising from an earlier position such as the hijack, and your range is naturally tighter and stronger. On moderately connected flops like Jack-Six-Deuce, you can once again bet your entire range. The reason is straightforward: a tighter preflop range connects more often and contains fewer total misses, allowing for confident aggression.

Situation 3 covers flops that include a big pair like King-King-Five or Queen-Queen-Three. These boards are overwhelmingly favorable for the preflop aggressor, especially in three-bet pots, because the range advantage is massive. Gary and Mike emphasize that players should c-bet every time using small sizes to exploit opponents who are forced to fold much of their range.

Situation 4 applies to King-high flops in three-bet pots when you're in position. Through Lucid Poker simulations, Mike demonstrates that betting every time on such boards—no matter your actual hand—rarely produces mistakes. The simplicity of this approach makes it an easy and profitable rule of thumb.

Situation 5 flips the script: you've three-bet out of position and the flop is disconnected with one high card, like Ace-Eight-Deuce or Queen-Seven-Deuce. Here again, betting nearly your entire range with a small sizing works best because your range maintains a strong advantage.

The episode concludes with three caveats: dial back aggression when opponents overfold, over-attack, or when stacks are short and a shove is likely. While aggression is profitable, the key lesson is controlled aggression—bet big when range advantage is clear, but adapt intelligently when dynamics shift.

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Watch 'Top 5 Spots to Bluff in Poker'.

Learn seven essential strategies to dominate live and online cash games with host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood. From value betting thinly to attacking capped ranges, this episode breaks down the habits that separate winners from everyone else at the table.

View the written version of this episode.

00:00 Tip 1

03:52 Tip 2

07:42 Tip 3

12:30 Tip 4

15:08 Tip 5

18:50 Tip 6

22:55 Tip 7

In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up, host Mike Brady and poker pro Gary Blackwood share seven actionable tips designed to help players maximize their profits in live and online cash games.

Tip 1: Value Bet Relentlessly, emphasizing that most players fail to extract enough value from their strong hands. Gary explains that value betting thinly — even with second or third pair — is crucial because opponents rarely raise as bluffs. Avoiding fear of a raise and focusing on consistent value extraction is key to long-term success.

Tip 2: Practice Good Game Selection Habits focuses on putting yourself in profitable environments. Mike notes that even great players can lose if they face stronger opponents, while average players can win consistently in weaker games. The duo provides a checklist for identifying soft live tables — look for regular limpers, frequent multiway pots, or rare preflop re-raises — and stress the importance of maintaining good etiquette rather than "bum hunting." Online players, they add, should seek tables with at least one weak opponent and leave when the lineup gets too tough.

Tip 3: Watch Opponents and Formulate Counter Strategies, Gary urges players to stay observant even when they're not in a hand. He explains how noticing showdowns and betting patterns can reveal exploitable tendencies, such as overfolding rivers or checking back too often. Mike builds on this with examples of how to adjust aggression and raise sizes based on opponents' leaks.

Tip 4: Play Aggressively When In Position teaches how to exploit positional advantage. When heads-up, being the aggressor puts out-of-position players under pressure. In contrast, Tip 5: Check the Flop Frequently in Multiway Pots highlights the need for caution when facing multiple opponents, since their ranges are more likely to connect with the board. The hosts explain how to balance passive lines with timely check-raises using strong hands and semi-bluffs.

Tip 6: Attack Capped Ranges Relentlessly explores recognizing when opponents lack strong hands and applying pressure with big bets or bluffs. Both value betting and overbetting in these situations are highly profitable because most players fail to protect their ranges.

Tip 7: Mostly Fast Play Strong Hands reinforces the idea that building pots early leads to greater long-term gains. However, Gary reminds players that slow playing has its place when the pot is already large or when in position.

The episode wraps up with encouragement for listeners to reflect on which tips resonated most and to apply them immediately in their next session.

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Watch the 'Winning Money in Multiway Pots' episode on YouTube

Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood reveal the five most profitable bluffing spots in poker that every serious player should master. Learn how to identify and exploit bluffing opportunities—like paired boards, delayed c-bets, and favorable runouts—to outthink your opponents and win more pots.

View the written version of this episode here.

00:00 Tip 1

05:06 Tip 2

09:15 Tip 3

12:28 Tip 4

16:03 Tip 5

In this episode of the Upswing Poker Level-Up, hosts Mike Brady and Scottish pro Gary Blackwood break down the five most effective bluffing spots that every player can add to their arsenal to win more pots and play with greater confidence. The discussion opens with an emphasis on fundamentals—identifying bluff spots rooted in sound theory rather than intuition or live reads.

The first bluffing spot focuses on check-raising paired flops after defending from the big blind. Gary and Mike explain how solvers recommend surprisingly wide check-raises on boards like Ten-Ten-Deuce or Queen-Deuce-Deuce, creating highly profitable situations since opponents rarely defend correctly. They highlight how these bluffs succeed because most players don't realize how often they should be calling with weaker holdings or backdoor draws.

Next, they explore delayed continuation betting—a powerful bluff when your opponent checks twice. By analyzing real game scenarios, they demonstrate that when a flop and turn go check-check, the opponent's range is "capped," meaning it contains few strong hands. This opens a prime opportunity to apply pressure through wide and aggressive turn bets.

The third major bluff spot covers probe betting on the turn after your opponent checks back on a dynamic flop. Here, they challenge conventional solver logic by showing that most human players fail to check strong hands as often as theory dictates. As a result, when they check back, they're often weak, making probe bets—especially with draws and backdoor equity—highly effective.

Bluff spot number four focuses on attacking when the board texture shifts dramatically in your favor. When a turn or river card favors your range—for instance, completing potential straights or two-pair combinations—you can lead aggressively, even out of position. The hosts emphasize how understanding range advantage allows you to "donk bet" profitably in these scenarios.

The final bluff spot centers on barreling when draws complete and you hold key blockers. Using the Ten-Six-Deuce-Three-Queen board as an example, they show how triple-barrel bluffs with hands like Ace-Five with the Ace of diamonds can be extremely powerful because they block potential flushes while representing strong hands.

Throughout the episode, Mike and Gary balance GTO theory with real-world exploitation, giving listeners the strategic insight to recognize and act on bluffing opportunities that most players miss. By mastering these five spots, you'll sharpen your aggression, punish capped ranges, and level up your overall poker strategy.