Who Is BlackRain79? The Micro Stakes King of Online Poker
In the world of online poker, few names carry as much weight at the lower stakes as Nathan "BlackRain79" Williams. Known as the biggest winner in the history of micro stakes online poker, Williams has built an empire around helping everyday players beat the small stakes games and build sustainable bankrolls from the ground up.
Williams grew up in Maple Ridge, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As a kid he was passionate about sports, but it was poker that would eventually become his life's work. He started playing online poker in 2005 at the smallest stakes imaginable: $0.01/$0.02 blinds on PokerStars. With just $60 to his name, he ground his way up through the micro stakes, playing a tight and disciplined style that would become his trademark.
Within two years, by 2007, Williams had climbed to 100NL (blinds of $0.50/$1.00) and made the bold decision to quit his day job and play poker full-time. Over the course of his career, he has logged more than six million hands of online poker, making him one of the most prolific grinders in the history of the game and, by his own account, the single biggest winner at the micro stakes on PokerStars.
Books and Training Products
BlackRain79 is a three-time best-selling poker author. His books have become essential reading for anyone serious about beating the lower stakes. Here is a breakdown of his main publications and courses:
Crushing the Microstakes
This is the book that put BlackRain79 on the map. Crushing the Microstakes is a comprehensive guide to dominating the competition at NL2, NL4, and NL5 in 6-max, Zoom, and full ring poker games online. It is also recommended for live players at $1/$2 or $2/$5 stakes. The book comes with free bonus cheat sheets that tell you exactly what hands to play from every position. It is available as a standalone book or bundled with a video course for deeper learning.
Modern Small Stakes
Modern Small Stakes picks up where Crushing the Microstakes leaves off. It is targeted at players who have moved up to NL10, NL25, NL50, NL100, and NL200. The book covers more advanced concepts needed to beat tougher competition at the small and mid stakes, including how to adjust against regulars who are fighting back.
The Micro Stakes Playbook
The Micro Stakes Playbook is another best-seller that provides a step-by-step game plan for beating the micro stakes. It covers 6-max, Zoom, and full ring formats and gives players a clear roadmap for building a bankroll at the lowest levels of online poker.
BlackRain79 Elite Poker University
For players who want the full training experience, the BlackRain79 Elite Poker University is a premium course featuring 17 hours of advanced poker lessons. It includes hundreds of step-by-step example hands and downloadable cheat sheets. Students also gain access to an exclusive private community of thousands of serious players, where they can ask questions and get direct feedback on their hands.
Play Fearless Poker
Play Fearless Poker is an advanced bluffing course consisting of 12+ hours of video lessons. It focuses on helping players win more pots without having the best hand, using proven exploitative strategies rather than relying on solvers or GTO theory.
The BlackRain79 Blog and Podcast
Williams runs what is widely considered the number one small stakes poker strategy blog in the world at blackrain79.com. The blog features hundreds of free articles covering every aspect of beating the micro and small stakes. He also hosts The BlackRain79 Poker Audio Experience, a podcast where he shares strategy tips and insights. Additionally, he writes a monthly column for PokerNews, one of the largest poker publications in the world.
Teaching Philosophy: What Makes BlackRain79 Unique
What sets Nathan Williams apart from the crowded field of poker coaches is his relentless focus on practical, battle-tested strategies over complex theory. While many modern coaches push GTO (Game Theory Optimal) solvers and advanced mathematics, BlackRain79 takes a fundamentally different approach.
Exploit, Don't Balance
Williams argues that at the micro and small stakes, opponents have massive leaks and imbalances in their play. Rather than trying to play a theoretically perfect game, he teaches players to identify and ruthlessly exploit these weaknesses. His core message is simple: at these stakes, you do not need to be a math genius or a solver wizard. You need to play a solid, disciplined, exploitative game.
Tight and Aggressive (TAG) Fundamentals
BlackRain79 advocates a tight and aggressive (TAG) playing style, especially for newer players. This means:
- Being highly selective with starting hand selection before the flop
- Paying close attention to position at the table
- Playing aggressively after the flop with bets and raises rather than passive calls
- Identifying recreational players (fish) and isolating them as often as possible
He emphasizes that the whole point of poker at the lower stakes is to get into as many pots as possible with weak, recreational players and extract maximum value from them.
Mental Game and Stoic Philosophy
Beyond technical strategy, Williams places great importance on the mental side of poker. He draws on Stoic philosophy, teaching players to separate what they can control from what they cannot. Bad beats, coolers, and downswings are inevitable. What matters is how you respond. His advice is to focus exclusively on making good decisions and let the results take care of themselves over the long run.
Accessible and Proven
With over 100 coaching students guided to success at the lower limits, a track record as a lead instructor at a major poker training site, and millions of hands of personal playing data to back up his methods, BlackRain79 has earned his reputation through results rather than hype. His materials are priced affordably and designed for the everyday player who wants to turn a small deposit into a real bankroll.
Is BlackRain79 Right for You?
If you are a beginner or struggling player at the micro or small stakes, BlackRain79 is one of the most credible and experienced coaches you can learn from. His approach is grounded in simplicity, discipline, and exploitation of weak opponents. He will not overwhelm you with solver outputs or complex math. Instead, he will give you a clear, actionable game plan to start winning at the tables.
Whether you pick up one of his best-selling books, enroll in the Elite Poker University, or simply read through the hundreds of free articles on his blog, Nathan Williams offers a proven path from the very bottom of online poker to consistent, sustainable profits.
