Intermediate Recognizing Key Spots To Apply Pressure in Poker Cash Games David Parker URL has been copied successfully! By using position, and recognizing capped ranges, you can turn ordinary spots into profitable ones Applying pressure in poker cash games is a skill that separates steady winners from players who rely only on strong hands. Cash games reward players who can identify profitable situations to push opponents off marginal holdings. The goal is not reckless aggression but well-timed pressure that leverages position, stack sizes, and opponent tendencies to extract value or force folds. Position is often the clearest signal that pressure will work. Acting last gives you more information and allows you to apply bets that force opponents to make tough decisions with incomplete information. When players check to you on dry boards, their ranges are often capped, giving you room to attack with continuation bets or delayed bluffs. Weak ranges and hesitation also create prime opportunities. If players frequently call preflop then check the flop without confidence, they are telegraphing uncertainty. A well-sized bet can push them off hands that have some strength but are not strong enough to continue. These spots appear often in multiway pots where players enter with weak holdings and quickly lose interest. Pressure is especially effective against opponents who play “fit or fold” poker. These players only continue when they connect clearly with the board. They surrender far too many pots with overcards, small pairs, or backdoor draws. Identifying them early lets you steal pots that do not belong to anyone with straightforward aggression. Deep stacks add another layer of opportunity. When players fear playing big pots without the nuts, you can pressure them on later streets. Turn and river aggression works best against opponents who dislike variance and fold too often under heat. Targeting their discomfort turns their conservative style into profit for you. Board texture is another guide. Dry boards allow small bets to win frequently, while coordinated boards let you represent strong hands even when you miss. When the board heavily favors your perceived range, attacking becomes more credible and forces tighter opponents to fold.