How do you play H-U?

[Sark79]

Can anyone give me any tips on how to play Heads-Up.

I have lost count of the amount of times, I have lost playing heads-up. I just can't seem to do it.

I was playing a $15 STT on Blonde tonight. Over the last few days, my bankroll has grown from  $0.72  to  $70.01.  I have been playing STT. Normally, I hate STT mainly due to the H-U element. I know, I am missing out on potential money because of my lack of ability to play this part of a poker game.

Tonight, I went into the H-U with almost ten times as many chips as my opponent. I lost. I got outdrawn a few times, but to be honest, I didn't play it as well as I should have done.

I don't really enjoy playing STT, but so far, it is the type of poker which seems to suit my game the most. My cashes in these type of games are respectable. But they are 2nd's and 3rd's. I have only won a few of these. It is the H-U part of a STT that absolutely kills me.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Wardonkey]

Aggression is key.

At the level your playing at a simple strategy of bet/raise or fold and never calling, with more of the former than the latter should pay dividends.

[RED-DOG]

Heads up is more about playing the player than it is about playing the cards, by the time you get heads up you should have a good idea of how your opponent plays, and you should be aware of the table image he has of you, try to use that information to your advantage

It's very important to be the aggressor at this stage, don't be afraid to get caught bluffing, you can use that to your advantage, it will help you to get paid if you hit a monster

Don't try to sit and wait for good cards, keep the pressure on, play your position

Heads up pots usualy go to the player who gets the bet in first, remember on any given flop, the chances are, he missed it

Heads up is very much a "Feel" game, there is no substitute for practice

[RED-DOG]

My God, I've just had the brass neck to give someone poker advice, I must be over tired 

[The Baron]

As El Blondie said at the poker school tonight - it depends, it depends, it depends!

Your stack size, your opponents style and your position (post flop) are the key elements. The best heads up players can adapt to different styles quickly. IMO there is no "route one".

If there's a style you find overwhelming, dont be afraid to take some play out of it and start pressing the all-in button.

[Sark79]

Thanks Red and Wardonkey. and Baron

I tend to play the same way, I have during the actual game. Very tight. This style seems to work for me in STT, but only up untill the H-U stage.

Phil Helmuths book " play poker like the pro's ",  talks about ' super tight is right '.  I can now see, that using this strategy, is not useful in alot of poker games. Heads-up is one of these. I have read the Hold-Em section about twenty times. My game is basically built around what is in those chapters.

I will take on board your advice and try and adapt this to my H-U game. Thanks. I appreciate your help.

[Sunday8pm]

Your stack size, your opponents style and your position (post flop) are the key elements. The best heads up players can adapt to different styles quickly. IMO there is no "route one".


ADAPT is the key word here.

Aggression is great, as long as its controlled. RED-DOG makes a good point in saying play your position strong..

And of course AGRESSION. DO NOT fold fold fold until you have hardly enough to make up a few blinds.

Also remember the average starting hand in Hold Em is Q7. If your dealt anything bigger than that, you can assume you have the best hand, so don't be afraid to get involved with stuff like K4os, chances are...your ahead!

[M3boy]

Q7?

I always thought average hand heads up was J4

[Sunday8pm]

hehe,

i guess you have reason to think so!

[NoflopsHomer]

If there's a style you find overwhelming, dont be afraid to take some play out of it and start pressing the all-in button.

I totally agree with that. When I was playing the 32Red Masters HU I had a big chip lead 150,000 to about 90,000. But I quickly found myself being outplayed by a very good player and the chip lead swapped within about 10 hands. The whole time he moved all-in anytime I made any sort of bet or whenever I limped from the SB, so I decided that the first two decent cards I get I was going to limp and call all-in because he must be doing it some of the time with junk, plus I wasn't going to let myself be blinded down to nothing. . So I picked up  and limped and as usually he made an all-in move. I quickly called and couldn't believe he had  !!! I rivered a  and the rest is history. So if you feel you're being outplayed just move all-in. Take some of 'their' edge from the game.

[I, Zimbra]

The best advice I ever read (in terms of succinctness) on how to play heads up, was posted on an online forum.

The gist of it was this: "Heads up, you want to be taking advantage of your opponent's biggest weakness - which will normally be either raising too often, or folding too often."

[Rusty]

If ur in a position like having 10times his stack i would just be puttin them all in each hand no matter what your cards, u can afford to double him up twice really until he's equal with you, even if he folds each time till he gets a premium hand then he'll have even less chips from the few he's folded and then no matter what his cards you can always suck out. I play the same when short stacked to really.

Thats the only advice i can give, if i have an equal stack i just raise if he calls raise on flop if he calls panic.

[thetank]

How do you play H-U?

Victoria Park is the one you want.

From the A19 take the A689 signposted Hartlepool. Follow the A689 towards the Town Centre.

It'll help to be in the Carling League One, although you might get to play H-U in League Two, as they look like they might go down this year.

[thetank]

"Heads up, you want to be taking advantage of your opponent's biggest weakness - which will normally be either raising too often, or folding too often."

 

Sometimes their biggest weakness is their connection, be sure to take advantage of that too.

[Sark79]

Thanks for the help everyone. I appreciate it