heads up NL cash game observations

Aside from the rake raping you, this is probably one of the most profitable ways to play NL if you're a sharp player. Particularly when ring games die, and a loose player is sticking around, they are PRIME pickins.

Trends i've found:

- People(fish) generally bluff and bully early on, until you cripple them with a big call. If they aren't bluffing, you should be, but don't bet your stack on a stone cold bluff, leave yourself outs.

- Weak tight and TAG players are the worst heads up opponents, avoid them. Tight players won't give you their stack on marginal hands.

- top pair and middle pair are generally the best hands, but be careful. Play smaller pots with small hands, big pots with big hands. If you raise with JJ and AQ9 flops, bet, but don't go broke.

- a flop call, turn check, then a big river bet is a bluff more often than not, depending on the player and the board. You have to (or should) call a big bet every now and then, this takes courage.

- Hit and runs are very common, don't expect them to stay after winning a large pot.

- overbet AA/KK on the flop, if they caught TPGK, you're in business.
- overbet sets on high card flops (ex. 22 on KJ2 flop)

- Don't let the action make you nervous, play smart and don't slip up.

You can make some real profit playing HU if you have the courage, take advantage of the bad loose players who are willing to play.

Thanks for the great post.

Damn straight you can make some cash real fast playing good HU NL. It would be great to see more HU discussion around here.

really I think the trick is spotting if you're the better player as soon as possible....

HU NL and 3-4 handed limit is where the real money is... I dislike HU limit a lot, it's a card catching contest.

Maybe some of the better players can chime in and add a few heads up tips.

I'm not one of the better players, but I consider myself pretty decent at heads up so I'll give my take..

If the player will let you..
- Always at least raise 2x-3x the big blind from the button. You have position for the rest of the hand. Usually you will get a call pre-flop, and an insta fold on the flop. I can ship a huge portion of a guys stack away like this..

- If they start re-raising from the big blind, start only raising with semi-decent hands until you teach them a lesson and make them think your only playing good cards, then go back to raising with garbage everytime..

-If I catch a hand in the big blind, I usually let an agressive player hang himself for me, by simply calling his raises and then value betting the river..

Like it says in Harringtons book, cards dominate heads up, but in my opinion agression is the biggest factor. If you can scare a guy early, and get him on the defensive you can pretty much run them over for the rest of the match. When he finally does show you some strength, just fold and don't pay him off..

It's a mind game more then anything. I just act like a total maniac from the initial hand to get them off balance, and then never give them a chance to get back on balance.