Headsup Guide?

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I was unable to find a post in the search.

Does anyone have a link or know of a post that discusses strategy for heads up NL SnG's (only 2 players left at the table).

I seem to struggle with this, going aggro right off, getting up and then I slow down and never seem to recover. Eventually getting desperate and throwing All-In with the first face card I see- i.e. J8O. If I've only got 1/4 of leaders stack I just try to pick a hand early to push with and hope he calls for a showdown trying to elimate me on a flip.

I was watching a Tourney on TV and, regardless, the button always raised. Is this a good idea? When is folding acceptable? Do you always see the flop if the raise isn't significant? Obviously bluffing plays a lot more into play at this point- how do you pick your spot? Are re-reraises with nothing a good idea if you think they're just trying to bully back?

SNGs when the blinds are greater than 1/10 of both ur stacks, then you must push or fold. Just nut out aggerssion.

Ax Kx Qx Suited connectors.

do a search of only this forum. there were a couple good ones i found that helped a bunch.

yep basically what vqchuang said. you are pushing those hands and you are calling AI's w/Ax, high Kx, PP's.

i dont know because i play turbo's where the blinds are rarely small enough to actually play instead of push, but the blinds in those tv MTT tourneys are usually miniscule to the chip stacks.

on these online sit and go's you really need to just raise and call good HU hands and fold anything else. also be aggressive. its been always said only 30% of the time both of you hit the flop so bottom pair or even ace/king high can usually be the best hand.

Depending on where the blinds are in relation to the stacks I'll usually throw out a 4xbb raise 75% of the time if my opps weak/tight no matter what my cards are. Then I'll fold 25% of the time so he gets confused as to what I'm raising with. If the blinds are creeping and it becomes push or fold then:

Originally Posted by vqchuang

Ax Kx Qx Suited connectors.

I disagree with the suited connectors tho. Those aren't good push hands imo (unless its KQs) because they usually require post-flop help and if the flop comes up empty I'm dead to opps overcards and it's 2nd place for me. In other words I'm looking for K or A high when I get my chips all in HU.

It's just apart of the 60/30 rule. Your looking to push suited connectors above 7. It's in that 60% of the best hands pool.

60/30... how does this work? Is this list somewhere? Where is the line drawn?

Too often in heads up I find myself at a loss of what to do after a long string of rainbow rags when the blinds start getting very big.

Are there hands you just don't push with or 1/10th all-in push mandatory (is it 1/10 your stack or leader's stack? I've never seen the blinds hit 1,500 so you can't mean both stacks)? How about pushing back? If you're holding something very average, like Q9O, do you fold this to a modest preflop raise? Always seems like combinations like this end up being my best bets looking back.

I'll try and find those old posts.

i think its
push with the best 60%
call with the best 30%

Originally Posted by Rubix13

60/30... how does this work? Is this list somewhere? Where is the line drawn?

Too often in heads up I find myself at a loss of what to do after a long string of rainbow rags when the blinds start getting very big.

Are there hands you just don't push with or is 10BB all-in push mandatory. How about pushing back? If you're holding something very average, like Q9O, do you fold this to a modest preflop raise? Always seems like combinations like this end up being my best bets looking back.

I'll try and find those old posts.

It was basically said, but to put it all together: You are pushing the top 60% (Ax, Kx, Qx, PP, suited connectors above 7) and calling AI with the top 30% (Ax, high Kx, PP). That's when the blinds are large (10-20% of your stack).

You might get trash on the flop, but your opponent might get the same trash too. Bet some and check some, just mix it up and don't let your opponent take control, make him scared of you too.

If the blinds are small, you can resteal with Q9o if you like or cold call it to see a flop. Just watch out, sometimes min raises mean the guy is slowplaying a monster.

Chip stacks and blinds determine if you are pushing whatever two cards you got. It's fairly obvious when it's your only option.

Originally Posted by vqchuang

i think its
push with the best 60%
call with the best 30%

hmmm, now I think I'm even more confused.

So if 7/8 suited is the cut off for the 60% I'm folding anything worse? I had no idea hands were ranked this closely, like "all these combinations are decidedly better than all these other combinations".

Originally Posted by Rubix13

Originally Posted by vqchuang

i think its
push with the best 60%
call with the best 30%

hmmm, now I think I'm even more confused.

So if 7/8 suited is the cut off for the 60% I'm folding anything worse? I had no idea hands were ranked this closely, like "all these combinations are decidedly better than all these other combinations".

http://www.jazbo.com/poker/huholdem.html

You can see how close for yourself if you want, lol.

It's a rough estimate, maybe 6/7s is still within the range, but how much is it being in the 61% of the best hands gonna kill ya?

Originally Posted by daluchy

Originally Posted by Rubix13

Originally Posted by vqchuang

i think its
push with the best 60%
call with the best 30%

hmmm, now I think I'm even more confused.

So if 7/8 suited is the cut off for the 60% I'm folding anything worse? I had no idea hands were ranked this closely, like "all these combinations are decidedly better than all these other combinations".

http://www.jazbo.com/poker/huholdem.html

You can see how close for yourself if you want, lol.

It's a rough estimate, maybe 6/7s is still within the range, but how much is it being in the 61% of the best hands gonna kill ya?

I knew somebody was going to do this. Thanks, gotta love all you left brain folks

this is why i push suited connectors.

If i push with A2 and i get called, im probably up against AX which is higher than my 2. Im fucked.

I like it when my cards are live.

I just made 2nd place because I lost k3s to 78s and the guy made a straight.

Those suited connectors have much more possibilities than Ax, they are definately worth a push.

If you want to learn how to play Heads up go out and buy Harrington on Hold'em volume two. And while you're at it, buy the first one too. Results might as well be gauranteed.

its not that they ahve more possibilities, its just anything below A7 and below is kind of a sucker push (not realy just kinda). when you get called by the Ace X your usally dominated.

Yeah you're definately behind by a bunch w/a suited connection vs. Ax. I'm just saying that like something like A6o vs. 98s the 98s has the extra possibilites of a straight and flush that the A6o does not.

Of course if the Ace pairs you're in trouble, but atleast you may have some draws to save you besides let's say instead you had K7o vs. A6o where you only have trips or two pair to save you.

There are a boatload of posts here:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...1918735&Forum=

The ones about "push or fold" play heads up are excellent.

Guide to HU Shallow stack tourny play: Gamb0l.

-'rilla

Originally Posted by daluchy

Yeah you're definately behind by a bunch w/a suited connection vs. Ax. I'm just saying that like something like A6o vs. 98s the 98s has the extra possibilites of a straight and flush that the A6o does not.

Of course if the Ace pairs you're in trouble, but atleast you may have some draws to save you besides let's say instead you had K7o vs. A6o where you only have trips or two pair to save you.

I will take Ax vs a suited connector any day of the week. Why? Because you have the A you can win unimproved. Also when playing HU its not good to look at full table EV stuff. Those are calculations made when playing a full table and playing each set of hands to the end.

Here is a 2-hand HU in a $10 AP Sng from tonight. I would post the previous few hands that took out another but I don't think I'm supposed to put HHs in this forum. Just wanted to exemplify on topic. sorry couldn't use the converter cause its a tourney hand.

Stage #157430684: Holdem Single Tournament No Limit $300 [ 2005-07-18 00:36:54
]
Seat 2 - THEEGGMAN $9140 in chips
Seat 4 - 1BIGFISH $3020 in chips
Seat 9 - POKEHERALOT $1340 in chips
*** BLIND [dealer 2] ***
1BIGFISH - Post small blind $300
POKEHERALOT - Post big blind $600
THEEGGMAN - Pocket [Jh,5d]
THEEGGMAN - Folds
1BIGFISH - Raises $300 to $1200
POKEHERALOT - All-In(Raise) $600 to $1340
1BIGFISH - Calls $140
*** FLOP [Qh,10s,7d] ***
*** TURN [Qh,10s,7d,4h] ***
*** RIVER [Qh,10s,7d,4h,4s] ***
1BIGFISH - Show cards [9h,7h]
POKEHERALOT - Show cards [3c,Ac]
*** RESULT ***
Total Pot($2680)
Board [Qh,10s,7d,4h,4s]
THEEGGMAN - Folded on the POCKET CARDS
1BIGFISH - Total ($2680) HI$2680)Two pair, sevens and fours [9h,7h -
P:7h,B:7d,B:4s,B:4h,B:Qh]
POKEHERALOT - HI:One pair, fours [3c,Ac - B:4s,B:4h,P:Ac,B:Qh,B:10s]
################################################## ######
Stage #157430925: Holdem Single Tournament No Limit $300 [ 2005-07-18 00:37:19
]
Seat 2 - THEEGGMAN $9140 in chips
Seat 4 - 1BIGFISH $4360 in chips
*** BLIND [dealer 4] ***
THEEGGMAN - Post small blind $300
1BIGFISH - Post big blind $600
THEEGGMAN - Pocket [2h,9s]
THEEGGMAN - Folds
1BIGFISH - returned ($300) : not called
*** RESULT ***
Total Pot($600)
Board []
THEEGGMAN - Folded on the POCKET CARDS
1BIGFISH - Total ($600)
################################################## ######
Stage #157431065: Holdem Single Tournament No Limit $300 [ 2005-07-18 00:37:29
]
Seat 2 - THEEGGMAN $8840 in chips
Seat 4 - 1BIGFISH $4660 in chips
*** BLIND [dealer 2] ***
1BIGFISH - Post small blind $300
THEEGGMAN - Post big blind $600
THEEGGMAN - Pocket [Kh,5c]
1BIGFISH - Raises $300 to $1200
THEEGGMAN - Raises $600 to $3000
1BIGFISH - All-In(Raise) $1800 to $4660
THEEGGMAN - Calls $1660
*** FLOP [Ah,2d,3h] ***
*** TURN [Ah,2d,3h,2s] ***
*** RIVER [Ah,2d,3h,2s,Jd] ***
THEEGGMAN - Show cards [Kh,5c]
1BIGFISH - Show cards [Qc,8s]
*** RESULT ***
Total Pot($9320)
Board [Ah,2d,3h,2s,Jd]
THEEGGMAN - Total ($9320) HI$9320)One pair, twos [Kh,5c -
B:2s,B:2d,B:Ah,P:Kh,B:Jd]
1BIGFISH - HI:One pair, twos [Qc,8s - B:2s,B:2d,B:Ah,P:Qc,B:Jd]

Does anyone know where to find a table that shows starting hand rank when playing heads-up NL Texas Hold 'em?

I have seen something close to what I am looking for:

http://www.jazbo.com/poker/huholdem.html

Although this shows the probability of winning but not specfically where is the cut-off for top 10%, top 20% etc. I want to use the table to implement HOH2 strategies for heads-up.

http://www.pokerstove.com/

Doesn't have a table as such, but you can use the slider to get it to show you top 10%, 20% etc.

There might be a table in the SnG FAQ on two plus two. I can't be bothered to search it out right now, but there is lots of good stuff regarding heads up play here:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...1918735&Forum=