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How to play HU with DEEP stacks?

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  1. #1
    Robert's Avatar
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    Default How to play HU with DEEP stacks?

    I know theres a lot of posts around here about how to play HU, and I've read most of them already, and theres a lot of usefull information in those post.

    But most of that HU information is about HU with shallow stacks. But I'm playing at stars ($10 SnG), and normally when I get HU in the end, blinds arent that high compared to stacks so that it becomes a push/fold fest.
    So I'm basicly asking all of you with a lot SnG experience from Stars (and UB and other sites with deep stacks compared to Party), how do you play HU?

    This is how I'm often doing HU:
    When I become shortstacked HU, its often push/fold for me, because then blinds are more than 1/10 of my stack, but when I'm about even stacked or the big stack, I have problems. I know the key is to play aggressive, pocket pairs are strong HU, and Ax is a good hand. But when I get aggressive I get to steal a few blinds, and then my opponent starts to reraise or turn into a calling station - I then try to switch gear, but my opponent now gets aggressive, and before I can catch a hand I'm the small stack again and I'm forced into push/fold mode.

    Any advice is apprecciated
  2. #2
    ever heard of harrington on holdem 2...

    also, try playing a few headsup tournaments.

    some basic information
    Pretty much everyhand is worth a call from the small blind.
    When your raising, you dont need to raise as much as you would at a full table.
    Raising from the SB is good, folding from the SB is bad.
    There is lots of flop play. And turn play. And river play. (If the stacks are deep but not that deep, then problaby just flop play and turn play)
    headsup is fun.
  3. #3
    Robert's Avatar
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    I've read both HoH1 and HoH2, and also the chapter about HU, and I know my basics about HU play - but I would like to get some advice from experienced ppl playing the stars and UB sngs (that have 1500 starting chips)
  4. #4
    Staple Gun's Avatar
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    Try and get a feel for your opponet. See how they play hands like top pair, or bottom pair. If they wil call you down with ace high.

    Also remmeber how you have played your hands that they saw. If you slowplayed your top pair last time try not to do the same. When blinds start to rise you will have to start making plays and pushing when you think they're weak.
  5. #5
    gabe's Avatar
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    if you think your opponent has a significant skill advantage, just play push/fold preflop to turn it into more of a crapshoot.
  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by vqchuang
    Pretty much everyhand is worth a call from the small blind.
    I would expand that to say that if you think you can see the flop then every hand is worth a call in the SB. You can easily get into a pattern of calling in the SB and being raised by the BB, and thinking "i only wanted to see the flop with this 10 5 os"

    Especially if you play against me.

    I like to vary my SB play... about 1/4 folds, 1/4 calls and 1/2 raises. You need to keep the difficult decision on the other player as much as possible.

    Quote Originally Posted by vqchuang
    headsup is fun.
    an dassa fact.

    Less fun IRL as the amount of playing time compared to dealing time is ridiculous.
    shuffleshuffleshuffle cardcard cardcard "fold"
    shuffleshuffleshuffle cardcard cardcard "call" "raise" "fold"
    shuffleshuffleshuffle cardcard cardcard "fold"
    shuffleshuffleshuffle cardcard cardcard "fold"

    etc...
  7. #7
    From my experience at stars

    1. Agression works
    2. More agression works even better
    3. In cases when you run into a very agressive player you cannot let him dominate you - you will need to fold more but definitly call with any decent hand and raise with any good hand (Ax, 2 pictures, pair, etc...). You want to trap him in the hand
    4. Most people lose patience in heads up, so if it goes on for more then about 10 minutes and you keep playing a good game they will make their mistake.


  8. #8
    I've done pretty well HU with a different approach: I practically ignore the size of blinds. PF stakes are what I say they are -- generally a fifth to a third of the other guy's stack.

    I don't limp the SB much; feels like an invitation to get pushed off.

    'Course this is my style -- I can't say who else it would or wouldn't work for.
  9. #9
    It's good to test and see if the guy will raise if you limp the SB.
    If he only does it once every 4-5 times, you know he's probably playing too tight.
    Most people lose patience in heads up, so if it goes on for more then about 10 minutes and you keep playing a good game they will make their mistake.
    I agree with this - keep the agg up and usually people will get sick of it and push garbage. I had a a guy out chipped about 2/1 last night going to HU in a 105 Turbo on Stars, blinds 100/200 25. I got it to about 3/1 without ever showing a hand down, finally I raise from button with KJo, he moves in and shows me K6o.
  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by vqchuang
    Pretty much everyhand is worth a call from the small blind.
    i agree with silent7. i am raising a SB limp every time.

    Yo! weakness, is my sweetness!
  11. #11
    "Pretty much every hand is worth a call" != "Dont raise alot from the SB"

    Raising a SB limp everytime is an invitation to get trapped.
    and to clarify
    "Raising a SB limp everytime is an invitation to get trapped" != "Dont raise a SB limp"
  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by vqchuang
    Raising a SB limp everytime is an invitation to get trapped.
    i knew you were going to say that, and you are right. it should be clarified that it is dependant on the player you are up against.

    mental note......speaking in absolutes when talking about poker is bad. i am going to my room now.

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