Post flop HU SNG Play

Hi

I am looking for some information on post flop play for HU sng's. I use harringtons guidelines for pre-flop play, but don't know where I can find good information on post flop play...Can someone point me in the direction of some?

Any help would be appreciated!

Spenda's 5 sec. rant of the day: Do you actually want to get better or have someone tell you how to play? You won't learn to play HU by reading anything.
/rant over

Now, what do you think is a good postflop strategy?

Well I'll tell you what one is, it's a strategy that best exploits your opponents weaknesses. No one here can possibly write a strat guide on playing postflop HU as our opponents all act differently in similar situations.

No need to yell at the new guy, but yes, this isn't a good question. Post specific hands where you had trouble, and make sure you tell us what you know about your opponent.

As a side note, I am of the opinion that Harrington's HU guidelines are awful.

Ok, only the first part of my post was supposed to come off somewhat harsh. The rest of it was serious and has merit, apologies if I offended but this is a question that is impossible to answer.

posting HH's really won't help either man. It's about your read and your ability to play poker. If you don't understand board texture, hand reading, bet sizing, and exploitation HU sng's may not be the best way for you to make a lot of money. IF you know these things then the HU sng's can be a ridiculous goldmine.

I'm having a very successful run at the $5.25 lvl HU matches (straight HU and 4xHU), however I've still probably only played about 40-60 so take this with a grain of salt.

HU matches I think you need to 1 table. You're taking actions every hand, so you cant be flipping between tables unless you're some kind of machine. This has an advantage, you should be able to get very solid reads fairly quickly. Notice his plays. If he always calls a c-bet, but folds to a double barrel, then double barrel becomes your new c-bet. If he only bets with a good hand, then fold unless you have a very good hand. If he folds to a bet on a 3-flush board, then bet every 3-flush board. Notice his patterns. As the game goes on, notice if his patterns change. If initially he only bet his good hands, but now he's betting every 2nd hand, he's noticed you fold to his bets and changed his play. Nows the time to pick off some bluffs with some check/raises, and its ok to do these with air. You're doing it because you believe theres a good chance he's bluffing.

The most important thing is not to play 0-level poker (playing your own cards), you need to be at least 1st level and maybe 2nd (what does he think I have).

I dont neccessarily agree with HoHs PF play either. Limping every hand you dont raise is very exploitable. I raise very widely, limp less widely, fold crap. Dont build big pots oop (by either calling raises without premium hands or raising him when he completes without a premium hand).

I thought I might help by posting a tourney with some post-flop play in it, and explain hand by hand my thinking. Not the greatest example since villian was very weak, but maybe give you some ideas on how to think things through:


The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

---Tournament Summary---
$5.50 SNG: Finished 1/2 for $10
Data for 20 hands.
You played 15 hands (75.00%)
You raised 6 times preflop (30.00%)

Normally I like to play my first hand very straight and narrow, so if neither of us hit I showdown a miss and give the impression I will only bet with made hands. Not sure if it works or not, but its only 1 hand so why not? Couldnt resist in this one though. Villian folds or turn bet.
-----Hand 1-----
Hero's M = 50.00
PokerStars Game #11086571737: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:53:38 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1500 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt 6 7
usha714: calls 10
BjsAust: checks
Flop: 9 K K
BjsAust: checks
usha714: checks
Turn: 3
BjsAust: bets 40
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 40 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand

Normally I'd raise this hand, but again I dont like to start out ultra-aggressive my first time in SB, so just completed, giving the impression when I raise later my hands are better than they are. Flop a gutshot, so bet my draw. I tend to bet most draws, helps disguise them if you hit, and count as a sort of psuedo-bluff technique to randomise your bluffs a bit.

-----Hand 2-----
Hero's M = 50.67
PokerStars Game #11086575333: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:54:07 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1480 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1520 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt J 9
BjsAust: calls 10
usha714: checks
Flop: T K 5
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 40
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 40 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand

Now this one gets interesting. I dont like it to begin with. Villian hasnt raised PF yet, so possibly he has an A, but a pair of queens is a strong hand normally, so I'm just check/calling the flop and turn. I hit my flush on the river, thought about checking again, but theres a very good chance Opp will check behind with a 4-flush on the board, so just bet it.

-----Hand 3-----
Hero's M = 51.33
PokerStars Game #11086578197: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:54:29 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1460 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1540 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt 5 Q
usha714: calls 10
BjsAust: checks
Flop: Q T A
BjsAust: checks
usha714: bets 40
BjsAust: calls 40
Turn: T
BjsAust: checks
usha714: bets 60
BjsAust: calls 60
River: 8
BjsAust: bets 170
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 240 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand

Villian is passive, raise wide, c-bet often.

-----Hand 4-----
Hero's M = 55.33
PokerStars Game #11086586341: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:55:35 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1340 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1660 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt Q 9
BjsAust: raises 30 to 50
usha714: calls 30
Flop: 2 4 8
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 70
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 100 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand


3 9 BB (M = 57.00; r+F) I dont call raises without very good hands. Its just building a pot where he has position, nasty idea.

-----Hand 5-----
Hero's M = 56.33
PokerStars Game #11086592393: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:56:24 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1310 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1690 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt J K
BjsAust: raises 30 to 50
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 40 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand


No sense slowplaying a vulnerable hand like this, he could have anything, so any card over 7 is a possible danger card.

-----Hand 6-----
Hero's M = 57.00
PokerStars Game #11086594161: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:56:39 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1290 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1710 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt 6 7
usha714: calls 10
BjsAust: checks
Flop: 7 3 3
BjsAust: bets 40
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 40 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand

Here the cards conspire to let me be a real sneaky bugger. That 7 club on the turn could mean I've hit a flush, but in fact it gives me a gutshot. I've bet most potential flushes so far, so villian correctly puts me on bluffing the flush, but in fact the river completes my straight. No need to reraise river though, just incase he did hit the flush himself.

-----Hand 7-----
Hero's M = 57.67
PokerStars Game #11086597140: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:57:03 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1270 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1730 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt 6 4
BjsAust: calls 10
usha714: checks
Flop: K 8 T
usha714: checks
BjsAust: checks
Turn: 7
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 40
usha714: calls 40
River: 5
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 80
usha714: raises 120 to 200
BjsAust: calls 120
Showdown:
usha714: shows 2 6 (high card King)
BjsAust: shows 6 4 (a straight, Four to Eight)
BjsAust collected 520 from pot


T 7 BB (M = 66.33; r+F)
5 8 SB (M = 65.67; F) Dont be afraid to fold crap hands.

Could be an argument for raising AT here, but again he has position if no A comes, so my c-bet could turn into gravy for him. Hoped he had a K, or figured I was bluffing. My std every flop I've bet, bet amount.

-----Hand 8-----
Hero's M = 65.33
PokerStars Game #11086606580: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:58:20 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1040 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1960 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt A T
usha714: calls 10
BjsAust: checks
Flop: K A 2
BjsAust: bets 40
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 40 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand

Crap hand, could have folded. As it was used it as an example that I do check down when I miss

-----Hand 9-----
Hero's M = 66.00
PokerStars Game #11086610103: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:58:48 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1020 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1980 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt 8 6
BjsAust: calls 10
usha714: checks
Flop: K A Q
usha714: checks
BjsAust: checks
Turn: Q
usha714: checks
BjsAust: checks
River: 9
usha714: checks
BjsAust: checks
Showdown:
usha714: shows T 6 (a pair of Queens)
BjsAust: mucks hand
usha714 collected 40 from pot


3 4 BB (M = 65.33; r+F) These raises I'm folding to dont add up to much. Sooner or later I'll take a stand if need be though.

Chose not to c-bet here. I have every other time I've raised, so he'll be looking to pick one off soon, and J and 9 are all around a danger area in my mind for people calling raises HU. Once I hit my K though I'm happy to let him think I'm trying to steal the pot.

-----Hand 10-----
Hero's M = 64.67
PokerStars Game #11086615396: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:59:33 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1060 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1940 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt K A
BjsAust: raises 30 to 50
usha714: calls 30
Flop: 9 J 7
usha714: checks
BjsAust: checks
Turn: K
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 70
usha714: calls 70
River: 9
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 200
usha714: calls 200
Showdown:
BjsAust: shows K A (two pair, Kings and Nines)
usha714: mucks hand
BjsAust collected 640 from pot



-----Hand 11-----
Hero's M = 64.67
PokerStars Game #11086615396: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 02:59:33 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1060 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1940 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt K A
BjsAust: raises 30 to 50
usha714: calls 30
Flop: 9 J 7
usha714: checks
BjsAust: checks
Turn: K
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 70
usha714: calls 70
River: 9
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 200
usha714: calls 200
Showdown:
BjsAust: shows K A (two pair, Kings and Nines)
usha714: mucks hand
BjsAust collected 640 from pot



-----Hand 12-----
Hero's M = 75.33
PokerStars Game #11086621337: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 03:00:21 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (740 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (2260 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt K 7
usha714: calls 10
BjsAust: checks
Flop: A 4 9
BjsAust: checks
usha714: bets 40
BjsAust: folds
usha714 collected 40 from pot

Dunno if I should have called the flop raise, but I had a gutshot and decided to see how it worked. First time he's done this, so give him one.

-----Hand 13-----
Hero's M = 74.67
PokerStars Game #11086624299: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 03:00:46 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (760 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (2240 in chips)
BjsAust: posts small blind 10
usha714: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt 8 Q
BjsAust: raises 30 to 50
usha714: calls 30
Flop: 4 5 6
usha714: checks
BjsAust: bets 70
usha714: raises 130 to 200
BjsAust: calls 130
Turn: 9
usha714: bets 510 and is all-in
BjsAust: folds
usha714 collected 500 from pot
usha714: doesn't show hand

Unlike his c/r, I pick off his c-bet with a c/c then bet the turn solidly. Arent I the slowplaying bugger!

-----Hand 14-----
Hero's M = 66.33
PokerStars Game #11086630464: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 03:01:37 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (1010 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (1990 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt A T
usha714: raises 40 to 60
BjsAust: calls 40
Flop: 9 3 8
BjsAust: checks
usha714: bets 90
BjsAust: calls 90
Turn: 2
BjsAust: bets 200
usha714: folds
BjsAust collected 300 from pot
BjsAust: doesn't show hand


6 9 SB (M = 71.33; F)

This hand just combined all the work we've been doing. Reraise his PF raise, he's been stealing the blinds a lot. C-bet the flop like I have 90% of the time when I've been PF aggressor, he "picks off my bluff", but it wasnt a bluff. Money doubled. GG.
-----Hand 15-----
Hero's M = 71.00
PokerStars Game #11086637256: Tournament #56229040, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/07/23 - 03:02:32 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '56229040 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: usha714 (870 in chips)
Seat 2: BjsAust (2130 in chips)
usha714: posts small blind 10
BjsAust: posts big blind 20
Preflop: BjsAust dealt Q K
usha714: raises 40 to 60
BjsAust: raises 60 to 120
usha714: calls 60
Flop: 8 7 Q
BjsAust: bets 140
usha714: raises 610 to 750 and is all-in
BjsAust: calls 610
Turn: 5
River: 6
Showdown:
BjsAust: shows Q K (a pair of Queens)
usha714: shows T A (high card Ace)
BjsAust collected 1740 from pot



The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.2w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.


Hope it helped.