Heads up question

[kevster]

Since starting poker, I have always played HU hands by either folding or raising (on the advice of a friend).

I've just reached the Heads up section of HOH II where he advocates always calling from the small blind/button with ATC unless the big blind is persistently re-raising you.

I'd be interested to know how others play here and if you feel that Harrington's HU strategy for MTTs translates well to online SNGs.

Thx.

[Sprayed]

I watched a HU video that sheets did over on PXF. He advocated mixing up your play based upon the blind levels. He raised every hand from the sb for a few levels and then started limping when the levels changed (of course he raised his good hands). He kept his opponent off balance by doing this. This also gave him an idea as to how his opponent would play back at him.

[Xioustic]

I'd be interested to know how others play here and if you feel that Harrington's HU strategy for MTTs translates well to online SNGs.

Harrington's always applies. His chapter on heads-up is a little too short for my taste though. When I fail at heads up I tend to open the book, reread heads-up and get very disappointed.

[Da GOAT]

HU is my fav part of SNGs, i find it is based on experience soo much more than math. love it, hmm miss it lol!!!!

just think of mixing up your play alot and take less marginal shoves HU with similiar stacks even with highish blinds (that wont cripple or really hurt you ) instead limp.

[gingerwizard]

Depends on the blinds.

If they are high so that the relative stack is effectively short you should push every hand from the small blind. (say at 400/800/50)

If they are very low relatice to stacks you can afford to limp ATC unless he starts raising back at you. In that case mix it up and be selective. Raise a few, limp a few strong hands with the intention of reraising, fold the worst hands. etc etc.

I play turbos so nearly always HU is an AI fest. Beauty of that is my first few pushes are not usually called, which with larger blinds often gives me the big stack. I just have to hope that when we do get it in, my hand holds up/sucks out.

[FlyingSaucy]

Never take the advice of someone who says to never do it a certain way. hmm :P
Actually, I do favor mixing it up, nothing wrong with limping the sb to test the aggressiveness of your opponent. Playing heads up is more about gathering information about the trends in your opponent than it is about getting information on a particular hand. Therefore, varying your play will allow you to gather more of that information and have better depth of data. If you are always raising or folding, you're not giving your opponent a variety of situations to play back at you with, therefore limiting the scope of your knowledge about how he/she plays heads up.