Heads up

[Red_Squirrel]

How are you supposed to play it when the tourny reaches heads up? I'm new to SnGs, I've finished ITM seven times and of those seven I have finished 2nd six times and 3rd once, so the heads up play seems to be my weakness. Oh, I should mention I'm playing $0.75 + $0.25 buyin at the moment, seems I should play at these levels until I'm placing ITM regularly.

Typically, once the 3rd player is knocked out I have a stack similar in size to that of my opponent and the blinds are huge, I loosen my game a lot and go to flop with most hands just to 'see what it brings', I don't know if this is wise but the I don't have the time to wait around for a premium hand while the big blind is costing me a quarter of my stack each time.

Should I be more aggressive? I've tried that a couple of times but I seem to get called down with a better hand every time.

Help! How do you play it heads up?

Any advice very welcome!

[gabe]

if the blinds are really big, just push alot!! anything that looks decent, push if you are first to act. in general, call a push with an ace, a pair, or maybe KQ and KJ.

[Krotalus]

i think you need to be more aggressive, than loose. when you get any decent hand you need to push it for all its worth. keep the pressure on you opponent.

i am about the same level as you, but that is what i have learnt so far.

[Jimmy Mac]

I had the same problem, but then I far more aggressive, and I am now winning far more than losing heads up, especially against tight players. Against another aggressive player, it tends to turn into a shoving match.

Check out these posts from FTR, they is G00t.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=10847

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=925

In fact, search these forums for Heads Up - tons of stuff.

Jimmy Mac

[Krapp]

If the blinds are big (e.g. ~>20% of your stack). Push:
- Ax
- Kx (maybe). If opp is tight.
- 2painted
- fold everything else. No limping

If the blinds are normal. Play normal HtoH, maybe be a bit more loose/aggressive until blinds get big.

[Red_Squirrel]

Cheers guys, I clearly need to show a LOT more aggression. The scary thing when I was reading through RippTyde's hand history (Jimmy Mac's first link) was that Ripp's opponent was playing just how I do Theres my weakness, hehe.

But what I still don't get is why they will continually fall for it! If you raise the majority of your hands why do they fold every time! 50% of the time they will hold a better hand than you (in theory).

Thanks for all the advice! Lets see if I can place first now...

Red_Squirrel

[naturaltan]

For me, it was a fear of losing money. Regardless of the amount, I'm a very competitve person and I hated the fact that someone would be able to take my money. But as you progress in this game or any other poker game, you'll learn that no one can have a great hand as many times as Ripps opponent must have thought.

I think you've hit it, you need to be more aggressive. If you have a playable hand, at least see the flop. If you have a giant, re-raise to see where you opponent is. You'll be surprised at the outcome.

[drmcboy]

I disagree with no limping, if opp is weak and will not raise from BB without premium, I'm playing every hand. You're getting huge pot odds in the SB. see HOH2.

50% of the time they will hold a better hand than you (in theory).

Don't forget this includes times when you have 42, but they have 92. An amazing amount of people will just not play hands like J4, 106 etc. until they have about 2 BB left, whatever you've been doing. Once the blinds get big it comes down to cards... unless your opp is unwilling to be agg, which gives you a shot even without any decent holdings.

If the blinds are big (e.g. ~>20% of your stack)

Push anything except complete garbage.

[Jimmy Mac]

On the same topic, check out the STT frequently asked questions from the other place ( 2 plus 2). There are some excellent posts relating to heads up play in Sit and Go's when at the end, your stack is often < 10BB.

I cant summarize it here, but it seems the optimum strategy in this situation is to push with 50% plus of your hands!! Sound crazy, but check it out. This is good stuff:

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

[Krotalus]

When i get heads up I go after pretty much every pot. I mix it up though, sometimes limp in (SB or BB) and bet big after the flop, or raise it heavy preflop in a steal attempt (again from either position).

it is also the time i shift gears. I generally will play a very tight tourney, then as soon as we go heads up, or when the third place person is on the ropes, i will switch gears, go almost maniacal and just keep betting and raising. I do everything i can to get my opponent second guessing themselves and trying to guess waht i have.

[nomofoshobro]

you should switch gears on the bubble because people tend to tighten up from fear of finishing OOTM. play relentlessly until the end. push ALOT heads up. not with 72o, of course, but along the lines of the other posts in this thread.

[azureXsmurF]

I disagree with no limping, if opp is weak and will not raise from BB without premium, I'm playing every hand. You're getting huge pot odds in the SB. see HOH2.

That's fine in big live/online MTTs, where your stacks are huge. However in 1 table SnGs (especially turbos, it seems) by the time you're heads up the BB is usually 10-15% of the average stack and you can't afford to limp many pots, especially against an aggressive opp that will raise your call.

[THaC]

Trapping your opponent is the key to HU from what I've learned. I've been playing the $27 turbos recently, and it seems that whenever I show weakness on the flop, they bet into me, and I check-raise for a few extra chips.

Do NOT bluff the flop. If you don't have anything, don't bet out, because a lot of people like to trap, if they check to you, check behind and hope for a turn card that helps you.

I raise my SB/Button every time because sometimes they'll fold preflop, and even if they don't, you've already shown strength preflop, and you have position on them for a c-bet.

Once you get a chip lead, start raising 3/4 of your hands. If they limp their SB, raise to 3x. Raise to 4x on your SB. Take control of the pots, and take control of their chips.

Just when they think they got you and you're raising every hand so they're gonna play back at you, switch gears. Fold it to them a few hands, let them know you "have cards" (even though you don't), and you're not just an aggressive idiot.

Never be afraid to get away from a hand either, if you c-bet and they raise you, fold. You can make the chips back in later hands.

I think I pretty much covered everything: Take control, be aggressive, but know when to trap and what situations that you can make the most money by trapping.

Good luck man, keep getting ITM, and watch the BR grow as you start to get more 1sts than 2nds/3rds.