Heads Up Strategy

[isuck]

I am only going to start to explain my heads up strategy and you guys can take it from there.

There is two approaches I take in heads up.

Basically it's one of these two:
1. Don't make yourself the bitch. By that I mean don't let him push you out of every pot or reraise you when he pleases. You will lose a lot of chips like this and leaves you open for his big hands down the line.
2. You can use the first approach with a more conservative factor. Fold some hands, show him that when he thinks ur bluffing, you actually have a good hand.

With that said, it's very risky, but raise A LOT pre flop with almost any hand. First of all, it gets information about his hand, and establishes you as the boss.

Now the "haters" might ask, what about if he reraises?
Well in that case, you fold. Now, you dont make yourself the bitch again, you keep raising because eventually, and usually, you will pickup a hand, play it the same way (by that i mean rasiing preflop) he will reraise, and then you can have fun with his chips with your monster hand.

I take the 1st approach if i go in as the higher stack and the 2nd as the lower stack. Reason being, higher stack=more chips to make the raises and bully. Low stack is obvious.

If the second approach had a name it would be fold to show power.
You are folding to show that the hands you raise with (your bluffs most likely) seem like monsters to him.


I have yet to lose a heads up on poker stars sng's.

By no means am I a pro, but i am just saying what works for me.
Feedback/discussion would be great as i am learning new ways to improve my strategy even more.

(The isuck that recently posted crap was not me, my computer was left on with this forum up and the person using it also has an account here and forgot to sign his in)

[isuck]

Any feedback?

[AcesInTheHole]

Welp... that's really the only two ways I know of. I agree with you on the two styles of play... it sucks though cus sometimes you can't get into the groove of the aggressor

[mgobluefb]

Your strategy sounds great. I myself have been interested in HU strategy. Usually I hear that it's important to be aggressive in HU play. However, I became interested in what happens at the opposite end of the spectrum. I tried a $20 HU SNG at PokerStars, and I virtually never raised. I let him do all the betting and basically just called him down when I actually had a hand. I ended up winning because he went all in with mid-pair and I called with top pair. I don't think this strategy is necessarily correct, but it does provoke some ideas.

Maybe this style could be used effectively in changing gears HU. It seems like changing gears could be very efficient HU.

I don't know... just some ideas...

[Rondavu]

The bottom line is if you play one way constantly (aggressive), a good player is going to pole you with third or fourth nuts. That is to say they will get passive and call you off. Good heads up play is about changing up just as your opponent catches on. If they pole you, then tighten up and legitimize your holdings as you bet hard.

One step ahead. That's heads up.

[tdmlb24]

It all depends on the chip counts at the time and how your opponent usually plays/is playing

Aggressive play wins in heads-up most of the time no matter the situation.

First one to bet when both have nothing (which will happen a lot) usually wins that hand