Shallow stacks when HU at end of SnG

Thought this might be nice to post. A lot of people lately seem to be posting on the boards saying they have trouble closing out a SnG, because they struggle to play HU with blinds so big and stacks so shallow. I'll psot one of my HU histories from the end of a $10 PartyPoker SnG below (this particular one was rather spectacular), and I'll show you my style of playing them, which is basically a pick your spot and push preflop kinda style.

Take a look, if you have any questions/comments, feel free to post:

***** Hand History for Game 2304916857 *****
ksarg finished in third place and won $20.
400/800 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:11:31 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (6631)
Seat 6: alamosloan (1369)
alamosloan posts small blind (200)
dwarfman posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 9s, 8h ]
alamosloan raises (1169) to 1369
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $1769 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1769
dwarfman balance 6231, lost 400 (folded)
alamosloan balance 1769, bet 1369, collected 1769, net +400

***** Hand History for Game 2304917941 *****
400/800 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:11:44 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (6231)
Seat 6: alamosloan (1769)
dwarfman posts small blind (200)
alamosloan posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Qc, 3d ]
dwarfman folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 600
dwarfman balance 6031, lost 200 (folded)
alamosloan balance 1969, bet 400, collected 600, net +200

***** Hand History for Game 2304918583 *****
400/800 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:11:52 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (6031)
Seat 6: alamosloan (1969)
alamosloan posts small blind (200)
dwarfman posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 8s, 3d ]
alamosloan raises (1769) to 1969
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $2369 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 2369
dwarfman balance 5631, lost 400 (folded)
alamosloan balance 2369, bet 1969, collected 2369, net +400

***** Hand History for Game 2304919529 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:12:05 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5631)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2369)
dwarfman posts small blind (250)
alamosloan posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2s, 6c ]
dwarfman folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
dwarfman balance 5381, lost 250 (folded)
alamosloan balance 2619, bet 500, collected 750, net +250

***** Hand History for Game 2304920456 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:12:17 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5381)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2619)
alamosloan posts small blind (250)
dwarfman posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Qd, Tc ]
alamosloan raises (2369) to 2619
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman calls (2119)
Creating Main Pot with $5238 with alamosloan
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2d, 9h, 9d ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 4c ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 3s ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5238 |
Board: [ 2d 9h 9d 4c 3s ]
dwarfman balance 2762, lost 2619 [ Qd Tc ] [ a pair of nines -- Qd,Tc,9h,9d,4c ]
alamosloan balance 5238, bet 2619, collected 5238, net +2619 [ Jc Ad ] [ a pair of nines with ace kicker -- Ad,Jc,9h,9d,4cAd(kicker card) ]

***** Hand History for Game 2304921860 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:12:35 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (2762)
Seat 6: alamosloan (5238)
dwarfman posts small blind (250)
alamosloan posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Qc, Td ]
dwarfman raises (2512) to 2762
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan calls (2262)
Creating Main Pot with $5524 with dwarfman
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 5c, Ks, 3c ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 3h ]
** Dealing River ** : [ Tc ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5524 |
Board: [ 5c Ks 3c 3h Tc ]
dwarfman balance 5524, bet 2762, collected 5524, net +2762 [ Qc Td ] [ two pairs, tens and threes -- Ks,Td,Tc,3c,3h ]
alamosloan balance 2476, lost 2762 [ Qs Ah ] [ a pair of threes -- Ah,Ks,Qs,3c,3h ]

***** Hand History for Game 2304923231 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:12:52 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5524)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2476)
alamosloan posts small blind (250)
dwarfman posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 6h, 7c ]
alamosloan raises (2226) to 2476
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $2976 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 2976
dwarfman balance 5024, lost 500 (folded)
alamosloan balance 2976, bet 2476, collected 2976, net +500

***** Hand History for Game 2304924267 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:13:05 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5024)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2976)
dwarfman posts small blind (250)
alamosloan posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 7h, Tc ]
dwarfman folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
dwarfman balance 4774, lost 250 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3226, bet 500, collected 750, net +250

***** Hand History for Game 2304924879 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:13:13 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4774)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3226)
alamosloan posts small blind (250)
dwarfman posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 7h, 3s ]
alamosloan raises (2976) to 3226
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3726 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3726
dwarfman balance 4274, lost 500 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3726, bet 3226, collected 3726, net +500

***** Hand History for Game 2304925916 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:13:27 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4274)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3726)
dwarfman posts small blind (250)
alamosloan posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Ad, Kd ]
dwarfman raises (4024) to 4274
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan folds.
Creating Main Pot with $4774 with dwarfman
** Summary **
Main Pot: 4774
dwarfman balance 4774, bet 4274, collected 4774, net +500
alamosloan balance 3226, lost 500 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304927862 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:13:52 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4774)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3226)
alamosloan posts small blind (250)
dwarfman posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 5s, 5c ]
alamosloan folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
dwarfman balance 5024, bet 500, collected 750, net +250
alamosloan balance 2976, lost 250 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304928556 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:14:01 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5024)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2976)
dwarfman posts small blind (250)
alamosloan posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2d, 6s ]
dwarfman folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
dwarfman balance 4774, lost 250 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3226, bet 500, collected 750, net +250

***** Hand History for Game 2304929188 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:14:09 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4774)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3226)
alamosloan posts small blind (250)
dwarfman posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2d, 8s ]
alamosloan folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
dwarfman balance 5024, bet 500, collected 750, net +250
alamosloan balance 2976, lost 250 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304929864 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:14:17 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5024)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2976)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2d, 6d ]
dwarfman folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 900
dwarfman balance 4724, lost 300 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3276, bet 600, collected 900, net +300

***** Hand History for Game 2304930735 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:14:29 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4724)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3276)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2d, 4c ]
alamosloan raises (2976) to 3276
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3876 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3876
dwarfman balance 4124, lost 600 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3876, bet 3276, collected 3876, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2304931727 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:14:41 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4124)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3876)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Ts, 6h ]
dwarfman raises (3824) to 4124
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan folds.
Creating Main Pot with $4724 with dwarfman
** Summary **
Main Pot: 4724
dwarfman balance 4724, bet 4124, collected 4724, net +600
alamosloan balance 3276, lost 600 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304932636 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:14:53 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4724)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3276)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2c, Kc ]
alamosloan raises (2976) to 3276
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3876 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3876
dwarfman balance 4124, lost 600 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3876, bet 3276, collected 3876, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2304934365 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:15:15 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4124)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3876)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 3d, Qs ]
dwarfman folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 900
dwarfman balance 3824, lost 300 (folded)
alamosloan balance 4176, bet 600, collected 900, net +300

***** Hand History for Game 2304935063 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:15:24 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (3824)
Seat 6: alamosloan (4176)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 2c, 9h ]
alamosloan calls (300)
dwarfman checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 4d, 8h, 8s ]
dwarfman checks.
alamosloan bets (3576)
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $4776 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 4776
Board: [ 4d 8h 8s ]
dwarfman balance 3224, lost 600 (folded)
alamosloan balance 4776, bet 4176, collected 4776, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2304936681 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:15:44 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (3224)
Seat 6: alamosloan (4776)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ As, 9s ]
dwarfman raises (2924) to 3224
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3824 with dwarfman
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3824
dwarfman balance 3824, bet 3224, collected 3824, net +600
alamosloan balance 4176, lost 600 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304937562 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:15:55 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (3824)
Seat 6: alamosloan (4176)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 3h, Qs ]
alamosloan raises (3876) to 4176
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $4776 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 4776
dwarfman balance 3224, lost 600 (folded)
alamosloan balance 4776, bet 4176, collected 4776, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2304938416 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:16:06 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (3224)
Seat 6: alamosloan (4776)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Js, 9h ]
dwarfman raises (2924) to 3224
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan calls (2624)
Creating Main Pot with $6448 with dwarfman
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Jh, Ks, 5d ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 5h ]
** Dealing River ** : [ Jd ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 6448 |
Board: [ Jh Ks 5d 5h Jd ]
dwarfman balance 6448, bet 3224, collected 6448, net +3224 [ Js 9h ] [ a full house, Jacks full of fives -- Js,Jh,Jd,5d,5h ]
alamosloan balance 1552, lost 3224 [ Ah Tc ] [ two pairs, jacks and fives -- Ah,Jh,Jd,5d,5h ]

***** Hand History for Game 2304939646 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:16:22 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (6448)
Seat 6: alamosloan (1552)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Ad, 9d ]
alamosloan raises (1252) to 1552
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman calls (952)
Creating Main Pot with $3104 with alamosloan
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Qh, Jh, As ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 3h ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 5h ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3104 |
Board: [ Qh Jh As 3h 5h ]
dwarfman balance 4896, lost 1552 [ Ad 9d ] [ a pair of aces -- Ad,As,Qh,Jh,9d ]
alamosloan balance 3104, bet 1552, collected 3104, net +1552 [ 7h Kh ] [ a flush, king high -- Kh,Qh,Jh,7h,5h ]

***** Hand History for Game 2304940885 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:16:38 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4896)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3104)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Tc, Kd ]
dwarfman raises (4596) to 4896
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan folds.
Creating Main Pot with $5496 with dwarfman
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5496
dwarfman balance 5496, bet 4896, collected 5496, net +600
alamosloan balance 2504, lost 600 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304941895 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:16:50 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5496)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2504)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 4h, 8s ]
alamosloan raises (2204) to 2504
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3104 with alamosloan
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3104
dwarfman balance 4896, lost 600 (folded)
alamosloan balance 3104, bet 2504, collected 3104, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2304942999 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:17:04 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (4896)
Seat 6: alamosloan (3104)
dwarfman posts small blind (300)
alamosloan posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ 5h, Jh ]
dwarfman raises (4596) to 4896
dwarfman is all-In.
alamosloan folds.
Creating Main Pot with $5496 with dwarfman
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5496
dwarfman balance 5496, bet 4896, collected 5496, net +600
alamosloan balance 2504, lost 600 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2304944190 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13625845) - Sun Jul 03 20:17:19 EDT 2005
Table Table 35241 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 4: dwarfman (5496)
Seat 6: alamosloan (2504)
alamosloan posts small blind (300)
dwarfman posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to dwarfman [ Ad, 5d ]
alamosloan raises (2204) to 2504
alamosloan is all-In.
dwarfman calls (1904)
Creating Main Pot with $5008 with alamosloan
** Dealing Flop ** : [ As, Qh, 5c ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 9h ]
** Dealing River ** : [ Jc ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5008 |
Board: [ As Qh 5c 9h Jc ]
dwarfman balance 8000, bet 2504, collected 5008, net +2504 [ Ad 5d ] [ two pairs, aces and fives -- Ad,As,Qh,5d,5c ]
alamosloan balance 0, lost 2504 [ 4s Qc ] [ a pair of queens -- As,Qc,Qh,Jc,9h ]

i like pushing with T6o, but I don't like calling with QTo.

If you think he'll raise all in whenever you complete the SB, I might think about limping AK. Its a bit risky but this guy seems like a maniac.

Originally Posted by fjuanl

If you think he'll raise all in whenever you complete the SB, I might think about limping AK. Its a bit risky but this guy seems like a maniac.

Gets me everytime I have a marginal, but good HU hand when they complete the blind and I push. I'll learn sometime.

Sometimes I'll do it myself to test if my opponent checks to let me see a flop cheap. If I get raised, I'll keep that play in my pocket for when I got a monster and hope he pushes over my next SB completion.

I hate the two folds with Q3o from the SB (as opposed to the one where he's already gone all-in). And with T8o. At least call once and find out if he's prepared to let you take the flop.

With AKs, I'd raise to 2-3xBB, hoping he goes over the top of me. If he calls, the CB on the flop is almost mandatory.

I'd have called the very first hand, hoping to finish it there and then.

That being said, you got some pretty filthy cards through that session, well done for coming through it.

Originally Posted by richie

I'd have called the very first hand, hoping to finish it there and then.

You'd call an all in with 98o without knowing how the guy is playing HU? For all I know at this stage, the only hands he could be pushing preflop with are premium.

I'd probably call the AI hand 1 too, you're getting around the right proce unless he's got an over pair and you prove you aren't to be trifled with. Some people will push with anything in these spots, down that many chips. I'm happy to run against A6 here with a chance to win.

And I agree, make him prove he'll raise if you limp before you start folding the button away.

Definately a big mistake folding from the small blind. You have to see if he will push if you simply complete. If he doesn't, then every hand is worth at least calling the big blind with (You are getting 3-1 odds, which is good enough to call with 2-3os, the worst HU hand). If he does, then you simply call with that AK you got and let him dig his own grave.