Heads Up Stud

[Dratj 0]

Any tips for this?

[drcossack 0]

It's tough to say. It really depends on your opponent.In general, you want to mix up your play.I'll frequently 3-bet 3rd if I have the better doorcard. I play low stakes HU SnG's frequently and it gives me a better idea of their hand ranges. I tend to do this more often with 3 straights and 3 flushes since it gives me the odds to chase on later streets.I tend to raise the other guy's bring-in frequently.I get a lot of action on my big hands because of the above two things, but I limp as much as I raise and 3 bet.Here's a few bad examples of 3-betting, since the guy raised his bring-in on every hand but one:Full Tilt Poker Game #5842507956: $10 + $0.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (44478143), Table 1 - 30/60 Ante 5 - Limit Stud Hi - 14:10:35 ET - 2008/03/30Seat 1: Loxstar (1,500)Seat 2: Studinator (1,500)Loxstar antes 5Studinator antes 5*** 3RD STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [6d]Dealt to Studinator [7c 5c] [8s]Loxstar is low with [6d]Loxstar completes it to 30Studinator raises to 60Loxstar calls 30*** 4TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [6d] [8c]Dealt to Studinator [7c 5c 8s] [2s]Loxstar checksStudinator bets 30Loxstar calls 30*** 5TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [6d 8c] [Jd]Dealt to Studinator [7c 5c 8s 2s] [4c]Loxstar checksStudinator bets 60Loxstar calls 60*** 6TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [6d 8c Jd] [Kd]Dealt to Studinator [7c 5c 8s 2s 4c] [Jc]Loxstar bets 60Studinator calls 60*** 7TH STREET ***Dealt to Studinator [7c 5c 8s 2s 4c Jc] [7h]Loxstar bets 60Studinator calls 60*** SHOW DOWN ***Loxstar shows [Kc 6s 6d 8c Jd Kd 4s] two pair, Kings and SixesStudinator mucksLoxstar wins the pot (550) with two pair, Kings and Sixes*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 550 | Rake 0Seat 1: Loxstar showed [Kc 6s 6d 8c Jd Kd 4s] and won (550) with two pair, Kings and SixesSeat 2: Studinator mucked [7h 7c 8s 2s 4c Jc 5c] - a pair of SevensFull Tilt Poker Game #5842554086: $10 + $0.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (44478143), Table 1 - 30/60 Ante 5 - Limit Stud Hi - 14:14:29 ET - 2008/03/30Seat 1: Loxstar (1,350)Seat 2: Studinator (1,650)Loxstar antes 5Studinator antes 5*** 3RD STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [Qh]Dealt to Studinator [7d 4c] [Ac]Loxstar is low with [Qh]Loxstar completes it to 30Studinator raises to 60Loxstar calls 30*** 4TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [Qh] [2c]Dealt to Studinator [7d 4c Ac] [4s]Studinator bets 30Loxstar calls 30*** 5TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [Qh 2c] [Jh]Dealt to Studinator [7d 4c Ac 4s] [5d]Studinator bets 60Loxstar calls 60*** 6TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [Qh 2c Jh] [9d]Dealt to Studinator [7d 4c Ac 4s 5d] [6s]Studinator bets 60Loxstar calls 60*** 7TH STREET ***Dealt to Studinator [7d 4c Ac 4s 5d 6s] [3d]Studinator bets 60Loxstar calls 60*** SHOW DOWN ***Studinator shows [7d 4c Ac 4s 5d 6s 3d] a straight, Seven highLoxstar mucksStudinator wins the pot (550) with a straight, Seven high*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 550 | Rake 0Seat 1: Loxstar mucked [Js 8c Qh 2c Jh 9d 6h] - a pair of JacksSeat 2: Studinator showed [7d 4c Ac 4s 5d 6s 3d] and won (550) with a straight, Seven highFull Tilt Poker Game #5842585939: $10 + $0.50 Heads Up Sit & Go (44478143), Table 1 - 40/80 Ante 7 - Limit Stud Hi - 14:17:12 ET - 2008/03/30Seat 1: Loxstar (990)Seat 2: Studinator (2,010)Loxstar antes 7Studinator antes 7*** 3RD STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [8c]Dealt to Studinator [Jd Ad] [8s]Loxstar is low with [8c]Loxstar completes it to 40Studinator raises to 80Loxstar calls 40*** 4TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [8c] [4c]Dealt to Studinator [Jd Ad 8s] [Ks]Studinator bets 40Loxstar calls 40*** 5TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [8c 4c] [7h]Dealt to Studinator [Jd Ad 8s Ks] [Jc]Studinator bets 80Loxstar calls 80*** 6TH STREET ***Dealt to Loxstar [8c 4c 7h] [5d]Dealt to Studinator [Jd Ad 8s Ks Jc] [Ah]Studinator bets 80Loxstar calls 80*** 7TH STREET ***Dealt to Studinator [Jd Ad 8s Ks Jc Ah] [Jh]Studinator bets 80Loxstar foldsUncalled bet of 80 returned to StudinatorStudinator mucksStudinator wins the pot (574)*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 574 | Rake 0Seat 1: Loxstar folded on 7th St.Seat 2: Studinator collected (574), mucked

[ahosang 0]

Any tips for this?

Concentrate on pairs and high cards. I used to play a lot of Hu stud 20 years ago - play your board strongly as well to get your opponent to fold. As drcossack says, it's opponent-dependent. Raising 3rd is standard with playable hands...

[checkymcfold 0]

HU stud, as with HU variants of other games, is all about getting a feel for how many bets mean what sort of hand from whatever opponent you're playing. that sounds extremely simplistic, but it is the absolute key for HU games. basically, bet and raise with seemingly reckless abandon until your opponent becomes predictable (did he put in 3 bets on third? he has any pair. did he raise 5th? he has 2p. did he just call 5th? he has one pair. etc, etc). virtually any opponent worth playing will become predictable in this regard if you start off with seemingly donkish aggression, and once that happens, just maximize value when you're ahead and draw at a winner when it's profitable to do so. you'll crush.

[ahosang 0]

checky's post gives you a good idea of how to read the opponents and make good decisions.

[dreamcrusher28 0]

HU stud, as with HU variants of other games, is all about getting a feel for how many bets mean what sort of hand from whatever opponent you're playing. that sounds extremely simplistic, but it is the absolute key for HU games. basically, bet and raise with seemingly reckless abandon until your opponent becomes predictable (did he put in 3 bets on third? he has any pair. did he raise 5th? he has 2p. did he just call 5th? he has one pair. etc, etc). virtually any opponent worth playing will become predictable in this regard if you start off with seemingly donkish aggression, and once that happens, just maximize value when you're ahead and draw at a winner when it's profitable to do so. you'll crush.

Good post. I've actually been playing a lot of HU and SH Stud8 lately, .50/1.00 and lower. Lots of fish sit in short and go busto and the decent regulars who play full ring don't adjust well. I just sit out when we get 5 and start a new table.I may even give HU Stud Hi a try, which I hate and suck at full rng .

[jday561 0]

Yea I like to mix up my play in HU.. obv don't have to play near as strong of hands. Pay even MORE attention to your opponents cards also.