6 Max Heads Up Strat

[Wingman008 0]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (2 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)Button (t6673)Hero (t2327)Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, Q. Button calls t100, Hero raises to t600, Button calls t400.Flop: (t1450) K, 8, T(2 players)Hero bets t1702 (All-In), Button calls t1702.Turn: (t4854) T(2 players, 1 all-in)River: (t4854) 6(2 players, 1 all-in)Final Pot: t4854I have been able to get into the money relatively consistently recently, but I cannot close the deal. The reason is is because I suck at heads up in these tournaments. Is there a basic strat I should be adhering to? What should my range be, and should I be mostly shoving or doing standard raises since my M is relatively low the majority of the time when heads up starts?

[Sheiky 0]

Shove pre or raise to something that leaves you a pot sized shove on the flop, which is basically what you did so you played it fine.

[jmbreslin 0]

I don't know, I don't think you have to make that kind of move here because there is still room to play. I would actually raise smaller PF because I don't want to scare away action with QQ heads-up and that leaves you room to maneuver on the flop. You're not short enough that you have to push PF.For example, raise to 300 PF which creats a pot of about 900. When the K falls on the flop you can make a standard CB for 450 or so. If he raises then you decide if you believe he has a K and push or fold.As for heads-up strategy, look at Harrington's strategy in HoH and google "SAGE". That's really all you need to know about heads-up play.

[copernicus 0]

I don't know, I don't think you have to make that kind of move here because there is still room to play. I would actually raise smaller PF because I don't want to scare away action with QQ heads-up and that leaves you room to maneuver on the flop. You're not short enough that you have to push PF.For example, raise to 300 PF which creats a pot of about 900. When the K falls on the flop you can make a standard CB for 450 or so. If he raises then you decide if you believe he has a K and push or fold.As for heads-up strategy, look at Harrington's strategy in HoH and google "SAGE". That's really all you need to know about heads-up play.

Well, thats all you need to know about short-stacked heads up play, but at 10bbs or more there is a helluva lot more to HU play than pushing ranges!This hand was played fine, just learn not to get sucked out on.

[Wingman008 0]

This hand was played fine, just learn not to get sucked out on.

Getting sucked out on isn't the point of poker?

[Sheiky 0]

I don't know, I don't think you have to make that kind of move here because there is still room to play. I would actually raise smaller PF because I don't want to scare away action with QQ heads-up and that leaves you room to maneuver on the flop. You're not short enough that you have to push PF.For example, raise to 300 PF which creats a pot of about 900. When the K falls on the flop you can make a standard CB for 450 or so. If he raises then you decide if you believe he has a K and push or fold.As for heads-up strategy, look at Harrington's strategy in HoH and google "SAGE". That's really all you need to know about heads-up play.

I think you may have misread the blind levels for 50/100

[jmbreslin 0]

Well, thats all you need to know about short-stacked heads up play, but at 10bbs or more there is a helluva lot more to HU play than pushing ranges!

Harrington doesn't just talk about shortstack HU play.

[jmbreslin 0]

I think you may have misread the blind levels for 50/100

I don't think his play was bad at all but I really don't like pushing PF here.

[copernicus 0]

Harrington doesn't just talk about shortstack HU play.

I was referring to SAGE. Its been a while since I read it, but as I recall Harrington's HU section is very weak. It doesnt stress aggression with the button nearly enough, and gives the impression that any pair on the flop can be played like its the nuts.Most importantly deeper stacked HU play is primarily about feel and reading your opponent, and it cant be learned from a book. Play a couple of hundred HU SnGs is the quickest way to improve.

[jmbreslin 0]

Agreed, but the hand ranges for raising, reraising, calling raises, etc, are helpful for inexperienced HU players.I struggle with HU play myself so I shouldn't have spoken so quickly.