15 replies to this topic

[Petoria]

Aggression is usually the way to go when it comes to HU play. The best advice though is to just pay attention. You can observe a lot if you just watch.

[No_Neck]

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but play heads up. If someone is tight be aggressive if they are loose trap. that sort of thing.

[MasterLJ]

Just like any other poker, play alot. Get a feel for hand strength. For instance, you will begin to learn that if you pair on the flop, you are statistically ahead of your opponent.You need to learn to find out what kind of player you are against, and quickly. If they are loose and aggressive, trap them with their own tricks. Most super-aggressive heads up players do something like this: They pair the flop (any pair), they bet the pot, you call, the turn doesn't matter to them, they bet the pot, you call, the river is the same (except it's usually all in by this point just by the fact that the pot is huge), making you wonder if your middle pair was good to begin with. With these people you need a fairly nice hand and to just make calls when they bet into you (2 pair minimum).With tight players it couldn't be easier. Be aggressive. Hide the strength of your hand with consistent betting. Most tight players will raise to let you know you're beat. If your hand isn't that great, fold, if it is, re-raise. Pretty simple stuff lol.Oh yeah, just make calls. For the most part, raising will just ruin action for you. When I make an incredibly strong hand I like to raise all in on the river as opposed to earlier streets or the flop. You'd be surprised how many people will call all ins with two pair regardless of what the board shows. But given that people will obviously loosen up their hand selection, it's very hard to gauge which cards will give someone two pair. That being said, I like to be cautious even with tptk, even going so far as to check it down on the river.

[DCWildcat]

If you want a real thorough answer, explain what game/games you're interested in improving in

[ol'number7]

If you are playing no-limit, read Harrington On Hold'em Vol 2 -- very insightful section on heads-up play -- helped me a lot

[Smasharoo]

Cap A high on every street.You're NEverwin now!

[kaisersoze12]

I am not trying to be rude . . . but who cares?Why bother playing well heads up. Play cash games and you never get heads up. Play short handed cuz that is where the money is. If you think you suck at heads up, don't play it. Focus on where you are good.Heads up talent is rarely put to good use.

[Kappa1873]

kaisersoze12 said:

I am not trying to be rude . . . but who cares?Why bother playing well heads up. Play cash games and you never get heads up. Play short handed cuz that is where the money is. If you think you suck at heads up, don't play it. Focus on where you are good.Heads up talent is rarely put to good use.

Umm...Ever heard of heads-up cash games? They're a goldmine if you "bother playing well heads-up".Plus, being able to play heads-up well is just like being able to play multiple games well. The more weapons you have in your arsenal, the more opportunities you'll find for making money.If your argument were reasonable, everyone might as well just stick to playing 10-handed limit hold 'em for the rest of their lives. No use playing anything else, right?

[Smasharoo]

Ever heard of heads-up cash games? They're a goldmine if you "bother playing well heads-up"For poker sites they are. You'll never overcome the rake heads up unless you're playing at least 30/60.Good luck.

[TheIceman05]

Smasharoo said:

Ever heard of heads-up cash games? They're a goldmine if you "bother playing well heads-up"For poker sites they are. You'll never overcome the rake heads up unless you're playing at least 30/60.Good luck.

Huh, that's funny. Because I've played something like 50 heads-up $50 freezeouts, I'm 27-23, and I'm ahead of the rake. I imagine someone who plays them sober/well could easily go 30-20, then you're just brutalizing the rake.But that's just me.There's a good thread on 2+2 where two of the guys played 200 hands and documented their thought process on each one. Very insightful. Does anyone have the link handy?Ice

[joeythep]

Cash games and Heads Up match play are two different things, bro.

[Smasharoo]

Huh, that's funny. Because I've played something like 50 heads-up $50 freezeouts, I'm 27-23, and I'm ahead of the rake. I imagine someone who plays them sober/well could easily go 30-20, then you're just brutalizing the rake. You understand you're well within standard deviation for being a losing player getting lucky at this point, right?Good luck.

[Loki2099]

headup sng's can profitable, headup cashgames are brutal though, played some on UB, generally if two sit down with 50 one will be broke and one will have 70-75

[TheIceman05]

Smasharoo said:

Huh, that's funny. Because I've played something like 50 heads-up $50 freezeouts, I'm 27-23, and I'm ahead of the rake. I imagine someone who plays them sober/well could easily go 30-20, then you're just brutalizing the rake. You understand you're well within standard deviation for being a losing player getting lucky at this point, right?Good luck.

Oh, totally. I'm sure I'm- if anything- a marginally crappy h/u NL player. But a GOOD (or marginally uncrappy) h/u NL player could go 60-40, I think, especially against the donkeys you run into at 3AM on a Saturday night on the sites on play on. The rake for a h/u NL game is like 5%, so you've only gotta do better than 53-48 to show a profit. Good players would just be banging their heads against the wall playing each other, but when you're playing moderately priced freeze-outs, turning a profit is totally a possibility.Like, fer shure, dude.Ice

[kaisersoze12]

TheIceman05 said:

Smasharoo said:

Huh, that's funny. Because I've played something like 50 heads-up $50 freezeouts, I'm 27-23, and I'm ahead of the rake. I imagine someone who plays them sober/well could easily go 30-20, then you're just brutalizing the rake. You understand you're well within standard deviation for being a losing player getting lucky at this point, right?Good luck.

Oh, totally. I'm sure I'm- if anything- a marginally crappy h/u NL player. But a GOOD (or marginally uncrappy) h/u NL player could go 60-40, I think, especially against the donkeys you run into at 3AM on a Saturday night on the sites on play on. The rake for a h/u NL game is like 5%, so you've only gotta do better than 53-48 to show a profit. Good players would just be banging their heads against the wall playing each other, but when you're playing moderately priced freeze-outs, turning a profit is totally a possibility.Like, fer shure, dude.Ice

I still think 6 handed is where it is.... PT shows me up over 5.65 / 100 on 6 handed 5-10 through 7000 hands. I'm not looking to round out my game. I want to make money and money is at 6 handed limit.