Some hands from an old session, where I had to play heads-up for a little bit (waiting for more players). I have always advocated that Stud 8 heads-up is a waste of time and money, as the only winner will be the rake.

Obviously, this is a very small sample size, but the results speak for themselves, and seem to be standard from my experience.

Stage #186355823: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:17:23 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.49 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.81 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [3h,7c,10s]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,7d]
FUN - Bring-In $0.20
ROCKETWAD - Folds
FUN - returned ($0.20) : not called

*** RESULT ***
Fun: + $0.02
Rocketwad: -$0.02
Rake: $0
Stage #186355888: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:17:36 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.47 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.83 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [4h,5s,9s]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,5c]
FUN - Bring-In $0.20
ROCKETWAD - Folds

*** RESULT ***
Fun: + $0.04
Rocketwad: - $0.04
Rake: $0
Stage #186355952: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:17:49 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.45 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.85 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [10s,7s,6c]
RWEHAVINGFUN - Pocket [H,H,4h]
RWEHAVINGFUN - Bring-In $0.20
ROCKETWAD - Folds

*** RESULT ***
Fun: + $0.06
Rocketwad: - $0.06
Rake: $0

Stage #186356030: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:18:03 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.43 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.87 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [7s,8d,8c]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,Qc]
ROCKETWAD - Bring-In $0.20
FUN - Calls $0.20
*** 4TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [7s,8d,8c,As]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,Qc,4c]
ROCKETWAD - Checks
RWEHAVINGFUN - Checks
*** 5TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [7s,8d,8c,As,2d]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,Qc,4c,5s]
ROCKETWAD - Bets $1
FUN - Folds
ROCKETWAD - returned ($1) : not called

*** RESULT ***
Fun: - $0.16
Rocketwadster: + $0.16
Rake: $0

Stage #186356166: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:18:29 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.65 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.65 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [5c,Kd,9d]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,Ac]
ROCKETWAD - Bring-In $0.20
FUN - Calls $0.20
*** 4TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [5c,Kd,9d,7h]
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [H,H,9d,7h]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,Ac,8d]
FUN - Bets $0.50
ROCKETWAD - Folds

*** RESULT ***
Fun: + $0.06
Rocketwadster: - $0.06
Rake: $0
Stage #186356260: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:18:48 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.43 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.87 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [6s,6h,Kc]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,8h]
FUN - Bring-In $0.20
ROCKETWAD - Folds
FUN - returned ($0.20) : not called

*** RESULT ***
Fun: + $0.08
Rocketwad: - $0.08
Rake: $0

Stage #186356326: Seven Card 8 $0.50/$1 [ 2005-09-13 11:19:01 ]
Seat 1 - ROCKETWAD $23.41 in chips
Seat 4 - FUN $5.89 in chips
FUN - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Ante $0.02
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [Jd,Jc,2h]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,4h]
ROCKETWAD - Bring-In $0.20
FUN - Calls $0.20
*** 4TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [Jd,Jc,2h,9s]
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [H,H,2h,9s]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,4h,Kc]
FUN - Checks
ROCKETWAD - Checks
*** 5TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [Jd,Jc,2h,9s,7h]
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [H,H,2h,9s,7h]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,4h,Kc,6c]
FUN - Checks
ROCKETWAD - Checks
*** 6TH STREET ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [Jd,Jc,2h,9s,7h,7c]
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [H,H,2h,9s,7h,7c]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,4h,Kc,6c,7d]
ROCKETWAD - Bets $1
FUN - Calls $1
*** RIVER ***
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [Jd,Jc,2h,9s,7h,7c,10c]
ROCKETWAD - Pocket [H,H,2h,9s,7h,7c,H]
FUN - Pocket [H,H,4h,Kc,6c,7d,H]
ROCKETWAD - Checks
FUN - Checks

*** SHOW DOWN ***
ROCKETWAD - Show cards [Jd,Jc,2h,9s,7h,7c,10c]
FUN - Lost mucks

*** RESULT ***
Fun: - $1.09
Rocketwad: + $1.09
Rake: +$0.10
Well, there it is folks. The next hand, another player joined, so heads up was over.

I had a slight profit by playing tight, waiting for my opportunities, gladly giving up an ante here and there, and was still able to stay ahead of the rake. Guess it isnt a waste of time/money at the lower limits... :shock:

Lol.

In general, I think it's a waste of time and money in any HU cash games unless your opponent has the max or at lease decent buy in, you know you play (much) better than he/she does, and he/she won't be a hit-n-run bastard.

I didn't really post these hands to show if it was a waste of time or not (impossible to do), but to demonstrate that Stud 8, even when heads up, is a game of patience. Look at all the hands I folded, waiting for my opportunities. With a low ante structure, it is very easy to stay ahead of the rake, AND your opponents, with some discipline. 8)

Guess nobody else has any opinions on heads-up stud 8... :?

It's one of the best limit games to play heads-up if you're better than the opponent...

In my experience playing Stud 8 on Absolute (where I have played for the last 3 months exclusively), I am better than ALL of my opponents at the $0.50/$1.00 level and less. Hence, the amazing run I have been on since taking that game up.

I am curious though, in why you say that it is one of the best games HU? Is there something specific about the nature of the game that make it better, for any type of player (as long as you are better than the opponent)?

For example, heads-up limit O8, to me seems like a complete waste of time, as any agressive player (LAG, TAG, etc), would clean my clock, as I am not agressive in that game.

Similarily in heads-up limit texas hold'em, I usually do not fare very well, against most opponents.

I am very curious to know the thoughts of others on this matter... 8)

I choose c

When playing heads up, it is important to know when you have a slight advantage and getting as much money in as possible.