I know aggression is the right strategy when playing heads-up, and I know that when you're the shortstack you're in push/fold mode, but I'm less clear about heads-up strategy when the stacks are more equal or when you're the larger stack. Should you still be in push/fold mode, or are there times when it is appropriate to call first-in or make smaller raises?
Thanks.

Depends how big your stacks are relative to the blinds.

I assume you are talking about the strategy from the start of a SnG.

It really all depends what you are comfortable with. I've been doing a lot more of these lately and have been trying to do a bunch of different things.

I personally don't like the raise every hand type of play. You will see a lot of that. If you play conservatively, these people can be trapped. eg. Yesterday I was playing a guy who raised everytime in position 4x the bb, so he limps into a pot and I have QQ. I figured he had something good so I min raised, he pushed w/ A9, I win.

If you are playing the passive type of player, turn up the heat and take away the uncontested pots, and put more pressure preflop. Just be careful with these people because they will often try to trap you or slow play to the river.

The most important thing with these is position. Try not to give up position, no matter what you have. Obviously if you face a big raise after you've completed the blind, you can fold garbage hands. But having position heads up is #1.

If you can, read Harrington on Holdem Vol 2. There is a great section on HU play that details a whole match and analysis of each hand. Hope it helps.

Actually, I was looking for advice related to different blind/stack scenarios at the endgame. I'm familiar with the SAGE system when the small stack is less than 10BB, but what about when SAGE doesn't apply?

For example, let's assume that at the start of heads-up play the blinds are 100/200 (no antes) and the following scenarios:

1) Hero has about 3000 chips, Villian about 10500

2) Hero and Villan are both about 7000 chips

3) Hero has about 10500, Villain 3000

How do you adjust your strategy for each type of scenario?

In situation 1 and 3, I play them the same. I will try to put somebody away just like I will try to double up....aggressively. At this point, I would push with any pair, any A, any 2 face cards, and suited connectors. Hands like suited K & suited Q I would raise and be prepared to push.

As for situation 2, I'd play it normally. The blinds aren't a factor at all so play as you would.

By "normally" you mean you would make standard raises rather than pushing?

Yeah, by normally I mean play your standard game. There is no need to play the push game seeing as the blinds are not a factor at all at this point.

You'd raise all in with K7s with 15xBB?
I'm pretty loose (/crazy/wild) player, but even I wouldn't do this. With 15xBB, you can afford to limp for a half a bet with hands like that. Thats a bit of my personal preference tho, coz heads up, I like to play one of two strategies...
Blinds are small: Limp on button 80%. Try to outplay opponent post flop. This keeps the pots small.
Blinds are big: Raise from the button with any ace, any king, any pair, any '18' hand, and a load more. This is simply a must, otherwise you just gotta give up.

Situation 1: Tight and aggressive. Reraise all in pf with decent hands, fold a lot instead of limping and folding to pressure.

Situation 2: my standard game is lots of minraises and barely bigger than min raises from the button. Tons of small probing bets in position. OOP I play pretty tight and basically play my cards unless the opponent is very easy to read.

Situation 3: Same as 2. Small probe bets continue to chip away at him, if he is coming over the top too much I will make a call with strongish cards. A8suited+ 10J+ 66+ pretty much that range.

I still limp with hands like 7-6 suited or offsuit, and don't call raises out of position often. If I do, it's usually picture cards that I want to see a flop with rather than pushing with 15BB. This hands would include Q-10, J-9, etc... Very player depended if I fold, call or push with these hands. Against very aggressive players that raise on the button often, and fold to re-raises unless the have the goods, I am pushing pre-flop most of the time with these hands, most pairs (might fold 4's or below, just depends on my read of the situation), and most Aces (A6+).



I hate players like this. OOP I just have no clue where I am, and tend to play poorly and call down too much with K and A-high when the min. bet every street. I like to raise more pre-flop (2.5X-4X, usually on small side), and sometimes wait for the turn to make a probe bet. If they check to me two times, I'm betting the turn most of the time if I have a huge hand or nothing. I also rarely re-raise OOP pre-flop unless I have a very big hand (9's+, AT+). I also do not like to play weak Aces (A6-A2) unless it's cheap. If they make a big raise, I will fold OOP most of the time against a normal player.



Agree with this. Most of HU play is how you think the other player is playing. Do they overbet the pot often? Do they fold their button pre-flop at all? How tight/loose, or passive/aggresive are they. Should take about 10-15 hands to find out a basic idea of how they play. Also, position is as important as the cards you are delt. Use it to your advantage.

Also, do not like HOH HU section, as it primarly deals with HU situation with large blinds where it's a push/fold mode. Like SAGE system better for this. (For use if you or other play has less than 8BB.)

Limping in with 76 in scenario 1? How often are you going to hit a flop that you'll actually be able to do something with? That strikes me as being a pretty good way to put yourself in push/fold territory very quickly, no?

Against a aggressive player who will re-raise in the BB, yes. I still think you have enough to limp with 76 with 15BB left. Plus your statement of "how often are you going to hit a flop that you'll actually be able to do something with" doesn't matter as much when you are on the button, just use position to gain the edge.

sounds like you guys are getting too paranoid with situation 1 and 3...but the truth is the right play is to limp from the button most of the time and trap ur opponent...pushing 56 suited and KJ is plainly unprofitable.

Against a raise, I would push KJ most of the time. Would fold 65 against raise in same situation.

depends on the opponent. in my op i said from the button.