heads up tips please!

[phosphorescence]

hey, i've realised that while my tournament play is pretty good, i stink at heads up. today i finished 2nd in two 90-man tourneys.
one of them i reraised all in pre with K8s against an aggressive player who turned over 99, and just now i pushed pre flop from the button with A4 and ran into TT.

i think part of my problem is i don't slow down enough when it gets to heads up, but i think i also don't have a good enough knowledge of how to play certain hands heads up.

for example, with the A4 v TT thing, the blinds were 5k/10k, and i had about 135k in chips (he had about 165k) - should i be pushing here straight off the bat, or should i be raising to like 30k and then folding to an all in?

i appreciate any help, as would my bankroll!

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by phosphorescence hey, i've realised that while my tournament play is pretty good, i stink at heads up. today i finished 2nd in two 90-man tourneys. one of them i reraised all in pre with K8s against an aggressive player who turned over 99, and just now i pushed pre flop from the button with A4 and ran into TT. i think part of my problem is i don't slow down enough when it gets to heads up, but i think i also don't have a good enough knowledge of how to play certain hands heads up. for example, with the A4 v TT thing, the blinds were 5k/10k, and i had about 135k in chips (he had about 165k) - should i be pushing here straight off the bat, or should i be raising to like 30k and then folding to an all in? i appreciate any help, as would my bankroll!

yes, HU any ace is a strong hand, u cant just put him on TT.....the K8 re raise, was probably a bit over aggressive, if u can post examples, i can give u more tips.

gl

[Wyte22]

Originally Posted by phosphorescence hey, i've realised that while my tournament play is pretty good, i stink at heads up. today i finished 2nd in two 90-man tourneys. one of them i reraised all in pre with K8s against an aggressive player who turned over 99, and just now i pushed pre flop from the button with A4 and ran into TT. i think part of my problem is i don't slow down enough when it gets to heads up, but i think i also don't have a good enough knowledge of how to play certain hands heads up. for example, with the A4 v TT thing, the blinds were 5k/10k, and i had about 135k in chips (he had about 165k) - should i be pushing here straight off the bat, or should i be raising to like 30k and then folding to an all in? i appreciate any help, as would my bankroll!

Heads up is fun, and challenging. Because, people don't necessarily have the cards they rep, but you gotta think thru the siutations and their play styles to determine what the range for their holdings are.

One of the biggest things that I see people do wrong when I play heads up (it's my money game lol), Learn to be very aggressive when you play, but pick your spots These hands are from a session I just played, but here's some background info. I've been running over this guy from the get go, I never dipped below 1600 chips the whole session because he was a conservative player and I attacked him relentlessly. My pre-flop raise % was around 90%. You need to gauge how your villian plays and adjust your pre-flop raise % accordingly. He was a semi-tight player who played timid (another no-no in heads up). Timid people need to go back to full ring, cuz HU is like the nascar of poker, we go fast!! Some of these things that I point out in the hands below, are stuff you will learn once you start practicing heads up play.


Hand #1 <---This hand is knowing that your opp doesn't have jack and will fold to a pot size pot

PokerStars Game #18778205820: Tournament #95501952, $6.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2008/07/12 - 22:46:40 (ET)
Table '95501952 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Wyte22 (1680 in chips)
Seat 2: jack2bip (1320 in chips)
jack2bip: posts small blind 10
Wyte22: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [Kd 9s]
jack2bip: calls 10
Wyte22: raises 80 to 100
jack2bip: calls 80
*** FLOP *** [Th 5c 2d]
Wyte22: checks
jack2bip: checks
*** TURN *** [Th 5c 2d] [8d]
Wyte22: checks
jack2bip: checks
*** RIVER *** [Th 5c 2d 8d] [6s]
Wyte22: bets 200
jack2bip: folds
Uncalled bet (200) returned to Wyte22
Wyte22 collected 200 from pot
Wyte22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 200 | Rake 0
Board [Th 5c 2d 8d 6s]
Seat 1: Wyte22 (big blind) collected (200)
Seat 2: jack2bip (button) (small blind) folded on the River



Hand #2 This hand is an example of picking your spots to bet aggressivly
PokerStars Game #18778231228: Tournament #95501952, $6.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2008/07/12 - 22:48:02 (ET)
Table '95501952 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Wyte22 (1620 in chips)
Seat 2: jack2bip (1380 in chips)
Wyte22: posts small blind 15
jack2bip: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [5h 9d]
Wyte22: raises 60 to 90
jack2bip: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [Qd 3s 3c]
jack2bip: checks
Wyte22: bets 180
jack2bip: folds
Uncalled bet (180) returned to Wyte22
Wyte22 collected 180 from pot
Wyte22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 180 | Rake 0
Board [Qd 3s 3c]
Seat 1: Wyte22 (button) (small blind) collected (180)
Seat 2: jack2bip (big blind) folded on the Flop


Hand #3<---Mixing in calling pre-flop with an ace (do this rarely during HU play, cuz aces are like having gold bars in your hand). Played Coy, got (what I think) is max value out of this hand with a flop check raise.

PokerStars Game #18778272395: Tournament #95501952, $6.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2008/07/12 - 22:50:13 (ET)
Table '95501952 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Wyte22 (1845 in chips)
Seat 2: jack2bip (1155 in chips)
jack2bip: posts small blind 15
Wyte22: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [3d Ah]
jack2bip: calls 15
Wyte22: checks
*** FLOP *** [Td 3c Ad]
Wyte22: checks
jack2bip: bets 30
Wyte22: raises 90 to 120
jack2bip: folds
Uncalled bet (90) returned to Wyte22
Wyte22 collected 120 from pot
Wyte22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 120 | Rake 0
Board [Td 3c Ad]
Seat 1: Wyte22 (big blind) collected (120)
Seat 2: jack2bip (button) (small blind) folded on the Flop



Hand #4<---Recongize when you are ahead and exploit it for EVERY SINGLE CHIP YOU CAN GET

PokerStars Game #18778293987: Tournament #95501952, $6.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2008/07/12 - 22:51:20 (ET)
Table '95501952 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Wyte22 (1905 in chips)
Seat 2: jack2bip (1095 in chips)
Wyte22: posts small blind 15
jack2bip: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [9d Ad]
Wyte22: raises 60 to 90
jack2bip: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [As Jc Jh]
jack2bip: checks
Wyte22: bets 180
jack2bip: calls 180
*** TURN *** [As Jc Jh] [Kc]
jack2bip: checks
Wyte22: checks
*** RIVER *** [As Jc Jh Kc] [7s]
jack2bip: checks
Wyte22: bets 150
jack2bip: calls 150
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Wyte22: shows [9d Ad] (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
jack2bip: mucks hand
Wyte22 collected 840 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 840 | Rake 0
Board [As Jc Jh Kc 7s]
Seat 1: Wyte22 (button) (small blind) showed [9d Ad] and won (840) with two pair, Aces and Jacks
Seat 2: jack2bip (big blind) mucked [8s 8d]


and last one,

Hand #5 <---When you recongize that you are AHEAD, let them make the mistakes and capitalize from it.

PokerStars Game #18778309012: Tournament #95501952, $6.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2008/07/12 - 22:52:08 (ET)
Table '95501952 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Wyte22 (2295 in chips)
Seat 2: jack2bip (705 in chips)
Wyte22: posts small blind 15
jack2bip: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [7d 8s]
Wyte22: calls 15
jack2bip: checks
*** FLOP *** [8d Ad 7c]
jack2bip: checks
Wyte22: bets 120
jack2bip: calls 120
*** TURN *** [8d Ad 7c] [7h]
jack2bip: checks
Wyte22: checks
*** RIVER *** [8d Ad 7c 7h] [4h]
jack2bip: bets 555 and is all-in
Wyte22: calls 555
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jack2bip: shows [7s 4s] (a full house, Sevens full of Fours)
Wyte22: shows [7d 8s] (a full house, Sevens full of Eights)
Wyte22 collected 1410 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1410 | Rake 0
Board [8d Ad 7c 7h 4h]
Seat 1: Wyte22 (button) (small blind) showed [7d 8s] and won (1410) with a full house, Sevens full of Eights
Seat 2: jack2bip (big blind) showed [7s 4s] and lost with a full house, Sevens full of Fours


Also, I want to point out something Doyle brunson said about Hold'em (this is sooooooo true for HU, it is crazy how true it is): "Play the player, not the cards" you need to be super confidant in your game at all times when you play heads up, like I said earlier, Timid people are easy money. HU is crazy (espically last 2 in MTT table).

To give you another Idea of how I play, I'll show the heads up from the 180 MTT last night:


PokerStars Game #18758512356: Tournament #95379187, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (1000/2000) - 2008/07/12 - 03:41:30 (ET)
Table '95379187 2' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 3: BroncoBookie (105790 in chips)
Seat 5: Wyte22 (164210 in chips)
BroncoBookie: posts the ante 200
Wyte22: posts the ante 200
Wyte22: posts small blind 1000
BroncoBookie: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [Kc 8s]
Wyte22: raises 2000 to 4000
BroncoBookie said, "thanks you 2"
BroncoBookie: calls 2000
*** FLOP *** [Jh 2d 9d]
BroncoBookie: checks
Wyte22: bets 7800
BroncoBookie: folds
Uncalled bet (7800) returned to Wyte22
Wyte22 collected 8400 from pot
Wyte22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8400 | Rake 0
Board [Jh 2d 9d]
Seat 3: BroncoBookie (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Wyte22 (button) (small blind) collected (8400)


< This hand I knew he didn't have anything, he was just tired of me running over him>
PokerStars Game #18758521227: Tournament #95379187, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (1000/2000) - 2008/07/12 - 03:42:24 (ET)
Table '95379187 2' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 3: BroncoBookie (103590 in chips)
Seat 5: Wyte22 (166410 in chips)
BroncoBookie: posts the ante 200
Wyte22: posts the ante 200
BroncoBookie: posts small blind 1000
Wyte22: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [8h 7s]
BroncoBookie: raises 4000 to 6000
Wyte22: raises 7500 to 13500
BroncoBookie: calls 7500
*** FLOP *** [3s Kc 5c]
Wyte22: bets 18000
BroncoBookie: folds
Uncalled bet (18000) returned to Wyte22
Wyte22 collected 27400 from pot
Wyte22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 27400 | Rake 0
Board [3s Kc 5c]
Seat 3: BroncoBookie (button) (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Wyte22 (big blind) collected (27400)

<This is why you run over people in HU play, it will help you get paid off some when you made a good hand>

PokerStars Game #18758552435: Tournament #95379187, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (1000/2000) - 2008/07/12 - 03:45:36 (ET)
Table '95379187 2' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 3: BroncoBookie (94690 in chips)
Seat 5: Wyte22 (175310 in chips)
BroncoBookie: posts the ante 200
Wyte22: posts the ante 200
Wyte22: posts small blind 1000
BroncoBookie: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Wyte22 [Ah 7d]
Wyte22: calls 1000
BroncoBookie: checks
*** FLOP *** [Ac 3s 7s]
BroncoBookie: bets 6000
Wyte22: raises 9000 to 15000
BroncoBookie: calls 9000
*** TURN *** [Ac 3s 7s] [2d]
BroncoBookie: checks
Wyte22: bets 31750
BroncoBookie: folds
Uncalled bet (31750) returned to Wyte22
Wyte22 collected 34400 from pot
Wyte22: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 34400 | Rake 0
Board [Ac 3s 7s 2d]
Seat 3: BroncoBookie (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: Wyte22 (button) (small blind) collected (34400)



These hands I showed doesn't mean that I play every single hand, but I am selective, and it's based more on the villian's play style that dictates my calling and raising ranges.

In your situation, moving all in with A4 was incorrect, calling or min raising is a much better option than shoving, because against a TT, you have 1 live card with 3 outs, and bunch of partial outs to make like a wheel str8 or boardway if your poker site really loves you

Soo in closing:

*Stay Attacking your conserative villians and against your aggressive villians, let them build the pot for you

* Always know where you are in the hand, if you think for one minute you are being played, 80% of the time, you are being played for a fool (bluffed), do not be afraid to Jam the pot. Yes you will lose some, but most of the time, they don't have jack and when you jam the pot, they will fold to you and give you the pot.

* ALWAYS, ALWAYS have confidence in what you are doing. If you are depressed, mad, sad, angry....DO NOT PLAY HEADS UP (in fact, for the sake of your BR, don't play poker at all). I can't stress this enough, Timid people are Roadkill for rednecks in HU.


* Probe bets and C-bets are your best friends Learn to exploit them to the max.

If you got any questions or need HU hand to be looked at, I'll be happy to help you

[phosphorescence]

thanks for the help guys, i appreciate it.

i think i'll play ace-rag a bit more conservatively in the future, it can just get you in too much trouble. i was completely running over this guy before then, which was quite surprising 'cause he was stealing a lot when there were about 5 players left. he played very passive heads up.

[phosphorescence]

managed to get down to the final two of another 90-man tourney today, and managed to win it this time

played a lot slower, made less moves for all my chips, but still played quite aggressively, and it paid off.

[liladypokerpro]

I love a passive heads up player....easy pickins

[Vito_Nuccio]

Heads up is a different monster. Forcing the action is the thing to do. An all-in pre flop shove is not required for all plays. It can and should be done, but you also have to play hands heads up. Continue to gather player information when facing off, it does not get any easier to follow play when only two players remain. Be aggressive, loosen up starting requirements and go take down all the chips.

Later,

[liladypokerpro]

Yep I ended up heads up against a very passive player last night......I loved it I kept switching up on him and he didn't know what to do......at one point, he just kept checking so I kept checking behind him and still won LOL So, then he started betting thinking I'd fold, and BAM!!! I popped him and he was like "crap" and had to fold LOL I ran all over that poor guy, til he finally got a hand he figured he'd go all in with his 1,022 remaining chips......he had 66.......sad for him, cuz I had AA So yes, I won. hehe