I suck HU

Help me! If I could describe my method of play in live games, I'd say I'm a trapper. I sometimes bet big with a huge starting hand to keep it honest, but usually I slow play huge hands and play the odds on draws. In live games, I'm NOT thrilled with my performance heads up. Of course, the guy I'm usually heads up with is pretty dang good, but still. I consider myself to be a decent player. Can anyone give me some good tips for playing heads up?

I do pretty well HU...online.

I find, at least online, that in HU you can analyze the "style" of your opponent pretty fast.

Once you have analyzed what they are... its usually easy to bring them down.

Obviously aggression is key, raise very often, even with trash. I grade my "trash" though. like 37,27,83,64,52,94,57 etc... supreme garbage usually I toss.(So it looks like I fold SOMETIMES) I'll play virtually anything else... you dont need "good" cards for HU.

I dont know if that helps.... but play aggressive, and figure out quickly what type of player you are up against. If they are overly aggressive, let them bet into you, and hang themselves.

I mean, any tips are appreciated. I dunno, now that I think about it, I've been getting pretty unlucky lately. Last night, called a small all-in with KK against J8, flop was jj8.

Another thing, I love this forum. I've only got like, what, 8 posts? Funny cuz I been reading it pretty much every day for the last 9 months. Maybe I should talk more.

Try switching things up. If you normally would call on fourth street, to try and set a trap... don't... re-raise. If you think you should make a huge raise to bluff, try calling or fold. Just try new things you don't normally do, and you'll find new ways to get a heads up win.

Another thing is... take your time! Don't rush through each play like you've got somewhere to be, unless of course you do. Slow it down a bit! I see so many players rushing into EVERY play they make, and it only takes one or two bad plays to knock yourself out.

Me: 1000 chips
You: 1000 chips

Blinds 40/20

Ill start w/all scenarios.

I raise 80.

You have K9. Action?

----

I call 40.

You have JJ. Action?

---

I raise 150.

You have Q8. Action?

---

Im All in.

You have QJ. Action?

---

Raise 111.

You have A3. Action?



Just curious, you could do alot of things in each one... alot of choices.

I like how you put that. Especially labelling your 'Trash'.
The Point of mention is considering the size of the Blinds and the type of player your Opponent is, and if you can afford to risk marginal hands for the sake of getting Bullied.
Time is the essence as every 2nd Hand you are the BB and if you are getting 'Trash' consecutively...8-10 hands in a row is disasterous..!

1. If your opponent Raises every hand regardless and you have no choice to fold when everything is Stretch Gapped and Off-Suited.
2. Like you being in the SB and raising..then BB re-raises to Test if you are trying to just steal or actually have a hand. If you get busted in a Steal attempt..uhohhh!
3. The other scenario is you are in the SB and just call into the BB and then the BB raises 4x and you are forced to fold marginal holdings.
4. You are in the BB with trash and SB Raises 4-5X BB to steal. You are left with option 'FOLD'.!

Or Course when the Cards hit nicely and the Flop Brings precious Nuggets well then the finesse part shall play the role as not how to extracte the most chips but when!
Hopefully you don't get crippled before you can recover and return volley with the sclaes tipped in your favor at the opportune moments.

I'm gonna answer these with what I would do with my usual tendencies.

I raise 80.

You have K9. Action?
Call

I call 40.

You have JJ. Action?
Raise to 120

I raise 150.

You have Q8. Action?
Probably fold. If they were suited, I might call

Im All in.

You have QJ. Action?
Fold.

Raise 111.

You have A3. Action?
Reraise to 440. I figure this is a decent hand to do a preflop semi-bluff.

when you play hu you need to stay aggressive atc play works the best

I mostly agree with you. I differ on the Q8 in that I'd never call even if suited. It's a big preflop raise for heads up. The QJ all-in call needs more information. If I'm getting 2:1, I'm definitely calling, every time.

The one I disagree with is the last one, the A3. I agree that you might try reraising here, but it should have nothing to do with your A3. Typically, you're going to have to fold if he shoves all-in. If he just calls (unlikely in a 1000 starting match), you have a huge pot and you're probably behind. If he folds, that's fine, but your don't need A3 to do that. I'd do it occasionally, but I'd usually call. If the player's very tight, I might fold.