Heads up play

I play a lot of SNG and tournaments and I usually do well. However I am really struggling at playing heads up. I don't know if it is because I get excited because im almost there or I just feel like my hand isn't going to hold up. I know that sounds kind of stupid but what are some things i can do to improve my heads up play?

Just over-value your hands much more than you would in FR, 6 or 3 handed situations. Watch for patterns and try your best to exploit them. Dan Harrington has a good HeadsUp section in his Vol. 2 tournament play book for NLHE. You should check it out.

Thanks i may check that book out.

Likminutz said:

Just over-value your hands much more than you would in FR, 6 or 3 handed situations. Watch for patterns and try your best to exploit them. Dan Harrington has a good HeadsUp section in his Vol. 2 tournament play book for NLHE. You should check it out.

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yeah DH explained heads up perfectly with examples of Phil Ivey..

When in doubt play aggressively, when not in doubt play aggressively, in all other situations play aggressively. For those rare but troublesome situations not covered by the above, play aggressively.

Aggressive and patient. They are the key. Also you can pretty much play any 2 cards with the button (and if you have been aggressive your opponent will have no idea what you have, so if he portrays strength, he probably means it). Wait for your hands, before getting in giant hands that may decide the match. Play small ball until you are in the lead (both hand wise and chip wise), then pound on them relentlessly.

GRRR Against my better judgement, I decided to just sit down and try a HU game (small stakes luckily). The other thing about HU, especially when you start the game that way, is that sometimes you cant get your opponent to fold, which leads to you putting chips out preflop, after flop, after turn, of course the calling station that they are, and you being a decent and agressive player you bet at least 3xbb each time, then it happens, the ***** hits a 2 outter on the river. You sense it, he knows you sense it, he min bets to torture you more, you gotta call - damn pot odds, then see his cards... OK this is a rant, but it does fit in the thread. My advice is to only play HU when you have to. HAHA STT SAGs are sooo much better.

Kenzie 96 said:

When in doubt play aggressively, when not in doubt play aggressively, in all other situations play aggressively. For those rare but troublesome situations not covered by the above, play aggressively.

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While I agree with this in principle, I think there are some situations where it's worthwhile scaling the aggression back a little: specifically, when you're up against a hyper-aggressive opponent.

Think Phil Gordon vs Juha Helppi in the first season of the WPT - Gordon was aggressive, but Helppi still ran him over.

Against someone like that, you can often be better off sitting back a little and let them hang themselves when you've got a good hand.

In general though, absolutely agree - aggression is key.

Likminutz said:

Dan Harrington has a good HeadsUp section in his Vol. 2 tournament play book for NLHE. You should check it out.

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That's a good book, and the HU section did help my Heads Up play.

Icecold24k, be forewarned that there's no magic to playing heads up. Often the blinds are so high that you're forced to make some big moves.

If I recall, he goes through the classes of hands and goes through some of the odds. Basically, you're both going to have non-optimal hands most of the time.

Harrington goes through an entire session with Phil Ivy vs someone else, showing their hole cards and explaining their motivations.

More than anything I think that part just gave me confidence in my heads up play. IE, there's no magic bullet to it. You just do what you can with what you have. That confidence allowed me to concentrate more on my opponent than on my own cards and all the other stuff that I can't control, which improved my game.

So yes, I recommend Harrington on Hold'em Volume II, but I think you should read Volume I first, and when you do get to the HU section don't be disappointed if it's not as detailed/complex as the other sections of the book.

Thank you all for the help and i am definitely going to pick up a copy of that book.

I just recently switched from playing almost all cash games (and the rare sng where I had a terrible win rate) to playing much more HuSngs on stars. I have been very successful in them actually. Although there is some luck involved, most pots dont go to showdown. Be sure to spend the low blinds getting a read and ranges on your opponents. You also need to beware of your own table image, looking too tight will get you nowhere because he will fold to most of your bets until you gain a looser image. Also, dont be afraid to call a big raise with 2nd pair and any kicker. Its all about knowing your opponent and the reading skills ive learned have really helped my game (and ive also nearly trippled my bankroll playing these husngs). Good luck!

good information here looks like i need to go to the book store

my3sons said:

good information here looks like i need to go to the book store

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Just wanted to let you know I do recommend the Harrington book for HeadsUp play, but if you are fairly new to tourney play or even an intermmediate poker player, Harrington on Hold'em Vol. 1 is very important to teaching you how to GET to the Headsup play.

If you do not have a basic understanding of hands, odds, playing styles, ect, you should definitely read Vol. 1 first as (savage penguin?) said.

Lots of great info in there. Just make sure you realize that he has books on both cash and tourney play.

I had the same problem and decided to play some $5.50 x 2 HU tourneys (PS). There I learned that it's a lot more about aggression and a lot less about the cards (but cards do help).

When I learned how to do well at that game, I went back to the SNGs and my results improved dramatically.

Now, whenever I sense my HU play slipping, I go back to the HU SNGs for a tune-up.