Can't win heads up

tomh7795

tomh7795

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I'm new to playing 9 handed sng and have a roi of about 15%. I feel as if I'm doing badly when I get to heads up. It's only a small sample but i felt it was my weak area of my game. One more thing - I used to play heads up sng and the stack were obv deeper and i feel I'm playing the end of a 9 handed sng like I do in a heads up sng.

What has been your streak of coming second and not do well in the
sng.

I did have a decent roi at the heads up sng but I forgot what it was.
 
c9h13no3

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Shove a lot, profit.

Seriously, by the time you get heads up, stacks are usually so shallow that shoving almost every hand is correct.
 
Poker Orifice

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c9h13no3 said:
Shove a lot, profit.

Seriously, by the time you get heads up, stacks are usually so shallow that shoving almost every hand is correct.
Click to expand...

In turbos - yes. In reg. sng's - not necessarily so (you're often 30+bb's deep)
 
zek

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If you don't think you play well offer chops.

I usually offer to chop near the top to save time unless I'm playing a total donkey since SNG's have flat payouts.
 
NOLA Red

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When you get head up, play the opposite of how you've been playing to get there. If you've been playing tight and conservative, then don't limp in any pot--raise. If the flop is checked to you, bet.
If you've been playing loose and have been in a lot of pots, then tighten up and fold a few hands preflop (if your stack permits) then raise a hand or two and steal some blinds/pots.
When the blinds get to be a serious portion of your stacks, then its shove or fold. At this point its a race and good luck.
You may want to practice some in micro level HU sngs. Try different strategies, aggressive vs tight, selectively aggressive vs loose or passive, etc. and see what style works best against different types of players. Someone could just tell you what works against certain types of players, but, IMO, unless you play it first hand you won't recognize the situation.
 
tomh7795

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NOLA Red said:
When you get head up, play the opposite of how you've been playing to get there. If you've been playing tight and conservative, then don't limp in any pot--raise. If the flop is checked to you, bet.
If you've been playing loose and have been in a lot of pots, then tighten up and fold a few hands preflop (if your stack permits) then raise a hand or two and steal some blinds/pots.
When the blinds get to be a serious portion of your stacks, then its shove or fold. At this point its a race and good luck.
You may want to practice some in micro level HU sngs. Try different strategies, aggressive vs tight, selectively aggressive vs loose or passive, etc. and see what style works best against different types of players. Someone could just tell you what works against certain types of players, but, IMO, unless you play it first hand you won't recognize the situation.
Click to expand...

i used to play micro sng and i did well at them. Well i turned a profit. I'm normally the 1 whose playing the more aggressive. Is this run of 2nds i keep getting because i might be short when heads up comes or just natural variance?
 
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I use to raise 80% on the button and reraise on BB with any Ace, King, connectors or suited.

Post flop, any pair is allin
 
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IMO when it comes to HU you have to be able to switch up your game. First identify the type of player the villain is then adjust your game accordingly. If its turbo then your better off playing AI or fold as the blinds and antes will take your stack.IE the blinds at 200/400 evenly stacked around 4k chips. If its regular then you can play it differently. Use his AF against him.
 
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tomh7795 said:
i used to play micro sng and i did well at them. Well i turned a profit. I'm normally the 1 whose playing the more aggressive. Is this run of 2nds i keep getting because i might be short when heads up comes or just natural variance?
Click to expand...

If you often reach HU very shortstacked - you are probably too tight near the bubble and you are folding your way to the money. You are obviously not playing to win , but simply get into the money...

HU at the end of SNGs is incredibly easy to play.. Focus on folding the BB and raising the button. Keep the pressure by cbetting when you have position and re-raise all-in with any pair or Ace when in the BB. (Two facecards is also OK if the stacks are shallow like 10-12BB)

Always call with 99+ and AJ+ when the other guy shoves if your stacks are less than 15BB. I usually give up more than 80% of my big blinds when playing HU and keep raising the button and cbetting flop and even turn if the stacks are deeper...

Think more about fold equity and how to pick up many small pots from position or steal by going all in preflop from the BB with pairs and biggish Aces.
 
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ongkie

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play wider range for heads up. the sad part is that usually it all boils down to one important hand where both the players have a hand.till then, just try accumulating chips. never just try to survive in a tournament ot SnG. accumulation is the key
 
PokerProBetZip

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I saw the title, I'm sorry :(

But seriously, your just in a phase. When you go in its a lot of luck (90%) and a lot of mental stamina to maintain patience and judge your opponent correctly. Its really the same as the rest of the tournament leading up to Heads Up play. You are singling out an opponent so that you can get the most chips from their stack to yours. Ignore the pressure..
I hear a lot of people say that as soon as you make it heads up, "SHOVE SHOVE SHOVE!". While somewhat effective, I find that conservative play is virtually flawless. Play tight, steal blinds when you got it or when you think he doesn't, and just wait until you catch him making a foolish raise. I find that most players, at least around the 5-30 $ range, will grow impatient, exploit their impatience which leads to their bad play which in turn leads to your 1st Place. Anyway, good luck tomh.
 
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firstl your ROI is really good, just dont expect that to continue in the long term, for the most part you will be crushing low levels with an ROI of 10% for 9 handed sng. and the higher up you go, the lower your ROI will be, so dont get down when that 15% figure drops..

while this question is kind of broad, and wihtout seeing you play i cant comment too much, but if your having too many second place finishes, it generally means that your playing too tight, once you get ITM go for first, reshove lots and genearlly play very aggressively. as as mentioned above, when you get shallow stacks at big blinds, its generally correct to shove almost any hand on the button heads up.. remember this, they are getting the same crappy cards you are so by taking the initiative and shoving lots, we can in some cases force our opponant out of the match as hes folding waiting for good hands to call us or shove into us with.. so that when we do eventually get called, were playing with their money..

but like i said earlier, pretty broad question and hard to answer without seeing how you play leading into heads up, and heads up play. post some specific heads up related questions in the HA for more detailed responces..
 
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im pretty goods heads up, its all about momentum when playing heads up, and keep an eye on your opponents stack, it will tell you what he is going to do in certain situations
 
norriscjn

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Its because you need to close you eyes and go all in every time. I am willing to be you would win more at heads up. Just what i think though. Ofcoarse im broke
 
Exit141RTe1

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I would play my hands with a wider selection of hands I play. I never give a free cards. And the power of a reraise is underestimated.
 
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open a lot more pots and be very aggressive. Try not to over commit to a pot so you can lay down if it looks as if your opponent woke up with a big hand.
 
tomh7795

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I'm coming first more often. I think my last 6 to times I've come first. Thanks all for the usful tips
 
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playerk7

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try being more agggresive, make resteals and swing the momentum your way, tahtll probably work
 
kidkvno1

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WiZZiM said:
firstl your ROI is really good, just dont expect that to continue in the long term, for the most part you will be crushing low levels with an ROI of 10% for 9 handed sng. and the higher up you go, the lower your ROI will be, so dont get down when that 15% figure drops..

while this question is kind of broad, and wihtout seeing you play i cant comment too much, but if your having too many second place finishes, it generally means that your playing too tight, once you get ITM go for first, reshove lots and genearlly play very aggressively. as as mentioned above, when you get shallow stacks at big blinds, its generally correct to shove almost any hand on the button heads up.. remember this, they are getting the same crappy cards you are so by taking the initiative and shoving lots, we can in some cases force our opponant out of the match as hes folding waiting for good hands to call us or shove into us with.. so that when we do eventually get called, were playing with their money..

but like i said earlier, pretty broad question and hard to answer without seeing how you play leading into heads up, and heads up play. post some specific heads up related questions in the HA for more detailed responces..
Click to expand...

So true on playing to tight.
If your stack is bigger, you want him to call for his STT life.
 
IveGot0uts

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No money heads up, everyone's solid.
 
tomh7795

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Yes I have had improved results by pushing on the button a lot wider. Haven't had a lot of chances to play heads up. Been on a long downswing. It's worked so far. Thanks yall
 
TheKAAHK

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Aggreeion, aggression, aggression! Especially if you are the shorter of the two stacks. Remember also that total stack sizes don't matter, and it also dsn't matter if your opp has you covered 3 to 1. The only munber that counts is the effective stack, in this case being yours (in this example). Playing tight and waiting for great hands is a surefire way to keep placing second. Opne your range and keep betting your strong hands.
 
spiderman637

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While playing heads always remember not to get aggressive(until u have 80% of the table chips), instead play tight...
I have played a lots a heads until January, from where i got too busy with MTTs...i played almost 30 heads up games a day at various poker sites...
I come across few people who play damn tight and few who play very aggressive...Wat i suggest is just wait for the right hand to trap ur opponent...surprisingly, even in this format of poker(other than MTT) i have seen "patience" playing a role...
 
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