HU Small Pair vs. Shove

[The Shrog]

This is something that always gives me trouble, and after seeing a hand on this year's NBC HU, I'm starting to think differently. Here's an example.

Blinds at 40/80
Hero: 2150
Villian: 850

Hero is in BB with 4s 4c
Villain is all in (850)

Villian is LAG and we don't have him on much of anything.
??

 

[JimmyBrizzy]

I think I know which hand you were talking about. Was it Brunson vs. Fischman?

Anyway, I think in heads up you have to look at this play differently according to each opponent you're facing and how the match has gone so far.

If you think you're opponent is better than you and will eventually win if he sees enough hands then it might be worth it to gamble and just take him out on a possible coinflip/suckout. Worse case scenario is that you end up more or less around the beginning chip counts.

However, if you are playing a weaker opponent and have been slowly chipping away at his stack, it might be better to fold, keep playing your game. Wait until you've dwindled his chip count to around 200 to 400 even before you start force him into pushing, where almost any two cards have a chance to win and having him double up will still leave him around a 3:1 underdog in chips.

That's how I usually approach it.