heads up

[lcbjr1979]

Ive been playing solid poker lately and have found myself heads up quite a bit in one table sit n gos. The problem is i have gone in with the chip lead most of the time but still end up finishing second. Does anyone have a solid heads up strategy they use for online. Any tips would help alot

 

[Beriac]

Unfortunately, don't have enough information here to make much of a judgment.

At the risk of sounding wishy-washy, this probably means you're either too aggressive or not aggressive enough. If you find yourself going all-in once heads-up on any 2 cards for whatever reason, that will quickly sink you against a knowledgeable player. I doubt that's what's going on here, though one thing some less experienced players do is get too aggressive before the blinds get big heads up.

More likely, I bet you're folding too much, playing the same kinds of hands you play 3-4 handed, when really, Q8 is a decent hand heads up and A8 is awesome.

Can you describe your style in greater detail?

Oh, and if this is 10 heads ups or less, chalk it up to luck but keep working on your game.

 

[ChuckTs]

This sounds like you might be a little too conservative in the later stages, though like Beriac said we really aren't getting enough info about your style to analyze it.

The key to HU play is aggression. You really have to be almost every pot at this point; probably 90% of them plus or minus. Your hand selection goes down the drain, and much of your play is raising from the button with just about anything because you have position on him. I raise from the button probably 80% of the time, and if my opponent is passive (heads up, you might aswell call that weak), then I'm raising every pot PF. Raise PF, continuation bet the flop. Raise PF, C-bet the flop. Raise PF, C-bet the flop. It just goes on and on until my opponent pushes back, and hopefully I catch him with an ace or two big cards, or maybe a pocket pair preflop, and set him in. It's also often good enough to call down/raise with hands as weak as bottom pair - but trust your reads.

Anyways I rambled a bit there, but remember that the key thing is aggression. You need to be in almost every pot.

 

[don8ions]

With the chip lead you should be raising most hands with an Ace, King, 2 facecards, or pocket pair. Slow rolling a monster is a way to quickly beat your opponent as well. If any part of the flop hits, or you are checked to, just put a minimum bet out there. In all likelihood, your opponent will fold their hand with probably the same hand you have, or better. If you are raised, just fold and you won't lose much of your stack. I like to trap an opponent when I have the chip lead when I hit a flop hard and wait for them to bet so I can push them all-in. An aggressive strategy with the chip lead is the way to go heads up. You'll get good results most of the time and feel like an unstoppable poker force.

 

[t1riel]

You have to be really aggressive whne your heads up because marginal hands go up in value. Raise with Ace-x, King-x, Queen-x, any pocket pair and suited connectors. Most of the time your opponent will fold but if he/she calls then you will have to go with your judgement.

 

[buckster436]

when your heads up you cant wait for the premium hands, if you got plenty of chips raise with anything, not every hand, mix it up,, If your waiting for the Premium Hands That could be your problem.>>> buck:hello:

 

[lcbjr1979]

i am a tight aggresive player but i noticed today that im trying to catch a hand to trap the other guy with. I dont think i loosen my game up enough at heads. i think i just solved my own problem

 

[SmokyRiver]

Ya go after your opponent. Make him react to your moves, controlled aggression is the key.

 

[LetsGetItOn]

Going to play some hu tourney tonight at my bud's house that I just got wind of a $5 entry, I plan to go all in every 4 hands randomly to be a dick but should still be pretty fun.