Joined: Oct '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 86
I've recently started playing heads up and while I can manage to a point i'm still getting my ass handed to me on a plate on regular occasions, certainly enough to make me a 'losing' player overal (and no i'm not going to tell you sharks where I play and my name!)
A lot of it comes down to handling big raises from the blinds (i'm assuming many of which are outright bluffs by their frequency) and bluffs on the flop and turn..again judging by the frequency of them outright bluffs. I seem to get it wrong and pick the times people AREN't bluffing lol. I do pretty well in slow playing good hands but then usually lose them back slowly to the above mentioned bluffs...it gets a bit frustrating to say the leaset...gain a lead, loose it ho hum here we go again..which puts me on tilt and wam bam thankyou mam all in tom foolery...which doesn't work that well
So any good advice, or pointers to articles on heads up strategy would be appreciated.
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
Imo heads up is one of the most difficult games and is where you find the most variance in hl holdem. I can't confess to be an expert on the subject but I can tell you my take on it.
You don't usually get much read on your opponent. Even if you are used to playing short handed with this player you can't assume they play the same heads up. I tend to focus more on my own cards and getting into the best situations.
I play a wide range of hands and try to mix raising and calling for both weak and strong hands so my opponent has no idea whether I have AQ or 56s. I like playing suited connectors if i can get a flop cos thats where you're most likely to get your chips in knowing your in front. Having said that if i pair on a low flop i'm still calling an all-in if there are six big blinds + in the pot.
Other than that I think each person has their own style. how tight/aggressive you play is usually up to you so long as you play a variety of hands and don't let your opponent walk all over you. You can bully your opponent with aggression but you have to be careful when you get called or if you call a lot you can hit good hands more often and earn back the chips but you will need patience for this.
Joined: Mar '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 6714
First know your villian, this helps you understand how to play him/her. AGGRESSION AGGRESION AGGRESION.... SB never limp it, raise or fold. (calling stations excluded, lower you bets for him but hit hard on real hands, 2nd pair is normally good for a pot bet) Check raise and when they try to buy the pot re-raise the hell out of them. Bluff, the forgotten art of poker. Understand odds, get a calculator, you dont have to make quick dessions, thats how you will tilt and lose fast. Spot a tell and abuse the hell out of it. Like awood says mix up size betting Be the controller, dont be making all the desions, force him to, bully. Dont slow play, sure you will win a bit but just dont do it.(unless a monster against aggreser) Aces are good to go A any kicker play it hard. Dont over play the AIs, fait does not care for skill. probbably rambling a bit now, each situation is diffrent depending on villian. If you can make a not of what type of player you are losing to, thats when you can start making adjustments to your game. With respect, from what you write id put you down as a bit of a calling station, id play you cheap and still be able to build big pots on my big hands, drip feed you a little then slash your wrists (im fairly new to HU but am not doing to bad its helped my SH game no end)
Joined: Oct '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 86
Ok thanks for the pointers....but what i'm really having trouble with is players who constantly raise up from vthe sb ..say raising up to 120 when the blinds are 20/40 and if I call betting 120+ on the flop. If I raise up to them they call or re-raise and then bet heavy on the flop again...gets to feel like you're trapped whatever you do unless you're prepared to invgest huge chips on chance...what can you do against this sort of player..I find myself folding to their preflop bets unless i have good cards, but this just encourages them to use that technique against me....help!
Joined: May '08
Location: Germany
Age: 59 (M)
Posts: 6786
Try to play the bigger pots with position. So raise a lot, if you have the button (and the SB) yourself. If you have problems playing out of position against an aggressive player, fold a lot preflop.
Joined: May '08
Location: Germany
Age: 51 (M)
Posts: 696
agresssion is a good point in the most times win´s the player who plays with more agression. When you hit the flop in heads up in the most times you´re in front and win the hand.An Ace is a very strong card in head´s up. When you have a got stack you can fold more hands against an agressive player.Play different sometimes raise,check,call and so on and look for a few artikels and read tips from the pro´s how they play head up´s or look it on tv that helps for the beginning. btw when you beginning with poker start not with head´s up games play sng´s then you´re learning better how to play against 2 or 3 player´s.
Joined: Nov '09
Location: Philippines
Age: 51 (M)
Posts: 1011
Posted by ChitStripper:
I've recently started playing heads up and while I can manage to a point i'm still getting my ass handed to me on a plate on regular occasions, certainly enough to make me a 'losing' player overal (and no i'm not going to tell you sharks where I play and my name!)
A lot of it comes down to handling big raises from the blinds (i'm assuming many of which are outright bluffs by their frequency) and bluffs on the flop and turn..again judging by the frequency of them outright bluffs. I seem to get it wrong and pick the times people AREN't bluffing lol. I do pretty well in slow playing good hands but then usually lose them back slowly to the above mentioned bluffs...it gets a bit frustrating to say the leaset...gain a lead, loose it ho hum here we go again..which puts me on tilt and wam bam thankyou mam all in tom foolery...which doesn't work that well
So any good advice, or pointers to articles on heads up strategy would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Lewis.
in my own opinion; i think there isn't any such good advice when playing heads-up... coz it all depends on your opponent & your own brand of play... i think only experience would be the most... you'll need...
Joined: Dec '09
Location: Ireland
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 389
aggression heads up,simple as,be willing to push to raise with say Q8,J10,K2 if u feel some1 is raising u a lot.ok,u have to be willing to walk into big hands sometimes when doing this,but generally,that would be VERY unlucky, put the pressure back on. i play a lot of HU and watch and read a lot of articles on it so i think its sound advice.mabye im wrong? u just need balls man! 90% of the time he/she has squadush, nada so therefore cant call your all in and will also be less inclined to raise as much if u pull this move off a couple of times,guaranteed,while you have taken the initiative and the psychological advantage which is most important HU Good luck at the tables! how ya fixed for few games on pokerstars? my name is theattler05
Joined: Oct '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 86
Posted by Almonds: Good luck at the tables! how ya fixed for few games on pokerstars? my name is theattler05
Ha Ha..thanks for the offer....and the advice so i'm switching to a lower limit so i'm not so bothered about losing so I can play around more with my game..trying out the more aggresive approach i've lost 25 out of the last 30 games .. actually maybe i'm just crap at HU..
Joined: May '09
Location: Croatia
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 20492
you have agressive players and slower players,so when you register,cant now whose you would get!you can see from start!maybe he want to raise all hands and to see how would you react,would you fold and wait for monster hand of A high to play!if you would fold few hands,he will raise all time,till you start to pay!so its hard to predict,you can see on table!but sometimes you have tob e agressive!if you cant get good cards,you must push!
Joined: Nov '09
Location: Poland
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1189
There is a site HUSNG.com ... mostly about sng but you can really learn much from them for sure. You need to pay for site... but you can find some people who are willing to share their account. Not nice imo but if u dont have cash what to do.
Joined: Oct '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 86
Posted by DaMessiah666:
Posted by ChitStripper: ... i've lost 25 out of the last 30 games
Maybe you should think about these results and re-orient your target in another type of game, where you will be more comfortable and it'd worth it.
I'm stubborn is the problem, once i've started doing something i'll do it until i've 'cracked' it...plus i Like playing heads up.. I've played cash games and sng's before but HU is more of a rush , even when i'm losing lol ..
Joined: Jan '09
Location: Italy
Age: 53 (M)
Posts: 3871
Posted by ChitStripper:
I'm stubborn is the problem, once i've started doing something i'll do it until i've 'cracked' it...plus i Like playing heads up.. I've played cash games and sng's before but HU is more of a rush , even when i'm losing lol ..
just try again applying the suggestions given above and let us know if you your results gets better.
Joined: Oct '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 86
Posted by magatt966:
Posted by ChitStripper:
I'm stubborn is the problem, once i've started doing something i'll do it until i've 'cracked' it...plus i Like playing heads up.. I've played cash games and sng's before but HU is more of a rush , even when i'm losing lol ..
just try again applying the suggestions given above and let us know if you your results gets better.
(im fairly new to HU but am not doing to bad its helped my SH game no end)
