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Playing heads up as a newbie1
wynne1938
Member Posts: 20,558
Post this in POKER CLINIC and you will get all the tips you need,dav
Comments
I hate heads up, so neeed your advice.
Do I call or raise every hand or is it okay to fold hands you do not like.
Is there a disadvantage if you fold too many hands?
Do you shove on all playable hands?
Hi Wynne,
By far the best advice I can think of here is to read Harrington's chapter on heads up play (It's in his 2nd book). Honestly, it's only a few pages, it's an enjoyable read, and it will probably improve your results by far, it did mine anyway.
Aggression, aggression, aggression.
Raise on the SB EVERY time.
CB EVERY time.
Unless it's a ridiculously loose player, then just wait for the hand, it will come.
Never go all-in unless you're very strong or blinds are huge.
Oh yeah, and be lucky. That's quite important too.
I love heads-up.
Hi wynne Im starting a weekend of only heads up sit n gos and mtts today.
Its something Ive wanted to have a serious go at for months now, and as I cant trust myself on cash tables atm, I decided it might be a good way of "taking a break" from the usual grind.
If you just search "heads up strategy" on google you'll get loads of stuff back.
gl.
as you say you "hate it" im presuming its mtt heads up?
While I don't quite have the time to give this the full blown treatment, the main thing to remember with heads-up poker is that the game becomes more about emotional focus and control and less about the cards. You should be playing the button relentlessly, with all but the very trashiest of hands. Why? Because you're in position in what will be a guaranteed two way pot at worst. Raising on the button with T6s becomes utterly standard. Raising with K2o is standard. You should play position and exploit it at every single opportunity.
Hands will hit flops less often, monster hands become rarer.... the hand becomes far more abstract. It's about feel and pre-empting what your opponent will do before he even realises is. Table image, changing gears and balancing your ranges become absolutely vital.
That might sound a bit airy, but heads-up poker is just that. Far more like chess, try to get a grip on your players style and then move them out of their comfort zone as soon as possible. Don't let yourself tilt for one second because you won't have the luxury of walking away or sitting out for a few hands.
Most of all, run good
Good luck at the tables.
Dave
Yes Nick I am talking about MTT and SNG tournaments.
Straight HU (2 seater Tournaments) is definitely not my cup of tea.
DEFENDING:
VS minraise id defend 46% of my range and i would tighten that up vs tight or better players
VS x3 raise defending with 28%
VS x4 or more defend with any pair and only high cards q9, 10,9s a7s kind of hands
if havnt got poker stove get it and you can see what cards are in the % ranges
this will give you an idea of what cards you have to play if you want to know more its £150 ph lol