Turning Silver to Gold (mastering heads up)

[DukeOfDeath]

I have class in 20 minutes and haven't even left my apartment, so I'll try to make this quick. I was thinking about how I've abandoned playing heads up as of recently. It's just more comfortable to play against 9 or 5 players than 1 because most of us better players know how to be patient. But when looking for past threads about heads up play there haven't been any for 3 1/2 years.

I'm no pro at tourney play, but I have noticed that of the times I do make it into the money, I tend to win it much more often than not. How well you play tourneys determines whether or not you get a medal, but how you play heads up determines how shiny that medal is. That last opponent is just a small fraction of the field you just hardly think about it.

So I may make a guide to heads up play (and I definitely make an encouragement to play more HU SnGs). But in the meantime I'd like to "Poker School" it and hear people's discussions on the topic. You may discuss it so well that I don't even need to write a guide. I may just need to summarize. Who knows? Ok I'm running late. Looking forward to people's responses.

Ciao

[BBOB]

Great idea Duke. I would love to read ur thoughts on headsup tourney play. The number 1 thing I see is the unwillingness to open up your game and range. Heads up is a game in itself if uve got the button u should be raising most of the time and must raise with Ace hi and king hi type hands preflop. Sitting and waiting on hands is not an option headsup.

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by BBOB

Great idea Duke. I would love to read ur thoughts on headsup tourney play. The number 1 thing I see is the unwillingness to open up your game and range. Heads up is a game in itself if uve got the button u should be raising most of the time and must raise with Ace hi and king hi type hands preflop. Sitting and waiting on hands is not an option headsup.

I agree. Just had an amazing heads up match with weedinho. Back and forth until blinds so high there were only 20 total in play (and only about 8 belonged to me) and found my A medium against his KJ and me pairing the ace on the river gave him his boat.

Anyway, yes you kind of have to be aggressive with K high type hands, but it's so counterintuitive to be SB with K2 off and pop it.

But yes good points. Thanks, BBOB.

[daddyspoon]

i hate heads up online if im honest. i tend to play everything over aggressive to the point i raise every hand. if i play passive i normally lose. player luck is a big factor too, something im lacking in

[BabyJ07]

Player luck huh spoon? just like the 6 forced all ins I had? beat you every time

[daddyspoon]

Originally Posted by BabyJ07

Player luck huh spoon? just like the 6 forced all ins I had? beat you every time

exactly like that

[jazzsinger1]

been heads off late a few times,i think the less i comment the better on the calls being made.Just have been on the receiving end of some sheer bad luck and some mad calls but cant blame anyone for that.

[rad6]

I noticed about a year ago that I had much more silver and bronze medals than gold, so took a good look at my play. I was backing off, waiting for the better hand, not aggressive enough , never bluffed. So changed my style of play. My game has so improved, much more gold and much more wins. Just put all of the above in play and it will improve greatly. Also started watching the others and got to know their style of play real quick and took notes. Hehe, can read a lot of them now and hopefully they can't read me as easily as won player said he could last year.

[DukeOfDeath]

Originally Posted by rad6

I noticed about a year ago that I had much more silver and bronze medals than gold, so took a good look at my play. I was backing off, waiting for the better hand, not aggressive enough , never bluffed. So changed my style of play. My game has so improved, much more gold and much more wins. Just put all of the above in play and it will improve greatly. Also started watching the others and got to know their style of play real quick and took notes. Hehe, can read a lot of them now and hopefully they can't read me as easily as won player said he could last year.

beautiful response. you just summarized anything I could have planned to say anyway

[ultimodragon]

Ohh Heads up?
Well i havnt had one in a medal tourney for a very long time,hopefully thats cuz i seldom play these days,but i think i was hit and miss and maybe put the respective chip stacks in to account to much..

But i can give advice to playing a one on one heads up,with same starting stack,i play loads on cash side..omaha,pot limit,hold em..whatevers in my price range,i probs win about 75% of the time..

A few General tips...

Throw calling preflop out the window,that button dosnt exist...RAISE or FOLD

Never chase,give it up...

Be fast with an insta raise,dont ever let then think your half sure...

Beat them down..be brutal,dont win a hand and sit back..hit them again and again...

works for me (the rest is too super secret to tell)

Goodluck all

[future2112]

great thread... good comments too. ive been here for a while and when i use to play tournies on a regular basis i always felt confident that i could make final table or even to the medal stages. the problem i had was actually closing it out and winning the gold. i have loads of bronze medals which prove the point i find it difficult to out play players in a head-up or 3 way game. be intersting to read further comments on this topic.

[pokerpus]

$1.73....
a doller and seventy three cents will get ya my halflife opion.
where's my $1.73 ???
i die with my boots on and tell no secrects....(except maybe for a dollar 73 cent.


i tell you what......

[yeoman42]

as the game evolves you have to change the way you play,but as heads up goes i wish i was a better player

[Mr_Slick]

I have to say a big well done to a lot of players and no worries Im not naming them.. They are what I'd call "ROCKS".. You hit the nail on the head when you stated [better players know how to be patient] Thats my downfall "my patients have crumbled" unless Im really determined to win something, like my 5th slam then Im a pushover. I will add, Ive seen plenty of improvement in a lot of players "Like rad said" that have changed there strategy in a more positive way and therefore have reaped the rewards. On what Ultimodragon was saying about the instant raise, I have played A few players with that type of style and its a dead give away. Unless im sitting pretty I fold instantly, but beware, if its a sudden change by someone that dont play that way, I will sense a bluff and who knows reraise..? Super thread matey. Steve.

[aceman666]

only way to play heads up...all in with a decent facecard and high ish kicker 8 & above or keep your fingers crossed and bluff on 8 3 off ....works for me !