Heads-up Strategy

[spaceboy761]

All swastikas aside, I'll chime in here.

First off, I feel for Nicci because nearly all of my experience is in cash games, which means that my HU game has completely sucked for years simply because I never really needed to improve it. The only way I ever got decent was to play a ton of HU SNG's. It set my bankroll about three years, but it was worth it since I was giving so much money away by finishing 2nd in so many SNG's.

The only advice I would give is to adjust your aggression relative to your stack size (more = more, obviously) and to vary your bet sizing. If you seriously just randomize your opening bets in hands where you do decide to play, that will at least keep your opponent working instead of just grinding away at your stack. You won't gain any value doing that,
but it's not a bad strategy if you think that you're completely outclassed. If I had to play Phil Hellmuth heads-up, that's what I would do. I don't agree with the 'never fold the button' philosophy only because you just give away so much value by doing that unless you have like 90% of the chips and you just have to crush the other guy.

All of the normal stats kind of go out the window, so I wouldn't put a ton of stock in those either. A 3-bet % on a 9 player table has very little to do with a 3-bet % HU. I actually think that all of the new poker stats programs do a lot more harm than good since most people completely misinterpret the numbers. It would take me a long time to elaborate, but the stats should function like a candle in a dark room as opposed to a flood light. A lot of people improperly treat them like a flood light.

[RoadBob]

I'll add my 2 cents here.

HU play is about pure aggression. The more aggressive player will generally always win. Stack size is very important. If stack sizes are roughly equal or you have a relatively big stack compared to the blinds, raise almost all hands when you are in position and raise the same every time, you don't want your opponent to know when you have aces or when you have 72o (yep raise with that hand also). If I have been really aggro and winning a bunch of pots I may fold a bad hand in position once in a great while. It really messes with their head and they start folding more pre. Out of position, if you are good at post flop play you can try to keep the pot smaller by just calling and then crush them post flop. If not then 3 bet some of your hands pre to pick up the pot.

With a big stack you want to put maximum pressure on your opponent. Raise or shove pre (one or the other depending on your opponents stack size, but don't mix them). Having said that, if they play back at you and you think you are behind, give up. Don't let them back in the game. Just move on to the next hand and keep up the pressure.

With a smaller stack, try to keep the pots small. Just call pre if you can get away with it. It gives you more opportunities to catch a good hand and get back in the game.

On the flop and beyond, keep up the aggression if you think you have the best hand or you think your opponent will fold. Give up if you think you are behind. Keep building your stack.

One of the most important things is that you always have to be able to adjust your game and adjust to match what your opponent is doing. If something isn't working try a new tactic and be ready to adjust when your opponent tries something new.

GL

[Nynus]

Heads up to me is about feel, tendencies, and applying pressure.

If someone goes super aggro on me, I'll let 'em hang themselves. If they're passive, I'll lean on them. You can usually tell within about five hands what their raising range is. If it's too loose, I'll pounce with a better than average hand. If they're too tight, I'll loosen up and pressure them. Position is still a big deal for me heads up. On the button I'm more likely to pressure, off the button, I'm more likely to let them hang themselves.

[all4pearljam]

not telling...

[bullish6]

I am somewhere in between (or maybe to with) both RoadBob & Nynus ... Controlled aggression for sure.

However, exactly how you play should be more dependent on your opponent's play and tendencies.

Sometimes you will want to "keep pressure on them" and then other times, play to trap them.

Never "call" an "all-in" unless you are at least 90% sure of having a better hand (unless it's a fellow from Italy, then drop that to 70% ... lol).

The main thing is to "play" the opponent's "play" and hope you are reading them correctly. And, I might add, stay in the Heads-up by making good decisions ... a little "luck" should never be under estimated either.

Good blog!

[curtinsea]

I'll add my 2 cents here.

HU play is about pure aggression. The more aggressive player will generally always win. Stack size is very important. If stack sizes are roughly equal or you have a relatively big stack compared to the blinds, raise almost all hands when you are in position and raise the same every time, you don't want your opponent to know when you have aces or when you have 72o (yep raise with that hand also). If I have been really aggro and winning a bunch of pots I may fold a bad hand in position once in a great while. It really messes with their head and they start folding more pre. Out of position, if you are good at post flop play you can try to keep the pot smaller by just calling and then crush them post flop. If not then 3 bet some of your hands pre to pick up the pot.

GL

I agree with this as a cold philosophy, and playing against an inexperienced HU player and/or one you have sold a solid table image to, this is the gospel.

But sometimes you have to play RoadBob HU, and this is how he's coming at you. And sometimes he's played you enough to have an impression of you, and may believe that this method is going to do the trick. In that case, you have to play a little different. You can't just 3-bet him a lot, because he is going to flat you and then raise any flop, or he's going to 4-bet you. So you need to use his aggression against him. So you might do a bit of folding preflop, 3-bet some strong aces or pairs, flat call some monsters, and try to lure him into making the big bet that costs him his chips.

And then hope he doesn't suck out you lol

[RoadBob]

I agree with this as a cold philosophy, and playing against an inexperienced HU player and/or one you have sold a solid table image to, this is the gospel.

But sometimes you have to play RoadBob HU, and this is how he's coming at you. And sometimes he's played you enough to have an impression of you, and may believe that this method is going to do the trick. In that case, you have to play a little different. You can't just 3-bet him a lot, because he is going to flat you and then raise any flop, or he's going to 4-bet you. So you need to use his aggression against him. So you might do a bit of folding preflop, 3-bet some strong aces or pairs, flat call some monsters, and try to lure him into making the big bet that costs him his chips.

And then hope he doesn't suck out you lol

One must also be aware that when playing RoadBob HU and adjusting to his game, that RoadBob is crafty enough to recognize your adjustment. The trap you think you are setting may actually be the one that costs you all your chips.

Good HU players will not only recognize what works and what doesn't but also will recognized when something that has been working has stopped working and then be able to make the right adjustments.

[BobboSlice]

Good HU players will not only recognize what works and what doesn't but also will recognized when something that has been working has stopped working and then be able to make the right adjustments.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Enough said.