Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:23 am GMT by TheDudeChad
I'm having a lot of trouble finishing off the SNG's that I've been playing. When it gets to heads up action, I turn into a different player. Every hand I limp, bet if I catch a nice flop, otherwise check/fold. I'm extremely predictable and only bluff once in a while. I'm always scared the other person is slowplaying, since there is almost never a raise preflop and he might have caught two pair with the rags in his hand. Also, since the blinds are pretty big (10 BB's each), I only bet the minimum or go all in. I know all the stuff I'm doing is wrong, so could any of you SNG vets give me some advice? And of course I know I have to keep practicing, which I am.
Thanks
Edit: Just saw a similar question below, serves me right for not searching the boards first. Don't mind me I'm a newb.
Did you know that participating in a poker forum can help you improve your own game? Be it by sharing experiences or simply asking for help, participation in a forum helps you focus and keep 'on topic' which will help you improve your game. You can learn from other players feedback and from their experiences. Why the THP poker forums? We offer one of the best managed texas holdem poker forums available, and the community within is far more friendly than those typicaly found on other sites. We've made a 'lurkers edition' of the poker forum available here on Holdem Poker Online, but we encourage all visitors to register and join in on the conversations on TexasHoldem-Poker.com
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:26 am GMT by skel
Raise every hand from SB you are going to play. This forced BB to fold if he has a crap hand or spend more chips to play his hand instead of checking. Fold your crappy hands from SB and never limp in. ONly raise or fold.
Make sure the SB doesent limp in if you are BB. If he limps in raise him. This is just the beginning but practice on it.
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:28 am GMT by Nut Flush
| Quote: | | ..since there is almost never a raise preflop.. |
Thats one problem right there. When it gets down to heads up, cards matter very little. You both limp in hoping to "catch" something. Put the pressure on, make a nice size raise and put your opponent to the test. Is he willing to come back over the top and steal with crap? If he just calls, bet the flop again. chances are he missed whatever miracle he was looking for. There are some nice heads up articles on UB's website, I'll see if I can find a link for you.
Here's the link, has some pretty good advice on heads up
http://www.ultimatebet.com/learn-poker/strategy-tournament.html
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 12:55 pm GMT by Geno
| skel wrote: |
Make sure the SB doesent limp in if you are BB. If he limps in raise him. This is just the beginning but practice on it. |
Don't forget that against a good player, if u play a regimented style heads-up you will get your fingers burnt. If he has any savvy, he will start limping the SB with a good hand and then re-raise back over you when u raise his call.
In my opinion, the #1 thing to do heads-up is mix up your play. Stay aggressive but controlled and keep him guessing. There is no-one easier to beat heads-up than a newbie to it but someone who is predictable is the next best thing and you don't wanna be that person 
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:03 pm GMT by TheDudeChad
Thanks for the advice guys, that's definitely a step up from what I was doing. Another question, do you suggest slowplaying big pairs (check when in BB, limping from SB), playing them like any other playable cards (standard raise in SB, raise if SB limps) or just push all in and hope for a call?
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:09 pm GMT by Nut Flush
With big pairs, if I'm first to act I like to make a decent raise and hopefully entice him to reraise me. If he reraises, I'm all in. If he calls, I'm all in on the flop.
If I'm second to act and they are big pairs, chancs are I'll push all in right there.
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:29 pm GMT by Leo
you seem to know what your problem is so work on that! be agressive (overly agressive even) and loosen up. especially if you're the big stack, put pressure on the guy, make him face hard decisions(sp?). and once in a while fold a hand on the small blind so that he thinks you're playing solid poker. if you're shortstacked, don't be afriad to gamble, if your opponent shows weakness, put pressure on him regardless of what you have (unless you know he likes to slowplay his hands).
EDIT: use this only at 5$ sit-n-goes at ladbrokes 
when you end up heads-up there the blind are usually 500-1000 (you start with 1500) so every pot is huge. so this is a good strategy when the blinds are really big.
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:18 pm GMT by skel
| Geno wrote: | | skel wrote: |
Make sure the SB doesent limp in if you are BB. If he limps in raise him. This is just the beginning but practice on it. |
Don't forget that against a good player, if u play a regimented style heads-up you will get your fingers burnt. If he has any savvy, he will start limping the SB with a good hand and then re-raise back over you when u raise his call.
In my opinion, the #1 thing to do heads-up is mix up your play. Stay aggressive but controlled and keep him guessing. There is no-one easier to beat heads-up than a newbie to it but someone who is predictable is the next best thing and you don't wanna be that person |
wow thats good, IM going to use that
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:20 pm GMT by skel
| TheDudeChad wrote: | | Thanks for the advice guys, that's definitely a step up from what I was doing. Another question, do you suggest slowplaying big pairs (check when in BB, limping from SB), playing them like any other playable cards (standard raise in SB, raise if SB limps) or just push all in and hope for a call? |
I suggest playing normal so he wont actually know you have something.
Like I said I raise every hand I play. ONe time I accidentally just called and the guy i slike "ooh pocket pair huh" LOl it was funny because he folded and I didnt have anything but iwas just an accident an di hit call oops.
Posted Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:20 pm GMT by YoungGun
this is probably stupid of me, but it always works for some reason. At the beginning of heads up, I play a hand and bluff it from the beginning to the end. When he catches me bluffing, I then wait for a good flop and then I raise the exact amount I was bluffing with. He then calls and then if the turn is a rag, I'll check and he usually bets. I then just call. River is another rag and make a big big bet. Wait for him to call or re-raise and you got him. Well... that always has worked for me a lot.
Posted Fri Aug 27, 2004 11:33 am GMT by TheDudeChad
Sorry guys one more question that came up today.
When your opponent limps and you have an unplayable hand, do you still raise or check it? Of course I will mix it up and do both at some times, but as a general rule of thumb, what do you do? Thanks
Btw, I just owned a cocky jerk heads up at the end of a SNG. He didn't know what hit him. At my level (2.50 + .25) know one knows how to play heads up. I'm gonna practice a lot at this level (and make some money) before I step up to the $5.
Posted Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:24 pm GMT by Nut Flush
| Quote: | | When your opponent limps and you have an unplayable hand, do you still raise or check it? |
Depending on how its going so far, I'll probably raise it, especially if I'm at a big chip advantage. If he comes back over the top, you can dump it. But he may fold winning you the pot or call. If the flop doesn't look too dangerous, a big bet here may win it for you.
However, if you've noticed him/her limpin in with good/great hands, tread carefully.
Posted Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:37 pm GMT by redd38
I've only got 2 moves heads-up.... fold or all-in. I've got more 1st than 2nd so it's working for me.
Posted Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:40 pm GMT by Nut Flush
| Quote: | | I've only got 2 moves heads-up.... fold or all-in. I've got more 1st than 2nd so it's working for me. |
Of course there is always the brute force tactic.
Posted Fri Aug 27, 2004 2:15 pm GMT by golddog
1) Get good cards.
2) If not, bet 'em like you've got 'em
|
|
