Need help with heads up play

[xpoh1]

I find my self playing in sit 'n' go tournaments where i make it to the top two but I can never finish off my opponent. I keep placing in second and making a lot less money than I would prefer. I just don't know how tight I should play. Are there any common strategies that any of you know of or could lead me to?

[Terrier01]

Don't be afraid of the other guy, you are already in the money...

Usually expect a player to call/raise with any picture card. I find a lot of players all in with pairs, doesn't matter which AA or 22.

My advice, either raise or fold, don't check or flat call. Make sure the other guy/girl is paying to play. Just play hard, but if you get called quick decision, is this hand good enough?

Happy Playing

[scrawnybob]

hi

I agree with terrier

although I do check flat call on certain hands - You can be even more incontrol of heads-up play if you fake weakness
I'm not going to give everything away but suffice to say its sometime very worthwhile playing weak when your very strong

what you definately dont want to do is play weak when you are on a moderate hand that could get beaten by a nasty board - also its the same for them so if you see a nasty board - you need to have the balls to fire at it

that all sounds contradictory but heads up you can really mess with their head and that is what will win you the game
waiting for really good cards is a recipe for disaster -

heads up is like a knife fight - it's messy and you have to take total control -
even if that means getting them to think you've rolled over

nothing better than getting the other player to shoot himself in the foot - just as you planned it

cheers scrawnybob

[JimG]

The end of SNG Tournaments often involve luck because the blinds get so high it’s just who is going to get luckier. You need to minimize the other players advantage by being aggressive yourself and at times be willing to go in behind when the blinds justify doing so. Having 2/3 of the chips heads up is such an advantage because you can lose the pot and still be a double up away on the next hand from taking the lead back.
In some tournaments you can take a little bit of time before having to play very aggressive but this is rare.

[HottNix]

Its totally luck dude, when you go heads up, dont be afraid of playing a face card., king 6 for example is a good hand, what do you really think the other guy has? look, how many aces are in the deck? 4...How man cards do you get, 2...so what are the odds of the other guy having an Ace.. Okay next...like the other guys said, be aggressive, if you dont hit on the flop and he goes all in, it doesnt mean he has a hand....youve obviously played with that guy for a while, making the final 2, so what do you think he has? If you know hes the type of player that doesnt bluff, then fold, if he is a bluffing and has been getting luck....shoot the call button....dont wait for your Big Pocket pair to go all, by that time comes, youll be too short of a stack to be a threat.

[affz]

headup is easy

[donvic]

Originally Posted by affz

headup is easy

hi all,

boy i`ll tell ya heads up is not easy for me.

while i am successfull at heads up it`s

really hard work.....the hardest of the tourney.

found playing single table sng helped my one on one play.

lots of players do not have a lot of experience heads up.

best to all,

donvic

[scrawnybob]

hi

think thats a good tip donvic

if your a regular MTT player a good way to get more final table experience is to play regular SnG's too

ok the chip stacks won't have the same imbalances but its a quick way to get heads up play and get used to being in the final places

much better than playing heads up cash tables - which as far as I can figure are the domain on the total gambler and rich adrenaline junkies

playing successful cash games and the idea of heads up is to me a contradiction in terms

get in those SNG's

cheers scrawnybob

[FurnessPoker]

BEST advice I ever received...

Invite a poker playing friend round for the night and practice!

Also be AGGRESSIVE!!

enuff said