Heads up

[pakino]

I want to analyse my opponent play in heads up. Which are the most important matters I should take a look in the recorded hands?

[eberetta1]

I want to analyse my opponent play in heads up. Which are the most important matters I should take a look in the recorded hands?

Hmmm, if the guy raises pre-flop every hand, I am the kind of player who usually loves to fold, because I hate raising pre-flop. A person has an advantage over me if they know this. I will go in 2x big blind if they raise, but not higher. If they raise more than 2x the big blind more than three times in a row, then I know they are a bluffer or they push alot, so I will throw an all-in first time I get ahold of 2 face cards or a pair.
That would be a start. See how frequently they raise pre-flop.

I'd be looking for a weakness. Look for when the opponent loses most of their hands. Hope this gives you a start.

[pakino]

Thanks for the answer. Only one forum member plays heads up games here?

[Alnoble]

I don't play heads up matches so the only experiance I have is if I make it to the last 2. Most of the time outside of the 4kp games they have been shoving matches so only lasted a couple of hands.

In the 4kp games I've been lucky to be heads up a few times and it's about 50/50 wins.

I tend to raise a call if my hand is reasonable, I have a wide range HU, and fold to raises. However I do vary my game dependant on opponent.

HU matches where you are HU from beginning are I think an art in themselves and I don't think I'm a good enough player to get involved in them. May be I should to improve.

[kingjames07]

there are some very good HU videos on youtube from the pros


never play Q6....lol

[scrawnybob]

hi

heads up is definately where the much banded around term "meta game" should be considered

either playing heads up at the end of a game or playing a Heads up game starting out ... its very much more about tactical considerations than just the cards

understanding when to make a play - and understanding when the other player has made a play feeling its time to make a play etc etc

so its all a head f*ck kind of mind state think IMHO ... sometimes you will get into the grove and understand as it all makes sense other times you wont and you will realise there is something to this "meta game" mumbo malarky

I used to love the heads up at the end of an SNG most as alot of otherwise soiid players are totally useless at heads up ... they play their cards to simplistically, dont factor in the other player much if at all (which is major flaw) OR they are far too aggressive having read the ABC guide to playing heads up (push push push) ... then you just watch them and to a degree wait for your chance to really brign the hammer down

alot of players will mark your playing style down wrongly very quckly after a couple of hands ... and ability to change gears is absolutely vital in heads up

noting that a player can change gears / is thinking is important thing to pick up on ... otherwise alot of players are weak at heads up

cheers scrawnybob

[pakino]

> there are some very good HU videos on youtube from the pros

Last month I watched all videos from NBC Heads-up Championship 2009 on youtube. Many hours of watching.
I found it funny and it was a very valuable material for me. I have heard that they are held in march every year so I wait for video materials from this year.

[ND1991]

Heads Up NL seems to be a crash course to me. I have played a lot of heads-up mostly is the $5 and $10 range but all the way down to micro and up to $100+ at times.

In order to answer your question better, what buy-in range are you playing?
I have found <$5 to be one game
>$5 and <$20 another game
>$20 and <$100 another game
>$100 another game

I am completely comfortable playing in the first two tiers, can break even to moderate success at lower end of tier 3, and lose more often at top end of tier 3 and in tier 4.

<$20, play good starting hands hard, mix up play by playing some junk, and do not be afraid to get off a hand if you feel behind or it is going to put you at a severe chip disadvantage to chase it.

once you get over the $20, i find the players start to either get really good or know the ABC game you can learn from a book. The ABC game from a book can be frustrated easily and beaten most of the time. The really good, well, they are really good. They seem to be able to see both hands. They know when to three bet, they know when to call you, they know when to fold.

As for things to look for:

1) Do you go for the kill from behind too often? A lot of times when people get a good chip lead they go for the throat. Staying aggressive is good, but getting in a 40/60 race and doubling your opponent up is bad.

2) What types of hands do you lose the most chips on? Are they solid starting hands where you raised pre-flop, missed flop, and could not get off it? Are they weak starting hands from BB with no raise and you caught middle pair? Do you try to set too many traps?

3) What types of hands do win the most chips on? Have you been playing solid or getting lucky?

4) Are you normally playing from ahead or from behind? This may identify a poor or good starting strategy.

5) Have you appropriately expanded your starting hands for heads-up? Are you staying away from the hands better for full table multi-way pots (i.e. 67s, etc.)

Those are some of the things I would look for.

[Washerwoman]

You must be a v good heads up player!!

[spowers454]

I used to play heads up a lot but after cutting back on poker I don't play it to much. When I first start I tend to play small ball and get a feel for the other person. What do they call with raise with how much and preflop aggression A lot of the players tend to have a set style of HU play and don't stray to much from it, so first thing to do is figure out tightness and aggression. Then change your game to play into their weakness, to tight steal blinds to aggressive, trap them. For the most part I go a little short stacked in the beginning trying to feel them out. Never bothers me cause the info gained is more valuable than the small amount of chips donated.

A mistake that seems to be way to common is getting stupid aggressive when you have the chip lead. I tend to tighten up a little bit, folding more SB's. Don't get me wrong I stay aggressive to keep from chipping them up but I try not to get to involved in hands that I don't feel comfortable playing. Would rather donate a little then go for the kill in one shot that I am ahead than risk chipping them up calling or putting them all-in with rags.

most importantly is change your game to play into their weakness and change your game up often enough that a decent read is all but impossible. When I play a hand say top pair one time I may min bet it all the way next time I may push but it will 100% never be the same way I played it before. Leave them guessing.