Playing Heads Up in SnG

**CJ!** · 03-14-2005

I was playing in a $5 SnG on PS last night and did end up winning, but I felt that once we were down to heads-up (even 3 people) I wasn't exactly sure how to play (probably seeing as I have never made it this far...).

Down to HU, I had a large stack around T10000 and my opponent had about T3000. The SnG lasted quite long and we were at 200/400 blinds. (I think my table image portrayed me as more of a loose player since the table was so tight I would be able to raise-steal practically every pot without showing).

I kept getting some pretty trashy cards for the first 10 or so hands whenever I was in the small-blind. I folded most of them, never called, and tried stealing maybe twice with ones that were somewhat respectable. Every time I tried, she would come over the top all-in and I would fold. While in the BB, I was getting very playable hands, but she would fold instantly. I managed to take one pot down and she was down to T2300. Then, for about 15 hands neither of our stacks changed. I get a hand with Q5s and raised to T800. She comes over the top all-in, and I call. She has 22. I flop a Q and that was it. During the earlier rounds when she became short-stacked she pretty much "all-in'd" any hand she was going to play, which was about a dozen or so times. She never got called, except for the one time with KQ vs AJ and won.

So, any advice on how to better play heads-up, or what strategies you guys use?

-cj

**NoManner** · 03-14-2005

Be aggressive, even if you're called down with trash, you're most likely only 2:1

10k:3k isn't really enough to just go all in every hand but make significant raises. Sounds like you were playing a fairly tight player in regard to HU, I don't like folding my SB to them, even with major crap.

If you're a little better than 4:1, I'd suggest just pushing every single hand, you'll steal a lot of blinds and even called down with a trash hand, you have good odds at winning right there

**KiD[ReD]** · 03-14-2005

My head's up used to be real bad, and I was totally clueless like you as well.. then recently (last couple weeks), it improved dramatically.. I dunno how.. I think just practice/experience, and I couldn't tell you how I play.. because.. I just can't..

But if you have 10k to his 3k and the blinds were 200/400, you should be betting like 2 or 3x each time, no matter what you have. And if he goes over the top of you and you have Ax and it's not that much more to call, you should call. Or if you have any type of coinflip situation when he goes over the top, such as any pp, or AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, etc, you should call.

**KiD[ReD]** · 03-14-2005

I posted this same time as NoManner so I just read his.. seems that we both agree.

**Kliph** · 03-14-2005

At that point any face card is a solid hand. And all it takes is you catching a high pair and she catches a low pair, you take everything. Being aggressive surely is the best option here, but you also are going to want to see some flops.

**CJ!** · 03-14-2005

The cards I was getting in SB were like 23o, 27o, 48o (won with this one), etc. Does that even matter? BB I was seeing face cards and woulda pushed all-in, but never got down to that.

**KiD[ReD]** · 03-14-2005

What do you mean Kliph? J Q and K rag does not equal solid hand.. and you DON'T want to see flops.. you want to take all his blinds...

**KiD[ReD]** · 03-14-2005

Originally Posted by CJ!

The cards I was getting in SB were like 23o, 27o, 48o (won with this one), etc. Does that even matter? BB I was seeing face cards and woulda pushed all-in, but never got down to that.

Only push with coinflips, just raise with the others.. it doesn't matter what you have when you're that much of a lead.. he will have to fold.. if he calls or raises, then you can fold, but you quickly make it up again by keeping the pressure on him. And when you keep doing this, eventually you will have a hand to call his push with, and then he goes to poker heaven.

**Kliph** · 03-14-2005

I think that at that point (oh, I should say when it's heads up. Not multi-way) face cards are solid. Get in cheap to see some flops and hopefully catch a pair. It's not that expensive just to see a flop when you have such a bigger chip stack. You don't need anything fancy to win, just a pair.

And if she's been moving in on you, let her bluff you when you do have that pair. You can't do alot of this, but you can try. See some flops is what I say.

**KiD[ReD]** · 03-14-2005

I don't know Kliph, I have a totally different mentality.. I'm thinking that, she's such a low stack, she doesn't even deserve to be playing with me. So I make it very expensive for her to see anything... you have to be very aggressive and dominating.. from what you said so far, you seem very timid.. you should be thinking that you've already won each hand before it's even delt..

I am, of course, speaking of when you're a large lead over your opponant..

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