Operation learn how to beat donks HU

Hi FTR.

I'm Ben, 27 from the Uk. I've been playing online poker part time for around 7 years with a vast array of mixed results, but somehow managed to win about £40k in total - a modest amount over such a long time true, but enough to have made it all worthwhile for me, the part-time grinder and mild gambling degenerate. Degenerate-lite, if you will.

About a year ago, after a frustrating 6 max spell I decided to turn my attentions to HU play. Ensuing were many ridiculous swings playing donks and some regs, with periods of sustained winning play and the standard periods of losing/tilting. Now, I am none the wiser about whether I actually can win at this game in today's scene, even against donks. I think I have been running below average for a long time, but again I don't really have any way of knowing. It seems like too often (and I don't know whether this is common) I get dragged into long wars with donks where I can't hit a hand to valuetown them, and they somehow take like 6 or 7 buyins off me.

'Post your stats!' I hear you scream. Well, I don't run any software which complicates matters somewhat, and have only seen a handful of HU vids. I just never felt like software was for me, and was worried that the numbers would just end up being really confusing for me and make me play worse (I'm a journalist by trade and have always been wary of digits).

I have just come off a 40 buyin upswing, only to plunge back into a 20 buyin downswing, then win 7 buyins on the weekend, then lose 5 buyins yesterday, mostly to one donk. Having said all this, I honestly don't think I am making many bad mistakes. I will let whoever cares be the judge of that when I post hands, but everything I am doing is a product of fundamental HU advice (I think!).

According to PTR I have played about 150k hands or so HU. A lot were at 100NL, which is where I've played most of my poker, but I couldn't handle the swings so decided to move down to 50. For what it's worth, my old SN was CarpetedAquapark but I have moved to another iPoker skin now.

So I'll be posting hands mostly and the aim is to become confident enough (hopefully through the input of others) to know I have a competent game, or at least that I am capable of improving. Any input at all from anyone would be really really appreciated, and in return I will be happy to look at your own blog if you have one.


TLDR: Would like some perspective on my HU abilities.

Thanks!

GL, man. Run good. I'll be watching with interest.