In Need of Heads-Up Help

Hi there, I just recently got back into poker. I stopped playing SnGs back in Sep. due to some confidence issues and fell back on play money tournies(At party poker, these are the closest things played like cash games(e.g. rational players)). After a couple months of working on my game and consistently finishing in the money, I joined Poker Stars to see if I would fare any better than before.

Today was my first day at the tables, and I finished 9th, 7th, 6th, 6th, 3rd, and second four times. My play has improved since the last SnG, but I still need help. My ITM% is decent?, but I could really use some tips playing heads up. Could anyone recommend a site, post, or book that delves deeper into this aspect of play? Thanks in advance...

Hi and welcome to the forums! Good to have you here.

Heads up play is very read dependent, but there are some good posts on this forum about it. If you search for "heads up" or "HU" you should find them. If you can't find them somebody I'm sure will point them out.

Otherwise, the best way for us to help you is to post some hands about which you have queries. You can even post whole tourneys (trimmed) and we will take a look.

hmm, HOH2 has HU play.

problem is that HU is based on reads, opp tendencies, stacks,blinds, position, cards etc.

one move correct in some cases wont suit other cases. you should try the HU SNGs then if you need confidence if they are cheap to play.

i recommend just keep playing full SNGs and try pay attention to opp and post.

Thanks, I'll do some more searching and try my hand at the HU tournies ...but prolly observe a few first : ). Oh, and of Harrignton's 3 books, which is considered to be the best read? I'll definitely be looking into the second one.

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Originally Posted by MagyarSHU

Thanks, I'll do some more searching and try my hand at the HU tournies ...but prolly observe a few first : ). Oh, and of Harrignton's 3 books, which is considered to be the best read? I'll definitely be looking into the second one.

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IMO the first and second are fantastic, and the third is merely good. If I had to pick one though, I'd pick the second one - the section on "inflection points" is invaluable. As Goat says, it also has a decent section on HU play.

Once you start placing in the money, you're going to naturally get a feel for shorthanded and heads-up play. I start to move into a "heads up mindset" around 4 players left (9 person tournament) so I can get a feel for how people are going to react against raises, pushes, how well I can trap them, and other such things.

I must admit though, heads up play is still the most intimidating to me. I'm getting better daily, but you're never prepared for some of the aggressiveness that you're going to face when blinds get huge and players get antsy. Well, you may be prepared, but until you're the one on the dominating side of it, you certainly won't like being there.

I'm a fan of reading books, but nothing will teach you quite like personal experience and the situational banter that happens in these forums. Keep up the good work :)

i live for HU, love it. to brag my best finish % is first :wink:

Here's a couple articles on a system for correct play Heads up when the blinds are large:

http://modular.math.washington.edu/s...age-poker.html
http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/15250

oh get SNGPT as it has a great HU situation tutorial.

it follows the Nash equilibrium theory, its very good stuff actually. not sure if its available outside SNGPT easily since eastbay i think put alot into refining it to a graph.

anyway get SNGPT ssssssssoooooooooo worth it, i paid for it out of pocket. not BR