My HU plays sucks badly and is hurting my ROI%- help!

I know I was very unlucky here but that doesnt mean that I didnt make any bad plays....When looking at my 1/2/3 places ratio its something like 25/40/35 .

Would really appreciate some input here..
Opponent had been aggresive throughout the tourney and was around 35/25

The Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

---Tournament Summary---
$11 SNG: Finished 2/2 for $27
Data for 129 hands.
You played 33 hands (25.58%)
You raised 26 times preflop (20.16%)
-----Hand 17-----
Hero's M = 6.30
PokerStars Game #8672780609: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2007/02/28 - 17:48:30 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (9405 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (4095 in chips)
All players post the ante 25
anarchoi: posts small blind 200
mirven: posts big blind 400
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 9:heart: 3:club:
anarchoi: calls 200
mirven: raises 5200 to 5600
anarchoi: folds
mirven collected 850 from pot
mirven: doesn't show hand


3:diamond: 3:spade: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 18-----
Hero's M = 5.99
PokerStars Game #8672785567: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2007/02/28 - 17:48:49 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (9605 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (3895 in chips)
All players post the ante 25
anarchoi: posts small blind 200
mirven: posts big blind 400
Preflop: anarchoi dealt J:heart: A:club:
anarchoi: calls 200
mirven: checks
Flop: 8:heart: K:spade: A:diamond:
mirven: checks
anarchoi: checks
Turn: 8:spade:
mirven: checks
anarchoi: bets 600
mirven: folds
anarchoi collected 850 from pot
anarchoi: doesn't show hand
Above is deffinately a problem I have - slowplaying mediocre hands against agressive opponents and hopes of a shove preflop.


6:heart: K:spade: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 19-----
Hero's M = 6.99
PokerStars Game #8672792236: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level VIII (200/400) - 2007/02/28 - 17:49:14 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (8955 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (4545 in chips)
All players post the ante 25
anarchoi: posts small blind 200
mirven: posts big blind 400
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 9:club: 9:diamond:
anarchoi: calls 200
mirven: checks
Flop: 2:spade: 3:spade: 3:diamond:
mirven: checks
anarchoi: bets 600
mirven: raises 1000 to 1600
anarchoi: raises 2520 to 4120 and is all-in
mirven: folds
anarchoi collected 4050 from pot
anarchoi: doesn't show hand


8:heart: Q:spade: BB (M = 6.57; p+F)

-----Hand 20-----
Hero's M = 5.92
PokerStars Game #8672803611: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:49:57 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (7580 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (5920 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 3:spade: K:club:
anarchoi: raises 900 to 1500
mirven: folds
anarchoi collected 1300 from pot
anarchoi: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 21-----
Hero's M = 6.57
PokerStars Game #8672806638: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:50:08 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (6930 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (6570 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
mirven: posts small blind 300
anarchoi: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 7:club: 4:spade:
mirven: calls 300
anarchoi: checks
Flop: T:heart: 8:heart: 2:diamond:
anarchoi: bets 800
mirven: calls 800
Turn: 2:heart:
anarchoi: checks
mirven: bets 1200
anarchoi: folds
mirven collected 2900 from pot
mirven: doesn't show hand


3:diamond: 9:heart: SB (M = 5.12; F)
7:heart: 7:diamond: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 22-----
Hero's M = 5.12
PokerStars Game #8672815701: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:50:42 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (8380 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (5120 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt K:diamond: 2:spade:
anarchoi: raises 4470 to 5070 and is all-in
mirven: folds
anarchoi collected 1300 from pot
anarchoi: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 23-----
Hero's M = 5.77
PokerStars Game #8672818293: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:50:52 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (7730 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (5770 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
mirven: posts small blind 300
anarchoi: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt A:heart: 2:spade:
mirven: raises 4800 to 5400
anarchoi: raises 320 to 5720 and is all-in
mirven: calls 320
Flop: Q:heart: A:spade: 7:club:
Turn: 5:club:
River: 2:club:
Showdown:
anarchoi: shows A:heart: 2:spade: (two pair, Aces and Deuces)
mirven: shows J:heart: T:heart: (high card Ace)
anarchoi collected 11540 from pot



-----Hand 24-----
Hero's M = 11.54
PokerStars Game #8672823341: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:51:11 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (1960 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (11540 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 2:club: 2:heart:
anarchoi: raises 3000 to 3600
mirven: calls 1310 and is all-in
Flop: 8:diamond: T:diamond: 5:heart:
Turn: 4:diamond:
River: T:club:
Showdown:
mirven: shows 6:diamond: T:heart: (three of a kind, Tens)
anarchoi: shows 2:club: 2:heart: (two pair, Tens and Deuces)
mirven collected 3920 from pot


Q:diamond: A:diamond: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 25-----
Hero's M = 9.93
PokerStars Game #8672830081: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:51:36 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (3570 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (9930 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 9:spade: J:heart:
anarchoi: raises 7200 to 7800
mirven: calls 2920 and is all-in
Flop: J:spade: Q:spade: 7:spade:
Turn: 5:club:
River: T:club:
Showdown:
mirven: shows J:diamond: 9:heart: (a pair of Jacks)
anarchoi: shows 9:spade: J:heart: (a pair of Jacks)
mirven collected 3570 from pot
anarchoi collected 3570 from pot


4:diamond: 7:diamond: BB (M = 9.93; p+F)
5:diamond: 9:diamond: SB (M = 9.28; F)
7:club: T:spade: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 26-----
Hero's M = 9.28
PokerStars Game #8672841315: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:52:18 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (4220 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (9280 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 6:spade: K:club:
anarchoi: raises 8630 to 9230 and is all-in
mirven: calls 3570 and is all-in
Flop: J:club: 2:spade: Q:club:
Turn: 9:diamond:
River: 7:club:
Showdown:
mirven: shows Q:heart: Q:spade: (three of a kind, Queens)
anarchoi: shows 6:spade: K:club: (high card King)
mirven collected 8440 from pot


5:diamond: 7:heart: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)
9:heart: 2:heart: SB (M = 5.41; F)
5:club: 2:heart: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 27-----
Hero's M = 5.41
PokerStars Game #8672851608: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:52:57 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (8090 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (5410 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt A:spade: 3:heart:
anarchoi: raises 4760 to 5360 and is all-in
mirven: calls 4760
Flop: T:heart: J:heart: 2:club:
Turn: 3:spade:
River: 4:club:
Showdown:
mirven: shows 9:diamond: A:heart: (high card Ace)
anarchoi: shows A:spade: 3:heart: (a pair of Threes)
anarchoi collected 10820 from pot


K:heart: 5:spade: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 28-----
Hero's M = 11.17
PokerStars Game #8672858305: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:53:22 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (2330 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (11170 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt K:spade: J:club:
anarchoi: raises 3000 to 3600
mirven: calls 1680 and is all-in
Flop: 7:spade: J:heart: K:heart:
Turn: A:spade:
River: 8:heart:
Showdown:
mirven: shows 4:heart: 9:heart: (a flush, King high)
anarchoi: shows K:spade: J:club: (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
mirven collected 4660 from pot


T:club: K:heart: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 29-----
Hero's M = 9.19
PokerStars Game #8672865208: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:53:48 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (4310 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (9190 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt T:spade: 8:spade:
anarchoi: calls 300
mirven: checks
Flop: 7:heart: 3:club: K:spade:
mirven: checks
anarchoi: bets 800
mirven: folds
anarchoi collected 1300 from pot
anarchoi: doesn't show hand


T:spade: 7:heart: BB (M = 9.84; p+F)

-----Hand 30-----
Hero's M = 9.19
PokerStars Game #8672872107: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2007/02/28 - 17:54:14 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (4310 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (9190 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 300
mirven: posts big blind 600
Preflop: anarchoi dealt Q:heart: 5:diamond:
anarchoi: raises 8540 to 9140 and is all-in
mirven: folds
anarchoi collected 1300 from pot
anarchoi: doesn't show hand


4:heart: 8:spade: BB (M = 9.84; r+F)
T:club: 5:diamond: SB (M = 7.07; F)
7:club: T:diamond: BB (M = 6.72; p+F)
5:club: 3:spade: SB (M = 6.07; F)

-----Hand 31-----
Hero's M = 5.72
PokerStars Game #8672885961: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level X (400/800) - 2007/02/28 - 17:55:06 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (6060 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (7440 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
mirven: posts small blind 400
anarchoi: posts big blind 800
Preflop: anarchoi dealt A:club: K:spade:
mirven: raises 5210 to 6010 and is all-in
anarchoi: calls 5210
Flop: 6:spade: 7:club: 4:spade:
Turn: 3:club:
River: 4:diamond:
Showdown:
anarchoi: shows A:club: K:spade: (a pair of Fours)
mirven: shows A:heart: A:diamond: (two pair, Aces and Fours)
mirven collected 12120 from pot



-----Hand 32-----
Hero's M = 1.06
PokerStars Game #8672891013: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level X (400/800) - 2007/02/28 - 17:55:25 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (12120 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (1380 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 400
mirven: posts big blind 800
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 9:heart: 3:spade:
anarchoi: raises 530 to 1330 and is all-in
mirven: calls 530
Flop: 9:diamond: Q:spade: 6:spade:
Turn: 2:heart:
River: K:heart:
Showdown:
mirven: shows J:diamond: 5:heart: (high card King)
anarchoi: shows 9:heart: 3:spade: (a pair of Nines)
anarchoi collected 2760 from pot


T:heart: 6:spade: BB (Folded to anarchoi.)

-----Hand 33-----
Hero's M = 2.47
PokerStars Game #8672897637: Tournament #44151646, $15+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level X (400/800) - 2007/02/28 - 17:55:49 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) from FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '44151646 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 5: mirven (10290 in chips)
Seat 7: anarchoi (3210 in chips)
All players post the ante 50
anarchoi: posts small blind 400
mirven: posts big blind 800
Preflop: anarchoi dealt 3:heart: J:club:
anarchoi: raises 2360 to 3160 and is all-in
mirven: calls 2360
Flop: A:club: 8:heart: 9:heart:
Turn: 6:spade:
River: A:diamond:
Showdown:
mirven: shows 2:spade: K:diamond: (a pair of Aces)
anarchoi: shows 3:heart: J:club: (a pair of Aces - lower kicker)
mirven collected 6420 from pot



The Tournament Trimmer (v1.0w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ighlight=heads

I liked this thread - it shows how to play when you have time. Its a nice balance against the prevelant super aggressive attitude and shows the importance of realising how much time you have and adjusting your play accordingly.

I dont like slow playing AJ hu. Basically my theory of HU is based on theory that only 1/3 hands are any decent preflop and only 1/3 hands improve on the flop. So basically aggression and betting with air is the norm. Even rerasing with nothing on occasion. Its more about playing the player and not the cards.

With 6k and a bb of 600 at my level a preflop raise to 1500 (2.5bb) will often win the pot there and then. And it also allows you to do it with a fairly wide range as you can walk away. If you keep it up and they then go over the top and then your gladly calling with AJ. Trouble with Aj its going to miss a lot of flops and is unlikely to improve either so i save having to think too much and bet hard preflop.

I too have lately had trouble improving my HU play in SNGs. I think my 1/2/3 %'s are like this: 10/60/30 in my last 50 SNGs. I keep a log of the HU hands that bust me and I'm usually the best hand when the money is put all-in (about 70% of the time). I've just gotten beat out by the turn and river cards more often than I like. I'm ok with losing when I know I had the best of it when the money was put in, it's just frustrating waiting for the averages to catch up.

I think you should be shoving a bit more often than you are, but maybe that's just because I am too shove happy!

18. AJo - I don't like this (but you already know that ;). I'd raise it preflop, AJo just isn't strong enough to slowplay unless you have a read that opp is super LAggy preflop.

19. 99 - I'd raise it preflop. You probably won more chips in this instance than you would have by raising preflop but I still raise it everytime. Not strong enough to slowplay IMO.

20. K3o - I'd open shove it.

21. 74o - don't like the flop lead. I'd check and bet the turn if opp checks behind.

[7h 7d] BB (Folded to anarchoi.) - :(

22-25. All good

[5d 9d] SB (M = 9.28; F) - I'd shove it for sure here since opp is short stacked, don't let them have the blinds!

26. K6o - unlucky

[9h 2h] SB (M = 5.41; F) - maybe I'm too shove happy but I shove again

28. KJo - unlucky again

29. T8s - I shove it again

[Tc 5d] SB (M = 7.07; F) - shove it, opp has 5x BB

[5c 3s] SB (M = 6.07; F) - OK, you can fold this one ;)

31. AKo - that sucks :(

I totally feel your pain. I just started playing on FT and I'm on a 5 game 2nd place "streak." I just don't know what I'm missing. I have won my fair share of SNGs, but I think this run has highlighted the fact that I need some work on my HU play. Until I post a tourney on here, is there any general guidelines any of you use for HU play?

(EDITTED - INTIALLY ENTRY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. DUR)

Sorry to hijack but i too have problems - new poster here and was just going to ask about my heads up problems and then saw this thread!

Don't have detailed HH for you but anyway, any thoughts appreciated!.....

Played 500 sngs so not inexperienced at all and pretty solid style now (should be doing better really but definitely on the verge of better things i feel at the moment). After a losing start i've been a break even/small winner on $11 tables with the odd $22 game for a fair while.

Until recently i've been probably doing about 50/50 1st/2nd when getting to heads up stage. That's obviously not great (suggests luck rather than skill), but worse i've now finished 2nd IN MY LAST 9 (count em!) heads up sng conclusions. Horrific i know. My ROI has been like 15% in 2007 when it should be closer to 30%.

It does seem like everytime i hit opponent hits bigger to decide the game but really can't all be bad luck 9 times in a row. Obviously helps to be aggressive in last 3 or 4 to try to enter heads up in the lead - generally i do this. In the last 9 examples though I've entered level or slightly behind more than i have ahead. I rarely come 4th or even 3rd. Usually 2nd or 5th/6th.

How do I play heads up broadly?
Preflop: Raise from LB any hand which is J9+ Q9+ K5ish+ AX. Any mid or low pairs. Decent suited one gapers+. From BB I'll call any moderate raise to see the flop if hand is semi connected or one of the above. Maybe even a little lower. I acknowledge that i probably mistakenly tend to slow play AA/KK which is dumb as i end up getting no value from them as opponent doesn't tend to get pot committed - i'll stop doing that now I’ve written it down!

Post flop from LB:
If checked to i'll generally bet the flop whatever > if then reraised I might back off depending on situation.
If facing a bet and little hope of improving I’ll usually fold.
If facing a bet and i've hit anything at all (or hold overpair, or maybe a flush or openender if I’m in a good lead) then i'm reraising (pretty much all in due to blind size most of the time). Maybe this is my problem area? As I often seem to reraise all in and my bottom pair (for example) is beaten by mid pair or something. Or worse, my mid pair with something like 86s is outkicked. But surely I shouldn’t be too passive here given that a huge amount of the time I’m just playing against a standard continuation bet? With the blinds as they are it’s all in or weak-fold realistically.

Post flop from BB:
If in BB and i hit then i'll check-raise probably unless it's a monster in which case i might check-call if i think a reraise would induce a fold.
If missed and no hope (eg low cards, no draw) then i'll probably check.
If missed but have a possible draw then i'll bet out and reconsider if reraised all in. One problem i have is I find it nearly impossible to read the quality of an opponents hit (how can you really when a standard preflop raise means anything from low connectors to JX to AA?).

Or maybe you can, and i'm just very bad!!!!! It's driving me nuts. Thanks for any thoughts all.