2 + .14 (euro's) entire tourney

One of the more interesting villains I've played at HU2. Entire session is on weak tight. I've done my best to condense the tourney and only post on hands that matter. Reads, as they developed, occur after HH's.

I would be interested in anyone's critique of any hand, but I posted whole tourney to see if folks were interested in critiquing my reads, overall style, etc.

1. Check behind limp w/ A6s, check K89 flop, psb on turn after (K89)3 is called. Folded after I half psb river (K893)J. HH1

Note: I always start off checking behind limpers with any two, trying to encourage them to keep doing it.

2. Standard 3x pfr w/ K5, folds.
3. Villain folds pre.

OK, seems to know how to fold. Hand 1 is odd, bit of a station? Or had a small piece of flop?

4. Stacks:
SB Hero (1590)
BB newstarrise (1410)

Blinds: 10/20

Pre-Flop: (30, 2 players) Hero is SB K J
Hero raises to 60, newstarrise raises to 100, Hero calls 40

Flop: 3 10 10 (200, 2 players)
newstarrise checks, Hero checks

Turn: A (200, 2 players)
newstarrise bets 100, Hero folds

Final Pot: 300

newstarrise wins 300 (net +100)

Hero lost 100

__________

I was planning to bet this turn, but he got there first.

5. Folded Q6o to his pfr.
6. PFR w/ A6o, he folds.
7. 3b w/ A2s over std pfr, he folds.

Seems much more TAGG than most HU2 villains, wanna know how he reacts to a 3b since I'm thinking that will be part of my strategy (don't usually need them).

8. Open fold T5o.
9. Fold 73o to std pfr.
10. PFR 22 (flatted), cbet 2/3 psb on QJx flop, villain folds.

OK, so not a station. Seems more TAGG standard. Playing pretty much cards face up.

Plan is to keep a reasonably tight preflop range and try to be more aggressive, steal a bit, value town accurately. Stay away from his bets and raises since he's not bluffing ever.

11. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (1420)
BB Hero (1580)

Blinds: 10/20

Pre-Flop: (30, 2 players) Hero is BB K 9
newstarrise raises to 60, Hero calls 40

Flop: K 6 A (120, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise bets 60, Hero calls 60

Turn: 4 (240, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise checks

River: 7 (240, 2 players)
Hero bets 180, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 420

Hero wins 420 (net +120)

I've played everything very straightforward TAGG, and I think I'm way ahead here 80% of the time. I decide to check the flop, just to change things up. Board is not worrisome. He still seems cards face up. After turn I KNOW I'm ahead and I'm looking for some value.

12. I pfr 3x w/ J7s, get min-3b, call, fold to 1/2 psb on AK6 flop. HH12.

Question read? TAGG's rarely min-3bet. WTF? Sure, I'm beat, but I make a mental note to try to get some kind of angle on this preflop move.

13. 3b w/ K8o, villain folds his pfr.
14. PFR w/ Q3o, villain folds.

Both these are a good bit looser than normal, but he's pretty tight and I'm trying to open up a bit, put pressure on.

15. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (1320)
BB Hero (1680)

Blinds: 10/20

Pre-Flop: (30, 2 players) Hero is BB 8 Q
newstarrise calls 10, Hero checks

Flop: 7 10 6 (40, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise bets 40, Hero folds

Final Pot: 80

newstarrise wins 80 (net +20)

Decide to let this go. I think he's ahead almost always, and now I've decided my plan is steal preflop and grab some orphan flops. Don't wanna contest when he seems to have a hand since he's a cards face up player.

16. Open fold Q4.

17. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (1350)
BB Hero (1650)

Blinds: 10/20

Pre-Flop: (30, 2 players) Hero is BB 10 J
newstarrise raises to 60, Hero calls 40

Flop: 2 K K (120, 2 players)
Hero bets 80, newstarrise calls 80

Turn: 3 (280, 2 players)
Hero bets 200, newstarrise calls 200

River: 2 (680, 2 players)
Hero bets 340, newstarrise goes all-in 1010, Hero folds

Final Pot: 2030

newstarrise wins 2030 (net +680)

Horrible hand for me. I run a bluff and run into a ... K? Just had to be, right? Regroup, get to work. Every read is that he plays cards face up, so just decide he flopped big, get over it, and back to your plan, trying to play really precisely post flop.

This hand illustrates my inflection point idea. I think we just crossed an inflection point (2 to 1 chips), and I took my hands off the keyboard and thought through things. I try never to play a big hand right after crossing an inflection point, instead trying to think through what I can or should do differently. I decide my plan is good - stay agro. He's pretty tight, and I should be able to steal from him and get back even.

18. Open fold 76o.
19. He open folds, I have Ax.
20. Open fold 54o.

21. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (2045)
BB Hero (955)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is BB K 3
newstarrise calls 15, Hero checks

Flop: 8 6 4 (60, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise checks

Turn: 10 (60, 2 players)
Hero bets 60, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 120

Hero wins 120 (net +30)

Confirming yet again he plays CFU (cards face up). Read still good. Just grind.

22. Open fold 53o.
23. He open folds.
24. Open fold 87o. Would have pfr'd here if my stack was deeper.
25. He open folds.

26. Stacks:
SB Hero (985)
BB newstarrise (2015)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is SB 9 J
Hero raises to 90, newstarrise goes all-in 2015, Hero folds

Final Pot: 2105

newstarrise wins 2105 (net +90)

Interesting. I will see this line again a good bit. For now, I'm just noting it's happened, wondering what his range for 3b-shoveling is.

27. He open folds.

28. Stacks:
SB Hero (910)
BB newstarrise (2090)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is SB 6 5
Hero raises to 90, newstarrise calls 60

Flop: 9 J K (180, 2 players)
newstarrise checks, Hero bets 120, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 300

Hero wins 300 (net +90)

Standard, except preflop which was a bit loose. I think he folds this flop a bunch, though he can float when he connects with it, but that's not very often given his range.

29. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (2000)
BB Hero (1000)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is BB 3 K
newstarrise raises to 90, Hero calls 60

Flop: 7 8 5 (180, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise bets 120, Hero raises to 360, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 660

Hero wins 660 (net +210)

He's too tight preflop for this board to hit him more than like 10% of time, so I raise the flop.

30. Stacks:
SB Hero (1210)
BB newstarrise (1790)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is SB 8 J
Hero raises to 90, newstarrise calls 60

Flop: 8 4 K (180, 2 players)
newstarrise checks, Hero bets 150, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 330

Hero wins 330 (net +90)

My standard pfr/cbet line.

31. He open folds.
32. I pfr w/ K3s, get 3b-shoved on, fold.

33. No Limit Holdem Tournament
PokerStars
2 Players
Hand Conversion Powered by weaktight.com
$2.00+$0.14

Stacks:
SB newstarrise (1775)
BB Hero (1225)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is BB 7 K
newstarrise calls 15, Hero checks

Flop: 5 3 10 (60, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise checks

Turn: A (60, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise checks

River: 8 (60, 2 players)
Hero bets 30, newstarrise raises to 90, Hero calls 60

Final Pot: 240
newstarrise shows a pair of Eights
9 8
Hero shows
7 K

newstarrise wins 240 (net +120)

Hero lost 120

34. I open fold 97o.
35. He open folds.
36. I pfr w/ T3o, he folds. Again, looser than normal, but that's the plan.

37. He open folds.
38. I open fold 86o.
39. I check behind limp w/ 2o, fold to flop psb on K92 flop.

Don't have much of a line on limped pot play, but I'm doing well with preflop aggression and flop steals. Since my plan is working, I ditch this hand, take a read, and move on.

40. Stacks:
SB Hero (1105)
BB newstarrise (1895)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is SB 5 5
Hero raises to 90, newstarrise calls 60

Flop: K 3 8 (180, 2 players)
newstarrise checks, Hero bets 90, newstarrise calls 90

Turn: Q (360, 2 players)
newstarrise checks, Hero checks

River: 7 (360, 2 players)
newstarrise bets 180, Hero folds

Final Pot: 540

newstarrise wins 540 (net +180)

Fold when you know you're beat.

41. 3b him pre w/ AQ, he folds.
42. PFR w/ A7o, he folds.

43. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (2015)
BB Hero (985)

Blinds: 15/30

Pre-Flop: (45, 2 players) Hero is BB 8 A
newstarrise calls 15, Hero checks

Flop: J A 7 (60, 2 players)
Hero checks, newstarrise checks

Turn: 6 (60, 2 players)
Hero bets 60, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 120

Hero wins 120 (net +30)

This is why I check behind most limpers, looking to flop unexpectedly big when he has piece, and get a medium or big pot I can take down. But he didn't have anything.

BLINDS UP TO 25/50

44. PFR w/ T2o. Looser than my standard, but my read is solid. He's too tight pre.

45. He open folds.
46. PFR w/ K2s, he folds.
47. Check behind limp w/ J3o, fold to psb on K64 flop.
48. PFR w/ ATo, he folds.

49. Stacks:
SB newstarrise (1860)
BB Hero (1140)

Blinds: 25/50

Pre-Flop: (75, 2 players) Hero is BB 8 9
newstarrise calls 25, Hero checks

Flop: A 8 A (100, 2 players)
Hero bets 100, newstarrise folds

Final Pot: 200

Hero wins 200 (net +50)

50. I pfr 3x w/ 77, he folds.
51. He open folds.
52. PFR w/ 98o, he folds.
53. He open folds.
54. I open fold 96o.
55. He open folds.
56. I open T6o, he 3b-shoves, I fold.

Seeing this line too often. Trying to figure out a range. Is he capable of doing this w/ Kx? Surely Ax, pp's and big broadways. Hmm... Hoping for something to snap off this bluff, and hoping he tries a few more times.

57. I fold 54s to his 3x pfr.
58. I open fold 32o.
59. He open folds.
60. I 3x pfr K6o, he 3b-shovels. I think about it but fold. I'm not ahead enough here, though I think it might be close.

61. He open folds.
62. I get 88 and pfr std, hoping for 3b-shovel, but he folds.
63. He open folds.

64. Big hand warning!!

Stacks:
SB Hero (1090)
BB newstarrise (1910)

Blinds: 25/50

Pre-Flop: (75, 2 players) Hero is SB J J
Hero raises to 150, newstarrise goes all-in 1910, Hero goes all-in 940

Flop: 4 9 7 (3000, 2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: 5 (3000, 2 players, 2 all-in)

River: 5 (3000, 2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: 3000
newstarrise shows a pair of Fives
J Q
Hero shows two pair, Jacks and Fives
J J

Hero wins 2180 (net +1090)

OK, so my read seems reasonable, and I picked up a premium hand in the right spot. I think the earlier folds to the 3b-shovels were pretty good, in hindsight. Now I'm the one in the drivers seat, wanna stay agro and pretty loose, but not give away chips in bigs chunks. Boot on the neck time.

65. I pick up K9o, he open shoves, I fold.

Too early for jam/fold at 20 bb effective stacks, but it's interesting that's shoveling pre. Tilt? Big hand? We'll know soon. I like to jam/fold a bit looser than Nash chart, but that will work especially well if he is looser, too.

66. I open fold 63s.
67. I pick up Q8s and fold to shovel.
68. I jam pfr all in with KJo, he folds.

69. Game, set, race-for-match.

Stacks:
SB newstarrise (895)
BB Hero (2105)

Blinds: 25/50

Pre-Flop: (75, 2 players) Hero is BB Q K
newstarrise goes all-in 895, Hero calls 845

Flop: 3 J Q (1790, 2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: Q (1790, 2 players, 1 all-in)

River: J (1790, 2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: 1790
newstarrise shows two pair, Queens and Jacks
9 9
Hero shows a full house, Queens full of Jacks
Q K

Hero wins 1790 (net +895)

Be interested to hear your thoughts. I believe I had a good plan after 10 hands that changed very little (my goal in each HU SnG), and I think I adjusted a bit to trend looser as match went on. Since I believe I had an advantage pre and postflop, I wanted to extend match, not get my knickers in a knot over his 3b-shoves, and just agro postflop. It's hard to stay really patient, but I did get a nice card rush (and won the races) to finish him off.

I think posting whole tourneys (though shorter ones than this might be better) would be good for the noobies in this forum. I will work through and comment on anyone else's entire tourney.

n post Robb.

Robb, HU SNGs have been my main game for a while and I've been playing the $6.25 turbo's with some success over a small sample. Here are my thoughts.....

Hand 1: I like a raise pre-flop here. It's a strong hand HU and I like to start getting information on my opp immediately.

Hand 8: As per HOH I very rarely open fold ATC unless my opp is very aggressive or it's late in the day and the blinds are high. The only other reason is for image.

Hand 11: I think this is fine but I might be inclined to lead the flop.

Hand 15: Fine again, but I'll mix in the occassional raise

Hand 17: Yeah, I'm defo checking the river here

Hand 18 & 19: As per Hand 8 - if he keeps open folding, let him. I prefer to give myself a chance to win each hand.

Hand 28: loose preflop is fine if you're purposely mixing up your raises.

Hand 43: I almost always bet flop, especially if you're hoping he has a piece

56. I open T6o, he 3b-shoves, I fold.

Seeing this line too often. Trying to figure out a range. Is he capable of doing this w/ Kx? Surely Ax, pp's and big broadways. Hmm... Hoping for something to snap off this bluff, and hoping he tries a few more times.

I see this ALL the time.

Hand 60: I fold too.

Hand 65: Perfect. It's important not to rush/react after these big hands

Hand 66: As I said before, I don't like this but I don't mind it so much if you feel he is likely to shove over

On the whole it looks like you played it well. You had a plan for your opp and adjusted it where necessary. Sussing how your opp plays and setting your play against that is obv the most important thing.

Really enjoyed this thread. I don't do husngs but I have been starting tables so I end up playing more hu than I am used to so it is nice to look through the hands. Also enjoyed kevster's replys!

@kev - read through all replies, and reviewed each HH. I can see your points. You're abusing position by opening wider on the BTN, right? What's your BTN limp/fold range? I'm not used to or good at limping, so any advice is appreciated. And thanks for reading through thread. I appreciate that, too.

@Harley, I started the HU SnG months ago - before my big break from poker - in an attempt to be much better at starting 6m tables. We should start some "starting tables" threads. I'm at 5nl 6m for cash, so we're about the same stakes, though I think you're a level up on me right now. I have a couple of fun sessions (both winning and losing!!) that I could dig out of HEM from this month and post some stuff tomorrow - another snow day, hopefully.

Originally Posted by Robb

You're abusing position by opening wider on the BTN, right?

I suppose so but I don't have a set range for HU so I can't say that I'm "opening wider". I'll raise most cards that are better than 50% against a random hand and occassionally mixing in some calls. I'll also occassionally raise with hands that are worse than 50%. I'll continue to do this until opps play dictates that I need to do otherwise.

My range is probably wider than most I come up against but some like to be ultra-aggressive and raise/re-raise everything until they face resistance.

Originally Posted by Robb

What's your BTN limp/fold range?

This is an interesting idea and maybe something that I should consider but currently I'm working based purely on what my opp is doing. If my limps are being continually raised then I need to adjust. Also, their raise size is important. A lot like to min-raise which is usually an easy call with most ATC (because of the same reasons we limped in the first place) and even a standard raise can be called by a hand with potential because of the benefits of position.

I only really muck trash to an opening min-raise easily when I'm not on the button.

Am happy to do more of this Robb if you want. I could post a HH.

Originally Posted by Robb

@Harley, I started the HU SnG months ago - before my big break from poker - in an attempt to be much better at starting 6m tables. We should start some "starting tables" threads. I'm at 5nl 6m for cash, so we're about the same stakes, though I think you're a level up on me right now. I have a couple of fun sessions (both winning and losing!!) that I could dig out of HEM from this month and post some stuff tomorrow - another snow day, hopefully.

Very good idea for sure. I know I have an awful lot to learn about this aspect of the game. Nice thing is doesn't matter if you're opening up a 6m table or a fr it's just heads up to start. I might just go into bc and see what I can start.