Select Page
Poker Forum
Over 1,292,000 Posts!
Poker ForumShort-Handed NL Hold'em

Need some basic HU tourney advice to start playing :)

Results 1 to 11 of 11

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1

    Default Need some basic HU tourney advice to start playing :)

    I think the thing that I suck at most in poker is HU, and it definitely is very important aspect among other forms of holdem, especially late tournament games, and crushing calling station in FR games.
    But anyway, I wanted to start HU a bit more seriously, played like about <100 matches a while ago, and I think I am something like breakeven player.
    So far, my strategy: I raise alot from a SB at start, to get a feel of a villain, If i figure he is passive nitfish I usually crush him just by stealing blinds, and folding to too much aggression postflop. I 3bet very little, only premiums (sometimes i get out of the line but rarely).
    I have trouble with super aggressive villains, those who 3bet/4bet/shove alot.

    So, here are few questions:
    1. What good literature would you suggest for me to digest?
    2. Whats my basic strategy? Mining for premiums? Trying to find a leak in a villains play and exploit it? Something else?
    3. How do I deal with super aggressive villains?
    4. How much variance should I expect?
    5. How much ROI would be a bare minimum where I could call myself a solid HU player (gonna start at microstakes 1$ buyin)?
    6. How much bankroll do I need? 50 buyins? 100?

    Thats all I can think of right now. Thanx in advance.
  2. #2
    I can answer 4 for you.

    Lots. Then more.
    Normski
  3. #3
    oskar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    7,019
    Location
    in ur accounts... confiscating ur funz
    Number of BI depends on your edge somewhere between 50-100 should be fine. Dealing with aggressive villains in low buy-in HU sng's is super easy. Get your btn opening range down to 40%, min-open and get it in with pretty much any part if agression continues post.
    min-raising in position with a wide range is often a good adjustment.

    You can take advantage of lots of tendencies. if he habitually raises your limps, then limp/calling with a decent range becomes an option. If he c-bets too much, then call rather than 3b the top of your range and c/c it down or c/r, etc.

    Most importantly: get on IRC and post some hands.

    From what I've seen from most HU sgn regs, their main strategy is to play absurdly tight and just wait for their opponent to make horrible mistakes. You would think anyone with a brain could figure out how to beat them without ever going post flop, but apparently not.
    Last edited by oskar; 07-03-2011 at 01:45 AM.
  4. #4
    Shotglass's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    1,755
    Location
    feelin' allright
    Quote Originally Posted by Nekrogovner View Post
    I have trouble with super aggressive villains, those who 3bet/4bet/shove alot.

    So, here are few questions:
    1. What good literature would you suggest for me to digest?
    2. Whats my basic strategy? Mining for premiums? Trying to find a leak in a villains play and exploit it? Something else?
    3. How do I deal with super aggressive villains?
    4. How much variance should I expect?
    5. How much ROI would be a bare minimum where I could call myself a solid HU player (gonna start at microstakes 1$ buyin)?
    6. How much bankroll do I need? 50 buyins? 100?

    Thats all I can think of right now. Thanx in advance.
    FWIW, I just started HU about 2 months ago so I'm no expert by any means but here's my thoughts:

    1. Amazon.com: Heads-Up No-Limit Hold 'em (9781880685440): Collin Moshman: Books
    2. When in the sb, raise EVERY hand, even 72o. When in BB call raises with hands that play well post. High sc's broadways etc. Constantly adjust to your opponent to exploit his playing habits. If you mine for premiums then the blinds will eat you alive and you'll be extremely easy to read.
    3. Realize that he/she is getting as many garbage hands as you are. Often times your 2nd/3rd pr will be good.
    4. A LOT.
    5. Dunno. I don't consider myself a solid HU player yet.
    6. 50 BI is about what I'll feel comfortable with.
  5. #5
    some comments:

    vs. aggro opponents, c-r flops where they can't have anything. you should 3-bet/4-bet a wider range preflop obv. but be wiling to give up a few more garbage hands that won't play well.

    a ton of HU players will never fold pair barring the board being super ugly so if you put them on top pair and you can beat that, don't slowplay.
    Playing big pots at small stakes.
  6. #6
    Can anyone provide me with info on how to design a shoving and calling ranges HU?

    The situations I need those for are next:

    Stacks are 12 BB. I'm up against a maniac who shoves to most of my minraises pre, and raises or shoves almost all of his hands if first to act pre. I have no clue what to add to my range except broadways, any Ax and any PP.
  7. #7
    Shotglass's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    1,755
    Location
    feelin' allright
    Quote Originally Posted by Nekrogovner View Post
    Can anyone provide me with info on how to design a shoving and calling ranges HU?

    The situations I need those for are next:

    Stacks are 12 BB. I'm up against a maniac who shoves to most of my minraises pre, and raises or shoves almost all of his hands if first to act pre. I have no clue what to add to my range except broadways, any Ax and any PP.
    Pick up sit-n-go wiz or any of the other ICM calculators that you can find using google and learn it. It'll help with shove/fold.

    Also I refer to part of my first reply
    Quote Originally Posted by Shotglass View Post
    3. Realize that he/she is getting as many garbage hands as you are...
    4. A LOT.
    If someone is shoving EVERY hand then I'll take a stand with Jxs, Qxs, any K or A, all broadways, sc's down to 54s, usc's down to 65o and any pp. I'll try to do that before my stack gets too small to hurt his.
    Last edited by Shotglass; 08-08-2011 at 01:20 PM.
  8. #8
    This guy seems to be really good at HU. I'd start from there. HU is the hardest to master.
  9. #9
    Seems my SNG wizards trial period is expired, and thats weird because I never used it. I suppose I have to grind 100$ to buy it. Or...
  10. #10
    Anyone got opinion on calling shoves with small pocket pairs (22-66) when stacks are around 12BB or lower (hyperturbo HU's). A classic aggro villains jamming range would be Ax, Kx, any PP and any broadway.
    Pokerstove says 44 has 51.7% equity. I kinda feel I need bigger edge.
  11. #11
    I'm a cash player so I'm not that familiar w/ SNG structures but intuitively I'd say you should shove way wider than Ax/Kx/22+ w/ 12bbs..

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •