3x BB enough HU?

[bdawg31]

So, i had been thinking about this before - and as i watched the billionth replay of the WSOP final table HU i thought about it again - is raising 3x BB enough HU in a tourney?

You constantly hear "Heads up you have to play just about any two cards". So, if that is the case - is raising that amount really putting pressure on the other player? Note that (i cant spell their names) the Friendly Guy raised with A3 and the Winner called with 7,3 (i think it was off). So, i would say that the raise preflop put very little pressure on the BB if he is calling with 7,3.

I guess it would also depend on how many chips are in play. For a lot of the online tourneys that are structured to end in 8 hours or so - 3x the BB HU can still put pressure on a player due to the fact that there is not a lot of chips in play. But, in a format like the final table at the WSOP - the standard raise seems almost pointless.

Thoughts?

[Talking Poker]

As you know, everything changes Heads Up. I use preflop raises to value bet my strong hands (try to build the pot), but also to change up my game and make it more difficuly for my opponent to put me on a hand.

Heads Up, I'm focusing on my post flop play in order to outplay my opponent, and not so much worried about taking his blind uncontested preflop. I don't like raising more then 3x the BB for that very reason.... I'd rather see a cheap(er) flop and outplay him then.

Make sense?

[bdawg31]

I guess the thing you lose with the 3X BB raise if you pretty much know that they will call with any two cards is that you dont get any information based on that call. Take the final hand of the WSOP - that dude had no IDEA that Hachem (sp) was holding 3,7 - and why would he? He called a raise preflop. If it was a 10-seated game - or even 5 or 6 - he probably could have safely eliminated that hand. But, since he is going to call that preflop raise with any two cards - no information is gained.

You only maybe gain information if he re-raises you preflop - and even that is sketchy. If he thinks you are raising with most hands - and you only come in for 3X the BB - then it does not cost him that much to take a chance and re-raise with a medium hand. Where as if you come in stronger - and he re-raises you - i would think that would give you more indication of what he might have.

I dunno - i feel i need work on my HU stuff still. I guess i also like to be the aggressor and use that to overcome what i perceive to be a so-so HU game that i have. Maybe that would explain why i might tend to take a bunch of small pots (blind steals basically) heads-up. And then hope they decide to make a stand when i do have a big hand (this is why i dont vary my bets when HU - i usually come hard all the time).

[Talking Poker]

I think I must mix up my play a LOT more than you Heads Up. I taylor my play to my opponent. I'll play like you say sometimes.... I push the passive players around and trap the aggressive ones with big hands. I use preflop raises and reraises to send messages about how much I am willing to be pushed around. I haven't played myself HU, so I don't know, but I have to think it's very difficult to put me on a hand. I'm really not too worried about preflop play - I outplay my opponent after the flop.

Then again, you won the TPF HUC, so what do I know?

[HEwong]

for hu play. i copied a style of a good friend and AMAZING HU player HoldemPhil well he taught me to raise around 3-5 times the bb almost evry hand. and that in hu anything is playable because your have soo much better odds of catching your outs.but yea 3 times the bb is good if your betting almos every hand cuz if you play tight in hu and outta nowhere comes a 3times bb bet then they will know you have something. but yea in hu you should play about every hand except the ones that will required you to call and allin or a massive preflo praise .