HU Advice

[Nikita]

Well, if we are going to have more HU challenges, I definitely need to improve my play. So I'm asking for advice.

My match against Mayhem wasn't too bad. I know I played a little too passively, but funny thing, he sent me his HH and I think I only folded the best hand twice. The rest of the time he showed agression, he really did have a better hand.

My biggest problem is getting a read on my opponent. It's weird, in a normal tournament, I find it fairly easy to get a read on opponent's hands, but HU for the most part, I have no idea. I really struggle post flop. My biggest problem is when I don't hit the flop at all. What do I do next?

I know this is a fairly general question and there are many variables like position my starting hand etc. So even if you can give me one piece of advice that really helps you HU, I would appreciate it.

[X-Longshot-X]

The Key to HUHE is aggression....You need to raise reraise go over the top.....chance are if u have a hand and miss the flop you opponent is going to miss the flop as well so you always have to bet out....HUHE is all about position.....when you have the position to to steal a pot you need to make that move. IN HU there will not be as many showdowns as there would be in a 9 player tourney or so on. As for getting a read i dont know...When i play heads up i like to get 15 hands or so logged before i worry about reading someone. Most of HU tournies are fairly short and unless you play against that person fairly often you wont be able to get much of a read on them so i tend not to worry about it too much.
P.S. I have an article about this is my all in magazine i will find it and post it on here for you...i think its by DN or PH or someone...GL in future tournies...

[PShabi]

In my heads up matches (live or online) I don't really wanna be sitting back trying to put someone on hands. I want them trying to put ME on hands. I want them making tough calls and decisions. You have to put the pressure on them. That's why I'm always betting. It really helps to be the aggressor.

I rarely will fold from the SB. I will call, but I use the min raise too. I don't need a big hand to raise preflop. Sometimes, I just raise for shits and giggs.

Heads up for me is about rhythm. If someone is able to take the initiative away from me early, then I'm in trouble. So, if you ever play me, try to take the steering wheel early!

[Talking Poker]

Thi is a pretty good post. My basic starter Heads Up advice:
1. Mix it up a lot. Play different things/situations the same and the same one differently.
2. Remember - you don't need to have the best hand to win. You can also in by getting your opponent to fold.

#1 is important, but #2 is HUGE. Keeping that in mind, go reread the initial post in this thread. Ye, he may have had the best hand a number of time - even ALL the time - but that doesn't mean you couldn't have won a number of those pots.

[Nikita]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I changed my style of play to match and actually found myself doing very well in the HU tourney yesterday.

I actually felt like I was competition instead of someone to be steamrolled over. Of course I think I was a little donkeyish in a couple hands, but it seems that's a necessary evil in HU.