HU at PS

10-18-2006, 04:08 PM

Post Number: 1 (Link This Post)

Report this post!

7letters

Crew'd

Approved

Join Date: May 2005

Location: Lancashire, UK

Posts: 3,596

Shouts:

Credits: 50657.9750000001

HU at PS

Well after some success in the THF HU tourney, my 2nd place won me $40 on PS . I'll be depositing at PS next month and hope to play some of the November THF league games. After my two hand exit (!) in my first THF league game last night...errm...at least I've built a useful fishy image of myself lol.
(If you read this RW I was gonna ask you to post the HH - I havn't got it- was an interesting hand for me. I read you wrong but it might promt a good discussion and I don't mind looking bad lol)

I've been playing a few games with my HU winnings - beyond my bankroll - just having some fun and I've not much choice with my, now, $30.

Today I've played some more heads-up $5 +.25 . Played 3 so far and won 2.

First one, he's just slightly ahead in stacks. I think I'm ahead with K7, hit a 7 and a flush draw but lose to a higher flush on the river.

Second one was a longer game, I pressed all the way, had some decent cards and took that one.

The third I've just finished. It was a nice one for me. It lasted only 3 hands. The HH is below. I think I was so aggressive in these hands that he possibly thought I was a complete idiot and called me in anger. Maybe I was a bit over aggressive here..? ..but hey you have to take the chances when you're ahead don't you.

PokerStars Game #6677834044: Tournament #33957131, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2006/10/18 - 10:48:46 (ET)
Table '33957131 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: MiStY_fr (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: 7letters (1500 in chips)
MiStY_fr: posts small blind 10
7letters: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 7letters [Ac 4c]
MiStY_fr: calls 10
7letters: raises 80 to 100
MiStY_fr: folds
7letters collected 40 from pot
7letters: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 40 | Rake 0
Seat 1: MiStY_fr (button) (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: 7letters (big blind) collected (40)

PokerStars Game #6677836513: Tournament #33957131, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2006/10/18 - 10:49:12 (ET)
Table '33957131 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: MiStY_fr (1480 in chips)
Seat 2: 7letters (1520 in chips)
7letters: posts small blind 10
MiStY_fr: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 7letters [Js As]
7letters: raises 80 to 100
MiStY_fr: folds
7letters collected 40 from pot
7letters: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 40 | Rake 0
Seat 1: MiStY_fr (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: 7letters (button) (small blind) collected (40)

PokerStars Game #6677838295: Tournament #33957131, $5.00+$0.25 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2006/10/18 - 10:49:31 (ET)
Table '33957131 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: MiStY_fr (1460 in chips)
Seat 2: 7letters (1540 in chips)
MiStY_fr: posts small blind 10
7letters: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to 7letters [7d Ad]
MiStY_fr: calls 10
7letters: raises 1520 to 1540 and is all-in
MiStY_fr: calls 1440 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Qd 7c Jd]
*** TURN *** [Qd 7c Jd] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [Qd 7c Jd Js] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
7letters: shows [7d Ad] (two pair, Jacks and Sevens)
MiStY_fr: shows [Td Ks] (a pair of Jacks)
MiStY_fr is sitting out
7letters collected 2920 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2920 | Rake 0
Board [Qd 7c Jd Js 4s]
Seat 1: MiStY_fr (button) (small blind) showed [Td Ks] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: 7letters (big blind) showed [7d Ad] and won (2920) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens

I quite like the allin move in HU games. I like getting some in the game if I have very good cards. OK, you may just take the blinds but if you do it a couple of times and you might get a call, so you need to be careful of course. You're not really expecting a call but I think it serves as a good reminder to your opponent that all his stack is in play. It's an intimidating play I think.

Well I'll keep plugging away on PS - I may lose my BR quickly but I'll be playing the best poker I can until I do.

__________________
.

May/June '07
....Team:7 Black Balls
.... Sunday Lge Team Champs

Nov/Dec '07
....Team: 7Balls
....Sunday Lge Team Champs
....Sunday Lge Individual RunnerUp

Jan/Feb '08
....Sunday Lge Individual RunerUp

June/July '08
....Midweek League
....Winner

Last edited by 7letters; 10-18-2006 at 04:26 PM.

10-18-2006, 06:24 PM

Post Number: 2 (Link This Post)

Report this post!

k06mars

Job

Approved

Join Date: Oct 2005

Location: Loudonville

Posts: 2,990

Shouts:

Credits: 14648.86

Yeh, I definitely think you were being over aggressive with that third hand. If your up against 77-AA, you're screwed, game over. If anything, I would do this on the first hand of a HU tourney, as it's unlikely you'll get a call there. Glad it worked out for ya tho

.

Now, I believe you owe me some money for stealing that victory over me...

__________________
1st place, March/April 2008 Sunday League

Fault always lies in the same place, my fine babies: with him weak enough to lay blame.

Sponsored Link - Register now and become a THF member and this ad will be removed!

10-18-2006, 07:09 PM

Post Number: 3 (Link This Post)

Report this post!

xtra

Royal Flush

Approved

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 2,682

Shouts:

Credits: 7328.24858000002

Your raise was bad, for 30 chips,not worth the risk to me on either side,their call was worse.

To me heads up ,you want them of balance and never having a clue what youre are doing.keep them off balance ,then punish them.

Bet some low hands,call or check on premium.Mix it up so they never have a clue.All ins that early is an easy fold unless you hold a PP.
This is where I think mars psycology really does make you stronger.
Anyone who has played HU knows when they got their opponet baffled.

I dont mind losing and showing ugly preflop cards.Its a bonus.I dont mind calling with good cards and losing to a 25o.As long as my chip loss is minimal,it works for me.They never have a read on your hand.

The allin worked so I cant say it was bad.Just different from what i try to do.Everyone ha their own strategy.Mine is completely different from when I play a sit or an MTT,but it works for me and this works for you.
Beware the all ins unless you have a pp,in my frist game HU I played Fonz over a year ago and did the same thing with AK,he calls with 88,he already had a 1/3 of my chips I believe.he wins and we say gg.
I come back to the forum and he explains pp have an advantage and thats when I stopped playing A anything too heavy.Id only make the all in with PP if ever unless it s late and I need some help.But I get yelled at on tables for my style,which is good,means you won

.
PS I check and flat call too much preflop...my weakness.

__________________

RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN

BANNED FOR LIFE

Last edited by xtra; 10-18-2006 at 07:34 PM.

10-18-2006, 07:23 PM

Post Number: 4 (Link This Post)

Report this post!

Blackinks

Straight

Approved

Join Date: Oct 2005

Location: Dallas TX

Posts: 369

Shouts:

Credits: 1878.395

Another thing to think about is that while mixing up play, sometimes a player will smooth call with a monster hand preflop. I do this when I have a super aggressive player and i'm the sb. With a good hand (pair of tens or higher, AK, AQs, AJs, etc..), if my opponent has raised 3 or 4 hands straight I'll occasionally limp in, and give him a chance to raise again, then pop it if he does. If he instafolds, he's being aggressive with junk. If he thinks about it, it's likely he had a small pair, marginal paint, or a medium ace. Just be warned that a check or flat call doesn't always mean weakness.

__________________
Blackinks

Donkey Extraordinaire

"Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups..." - Daryl "Razor" Reaugh

"I went in with the worst of it... and it held up!" - Alicia M

10-18-2006, 11:04 PM

Post Number: 5 (Link This Post)

Report this post!

7letters

Crew'd

Approved

Join Date: May 2005

Location: Lancashire, UK

Posts: 3,596

Shouts:

Credits: 50657.9750000001

Yep, I understand all your comments. I posted the HH, not to represent my good or bad style of playing here but just because it was such an unusual game ie only lasting 3 hands.

I hoped it would spark a discussion.

I'm not in the habit of posting HH's because I've played well or because I want to show my style etc. I don't see the point in that. When I post one I'm hoping for other views and I hope to learn something from you all. I usually do learn something and that's what's great about this place.

I'm quite happy for someone to read my HH and say something like "7letters - you're a complete wanker for playing it like that" as long as they add "...and here's why I think so..."

I do infact play or at least try to play as you have suggested. As you say Xtra, keep them off balance and guessing.

With heads-up play I seem to have come full-circle. When I first began playing online I was a very aggressive HU player and had some success and felt confident with my chances at SnG HU situations. Over time my overall NL game has improved but it's had the effect of making me tighter heads-up. After a bad losing run at HU play at Titan Poker, I knew it was time to try and make some improvements in my strategy. I've now reverted to an aggressive style again. Maybe I'm overly aggressive at times but it's suiting me at the moment. Time will tell lol

I think that's the thing about heads up, you can raise on just about anything, particularly from the SB. I try to mix it up and confuse as much as I can. I will slow play with monsters, I'll with raise monsters, and I'll go allin with monsters. I'm also happy to play anything at times, especially from the SB and like you said Xtra, if I show it I'm fine with that - it can help sometimes can't it. I don't feel comfortable calling preflop from the SB too often. It doesnt seem a very good move to me unless I have a good reason to do that.

I like the aggressive play more on the whole than I do the slow plays. It's good to mix things as you said and when the slow plays work they work well.

On the whole though, I like to keep pressing, if I press then I also think I'm likely to get played back at when I do have the best hand. I'd rather be in the situation where I have the nuts, in a raised pot ( where I can slow down if I need to) than in a smaller pot where I'm slow playing nuts.

My next HU after this one was a bit of a marathon, a see-saw game with respect to stacks , I'm mixing it up and moreso as the game goes on, as is he. With the blinds at 300 my A5 eventually loses to his higher kicker. It was hard work that game. I think it's possibly the best I've ever played ( well apart from ripping KMars apart

) but I lost this one. I was worn out after.

Mars, I get what you are saying about the last hand above. I'm beat by an AA and 77 but I also know that with A7s I'm around 60% to win against any two random cards heads-up. I think this is a pretty good advantage. After the first 2 hands I'm fairly ok with pushing my chips in on the 3rd. It's risky. I don't expect a call but if I do get one I can gamble in certain circumstances. Sometimes I'm gonna lose.

On the first hand of the game, I'm in the SB and I raise 5x on a pretty good heads-up hand. If he flat calls then I can slow up if I feel I need to. If he re-raises I'm prepared to put it down if I get nothing.

Second hand, with AJs of course I think I'm ahead heads-up. I raise from the SB this time which I think increases my advantage further.

Third hand he's probably already made some sort of a judgement of me. I'd checked his sharkscope as we started, he was a new player and had been losing overall.

I'm happy if my A7s takes just the blinds. The bet already lets him know that his stack is at risk in the game. I like that. I like that I'm 60% against another 2 cards also. OK if he calls it's possible or really quite likely that I'm behind to a pair or higher Ace.

I'll be honest, I don't really want a call, I want the blinds and moreso I want to confuse him. In regards to this particular game, I feel I can call with that hand and be ahead. My hope is too make him uncomfortable and off balance. I think it's a possibilty he'll call me with a lesser hand than mine. In the event , I reckon he thinks I'm taking the piss and calls with for HU, a decent but not good enough hand. He probably knows he shouldnt have called but it is possible my play prompted him to do that.

Quote:

if my opponent has raised 3 or 4 hands straight I'll occasionally limp in, and give him a chance to raise again, then pop it if he does. If he instafolds, he's being aggressive with junk.

Yeh I think that's true Blackinks. However, if you consider that he's already won 3 sets of blinds previously(whatever the levels are)he can continue raising from the SB regularly, he can be quite happy to fold his hand when you play back ..and still be in profit. I know you're not really saying this but it's a point worth mentioning I think.

Anyway to sum up a bit, thanks for the replies all appreciated. It's with honesty I can say that on the whole I agree with you all ...that it was an over aggressive move.

It worked out for me that time but could quite easily not of done. I posted because it was an unusual game and hoped to see what people thought about it. I don't play that way all the time

I'd need to take some beta blockers or something if I did. *thump*thump*thump*

I'm not ashamed of my play there though.

Against Blackinks in the THF, you had me under the cosh Black. I was low on chips and raised with QJ. I know that is also with this hand I'm likely to be ahead of any 2 random cards ( I just looked that up now and it's 57% apparently) Blackinks, you played back with an allin. I thought about it and called and I lost the game. I'm not ashamed of that play either. It was risky but also a chance for me to get back in with a chance of winning.

If I put Blackinks on pockets, which he did have, then I'm not so far off having an even chance in a race.

Cheers for the replies and any further comments are highly welcome.
As always

Last edited by 7letters; 10-19-2006 at 01:19 AM.

Hand Histories