Help me with my heads up play

[Vee Quiva]

You can copy and paste the following hand histories into the party poker replayer here (http://www.tightpoker.com/replayer.html#)

My heads up play has sucked and I am looking for feedback. Sorry again for the long post.

***** Hand History for Game 2559616027 *****
kvcross finished in third place and won $100.
300/600 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:06:38 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3012)
Seat 9: larryvq (6988)
larryvq posts small blind (150)
carlbarr posts big blind (300)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 2h, 7s ]
larryvq folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 450
carlbarr balance 3162, bet 300, collected 450, net +150
larryvq balance 6838, lost 150 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559616917 *****
300/600 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:06:47 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3162)
Seat 9: larryvq (6838)
carlbarr posts small blind (150)
larryvq posts big blind (300)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 7h, 8d ]
carlbarr folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 450
carlbarr balance 3012, lost 150 (folded)
larryvq balance 6988, bet 300, collected 450, net +150

***** Hand History for Game 2559617667 *****
300/600 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:06:56 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3012)
Seat 9: larryvq (6988)
larryvq posts small blind (150)
carlbarr posts big blind (300)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 8c, 4d ]
larryvq raises (450) to 600
carlbarr calls (300)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2c, Qh, 9s ]
carlbarr bets (2412)
carlbarr is all-In.
larryvq folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3612 with carlbarr
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3612
Board: [ 2c Qh 9s ]
carlbarr balance 3612, bet 3012, collected 3612, net +600
larryvq balance 6388, lost 600 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559619671 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:07:19 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3612)
Seat 9: larryvq (6388)
carlbarr posts small blind (200)
larryvq posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 5s, 8s ]
carlbarr folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 600
carlbarr balance 3412, lost 200 (folded)
larryvq balance 6588, bet 400, collected 600, net +200

***** Hand History for Game 2559620761 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:07:31 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3412)
Seat 9: larryvq (6588)
larryvq posts small blind (200)
carlbarr posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Th, Ks ]
larryvq raises (1000) to 1200
carlbarr folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1600
carlbarr balance 3012, lost 400 (folded)
larryvq balance 6988, bet 1200, collected 1600, net +400

***** Hand History for Game 2559622532 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:07:51 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3012)
Seat 9: larryvq (6988)
carlbarr posts small blind (200)
larryvq posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 9h, 8c ]
carlbarr raises (600) to 800
larryvq calls (400)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Js, 4h, 5h ]
larryvq bets (1200)
carlbarr raises (2212) to 2212
carlbarr is all-In.
larryvq folds.
Creating Main Pot with $5012 with carlbarr
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5012
Board: [ Js 4h 5h ]
carlbarr balance 5012, bet 3012, collected 5012, net +2000
larryvq balance 4988, lost 2000 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559625909 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:08:29 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5012)
Seat 9: larryvq (4988)
larryvq posts small blind (200)
carlbarr posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Td, 3h ]
larryvq folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 600
carlbarr balance 5212, bet 400, collected 600, net +200
larryvq balance 4788, lost 200 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559626715 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:08:38 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5212)
Seat 9: larryvq (4788)
carlbarr posts small blind (200)
larryvq posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Ad, 8d ]
carlbarr calls (200)
larryvq raises (800) to 1200
carlbarr calls (800)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9h, Jh, Kd ]
larryvq checks.
carlbarr bets (1000)
larryvq folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3400
Board: [ 9h Jh Kd ]
carlbarr balance 6412, bet 2200, collected 3400, net +1200
larryvq balance 3588, lost 1200 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559630521 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:09:21 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (6412)
Seat 9: larryvq (3588)
larryvq posts small blind (200)
carlbarr posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 8c, 7d ]
larryvq calls (200)
carlbarr raises (600) to 1000
larryvq folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1400
carlbarr balance 6812, bet 1000, collected 1400, net +400
larryvq balance 3188, lost 400 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559632230 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:09:41 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (6812)
Seat 9: larryvq (3188)
carlbarr posts small blind (200)
larryvq posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Jh, 3c ]
carlbarr folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 600
carlbarr balance 6612, lost 200 (folded)
larryvq balance 3388, bet 400, collected 600, net +200

***** Hand History for Game 2559633086 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:09:50 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (6612)
Seat 9: larryvq (3388)
larryvq posts small blind (200)
carlbarr posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 8s, Qs ]
larryvq calls (200)
carlbarr checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9s, 4c, 2c ]
carlbarr bets (400)
larryvq raises (1200) to 1200
carlbarr calls (800)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ad ]
carlbarr checks.
larryvq bets (1788)
larryvq is all-In.
carlbarr folds.
Creating Main Pot with $4988 with larryvq
** Summary **
Main Pot: 4988
Board: [ 9s 4c 2c Ad ]
carlbarr balance 5012, lost 1600 (folded)
larryvq balance 4988, bet 3388, collected 4988, net +1600

***** Hand History for Game 2559638913 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:10:57 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5012)
Seat 9: larryvq (4988)
carlbarr posts small blind (200)
larryvq posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 5d, 3h ]
carlbarr raises (600) to 800
larryvq folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1200
carlbarr balance 5412, bet 800, collected 1200, net +400
larryvq balance 4588, lost 400 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559639935 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:11:09 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5412)
Seat 9: larryvq (4588)
larryvq posts small blind (200)
carlbarr posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 9h, Ac ]
larryvq raises (1000) to 1200
carlbarr folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 1600
carlbarr balance 5012, lost 400 (folded)
larryvq balance 4988, bet 1200, collected 1600, net +400

***** Hand History for Game 2559641590 *****
500/1000 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:11:27 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5012)
Seat 9: larryvq (4988)
carlbarr posts small blind (250)
larryvq posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Jh, Th ]
carlbarr raises (750) to 1000
larryvq raises (4488) to 4988
larryvq is all-In.
carlbarr calls (3988)
Creating Main Pot with $9976 with larryvq
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Jd, Ah, 6s ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 4d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 9d ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 9976 |
Board: [ Jd Ah 6s 4d 9d ]
carlbarr balance 5012, bet 4988, collected 4988, net +0 [ Td Jc ] [ a pair of jacks -- Ah,Jc,Jd,Td,9d ]
larryvq balance 4988, bet 4988, collected 4988, net +0 [ Jh Th ] [ a pair of jacks -- Ah,Jh,Jd,Th,9d ]

***** Hand History for Game 2559643377 *****
500/1000 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:11:47 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5012)
Seat 9: larryvq (4988)
larryvq posts small blind (250)
carlbarr posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 4c, 2s ]
larryvq folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
carlbarr balance 5262, bet 500, collected 750, net +250
larryvq balance 4738, lost 250 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2559644308 *****
500/1000 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:11:58 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5262)
Seat 9: larryvq (4738)
carlbarr posts small blind (250)
larryvq posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Tc, 7c ]
carlbarr folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
carlbarr balance 5012, lost 250 (folded)
larryvq balance 4988, bet 500, collected 750, net +250

***** Hand History for Game 2559645053 *****
500/1000 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:12:06 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (5012)
Seat 9: larryvq (4988)
larryvq posts small blind (250)
carlbarr posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Ad, Ks ]
larryvq raises (1250) to 1500
carlbarr calls (1000)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 8s, 8c, 3s ]
carlbarr bets (3512)
carlbarr is all-In.
larryvq calls (3488)
larryvq is all-In.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Qd ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 2s ]
Creating Main Pot with $9976 with larryvq
Creating Side Pot 1 with $24 with carlbarr
** Summary **
Main Pot: 9976 | Side Pot 1: 24
Board: [ 8s 8c 3s Qd 2s ]
carlbarr balance 24, bet 5012, collected 24, lost -4988 [ 6h 9c ] [ a pair of eights -- Qd,9c,8s,8c,6h ]
larryvq balance 9976, bet 4988, collected 9976, net +4988 [ Ad Ks ] [ a pair of eights with ace kicker -- Ad,Ks,Qd,8s,8cAd(kicker card) ]

***** Hand History for Game 2559648067 *****
500/1000 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:12:40 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (24)
Seat 9: larryvq (9976)
carlbarr posts small blind (24)
larryvq posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Jh, 9c ]
carlbarr is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $48 with carlbarr
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2d, 8c, Kh ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Th ]
** Dealing River ** : [ Jc ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 48 | Side Pot 1: 476
Board: [ 2d 8c Kh Th Jc ]
carlbarr balance 0, lost 24 [ 5s 4h ] [ high card king -- Kh,Jc,Th,8c,5s ]
larryvq balance 10000, bet 500, collected 524, net +24 [ Jh 9c ] [ a pair of jacks -- Kh,Jh,Jc,Th,9c ]

[downtown]

[ QUOTE ]
***** Hand History for Game 2559620761 *****
400/800 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:07:31 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3412)
Seat 9: larryvq (6588)
larryvq posts small blind (200)
carlbarr posts big blind (400)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ Th, Ks ]
larryvq raises (1000) to 1200


[/ QUOTE ]

2 hands previous to this one your opponent pulled a stop and go on you and you are leaving yourself vulnerable to it again. I like to push here to prevent that.

You need to be more patient with a big chip lead and more agressive preflop with big hands. You were lucky to win this heads up even though you started as more than a 2.3 to 1 favorite. And it isn't like the other guy watch catching cards...in fact he didn't win a single showdown.

[Vee Quiva]

Could you elaborate more please?

Does more patience mean less bluffing? Does more aggressive mean pushing all in preflop whenever I decide to play a hand?

For example don't screw around with this hand with a huge chip lead unless you can push and the other guy is really weak (and even then it is probably a bad idea)... and definitely don't make a weak raise. I would stop and go you regardless of what the flop was.

***** Hand History for Game 2559617667 *****
300/600 Tourney Texas Hold'em Game Table (NL) (Tournament 14964932) - Fri Aug 19 01:06:56 EDT 2005
Table Table 12859 (Real Money) -- Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 6: carlbarr (3012)
Seat 9: larryvq (6988)
larryvq posts small blind (150)
carlbarr posts big blind (300)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to larryvq [ 8c, 4d ]
larryvq raises (450) to 600
carlbarr calls (300)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2c, Qh, 9s ]
carlbarr bets (2412)
carlbarr is all-In.
larryvq folds.
Creating Main Pot with $3612 with carlbarr
** Summary **
Main Pot: 3612
Board: [ 2c Qh 9s ]
carlbarr balance 3612, bet 3012, collected 3612, net +600
larryvq balance 6388, lost 600 (folded)

[xJMPx]

Here's my general approach to heads up, please critique.

First, I very rarely fold on the button. Completing the blind gives you 3-1 on your money and you are rarely that much of a dog (only to a over pair). However, if my opponent starts to push whenever I complete, obviously I slow down with the completing and wait for a chance to trap a big hand.

Second, I almost always call a min raise, again 3-1 on your money.

Finally, I take a stab at a lot of pots. Alternating between betting out and check-raising. I do this until I start getting played back at. By this time I'm usually in a pretty dominant position wrt to stack sizes.

This has worked very well for me at the 11s. I realize that this much aggression/looseness would probably be picked up on quicker at higher levels...but maybe it is a good starting point?

Thoughts please?