At what point (HU) do you quit playing flops and focus on AI only?

[CardSharpCook]

SNG. You've gotten to heads-up against an opponent. The blinds just went up to X. At X, do you never call PF, do you only go AI or fold? What is X? Can there always be some play? Are there some hands you might just call with or just min-raise with? Does your opponent matter?

There was a brief debate about this in the MTT forum in which my answer to this question was widely disputed. I'm trying to fix a hole in my HU game. If you've read that thread in MTT, please don't respond here - I'd really like non-biased SNG pros to answer.

Thanks for helping.

CSC

[Scuba Chuck]

I really want to read your original thread first before responding, but I won't.

[ QUOTE ]
do you never call PF

[/ QUOTE ]

The answer to this is how well do you know your opponent? If your opponent will let you see a flop without reraising (unless you're trapping), then I will complete.

If your opponent will only call your AI's with only premium hands, then a strategy to just raise/push could be effective.

Besides the blinds, you also have to consider stacksizes relative to each other. For example I could break down my strategy by the following:

I have 75% of the chips
I have 25% of the chips
Chipstacks are equal

IMO, the best strategy is dependent on the situation which includes, relative stack sizes, blinds, and opponent.

[ QUOTE ]
The blinds just went up to X. At X, do you never call PF, do you only go AI or fold? What is X?

[/ QUOTE ]

When discussing HU games, as the blinds increase to greater than 5% of the total tournament chips, the AI or fold can be an effective strategy.

[ QUOTE ]
Can there always be some play? Are there some hands you might just call with or just min-raise with? Does your opponent matter?

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO, there is no one answer to this. But the most important factor is your opponent.

[shejk]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
The blinds just went up to X. At X, do you never call PF, do you only go AI or fold? What is X?

[/ QUOTE ]

When discussing HU games, as the blinds increase to greater than 5% of the total tournament chips, the AI or fold can be an effective strategy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe I'm applying the 10bb rule incorrectly, but I'm playing roughly after that headsup as well. So with equal stacks I'm only pushing from level 8 and on.

[Scuba Chuck]

[ QUOTE ]
The blinds just went up to X. At X, do you never call PF, do you only go AI or fold? What is X?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



When discussing HU games, as the blinds increase to greater than 5% of the total tournament chips, the AI or fold can be an effective strategy.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Maybe I'm applying the 10bb rule incorrectly, but I'm playing roughly after that headsup as well. So with equal stacks I'm only pushing from level 8 and on.

[/ QUOTE ]

So if tournament chips represents t8000, level 8 blinds are 250/500, then 500/8000 = 6.25% of the total tournament chips. If you apply t10,000, then it's 5%. I'm sure we're saying the same thing. My point is, for me, this is when I begin to consider push or fold mode (unless stacksizes are grossly uneven earlier of course).

[shejk]

Yeah we sure are. Took 10k chips for granted, that might be where I lost you.

[GtrHtr]

My thoughts:

[ QUOTE ]
If your opponent will let you see a flop without reraising (unless you're trapping), then I will complete.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. Assuming you have a reasonable stack, I like to see a lot of flops. HU, based on reads to this point, any piece of the flop is important.

[ QUOTE ]
IMO, the best strategy is dependent on the situation which includes, relative stack sizes, blinds, and opponent.


[/ QUOTE ]

Very true. Short stacked, I tend to go AI more often - again, based on reads status of the blinds etc. When chip leader, hand selection to an AI bet of 25% of your stack shouldn't be taken lightly.

[ QUOTE ]
IMO, there is no one answer to this. But the most important factor is your opponent.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the bottom line. Plus experience. I have often played 60-100 hands HU in an SnG. I am a single table player for the most part and I learn a lot in the longer HU bouts.

Nice post Scuba.

[CardSharpCook]

Thanks for the responses, guys. Linking this thread for the boys over at MTT.

Thanks,
CSC

[beeyjay]

some interesting stuff here.

[the shadow]

Also take a look at poincaraux's An opponent-centric solution to the heads-up jam or fold problem.

The Shadow (who doesn't know the answer but figures that it's something like once the blinds get big enough or you think the villian is a better post-flop player than you)

[tminus]

thanks, ive always loved the stove and its great to to see the spreadsheet