Bad heads up . . . need advice

This is my first time here. I play a lot of sit n go's online, and find that I almost always place, but rarely first. Usually I come in second. I am playing NLHE for $10. I know that I am weak heads up, so I am wondering if anyone knows of any books out there that could help me. I think my main problem seems to be playing hands like a K2 to a raise. I think I should be playing it (especially when they raise every hand) but I'm not sure. I do fine playing big hands and small cards like suited connectors, but anything else I don't know what I am doing. Any advice would be appreciated.

[splashpot]

Post specific hands.

[bluefeet]

Check out the links in this post - section 2.10.

Not sure of the structure you're playing under, but during most PP/turbo HU situations, there is little room for finesse. Check out Strasser's "Heads up evaluation" thread link in the post above. This level of aggression is fairly standard when the blinds dictate such a sudden finally.

When the blinds are not so large in relation to your stacks, there really is no fast rule for raising/calling standards. It becomes MUCH more about the information you've gathered on your opponent than it does each others hands. For the same reason, posting these situations also does little good. Given the time/chips, you need to mix up your play quite a bit - looking him up, bluffing, etc., etc., all to gain information to make your next play more optimal.

But like I said, usually at some point the blinds will dictate that you throw posturing and such out the window. Lean hard on your open aggression and you'll fair better more times than not.

[Irieguy]

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I play a lot of sit n go's online, and find that I almost always place

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Then I wouldn't worry too much. This would make you the greatest SNG player alive, so a paucity of firsts should hardly matter.

Irieguy

I'm sorry is that sarcasm? I'm looking for help with heads up. Placeing third is hardly worth the effort at the stakes I am playing, and second is frustrating. I'm playing $10 ones, and I am a better player than most at this level, which is why I place about 75% of the time. If I were playing for more than $10 at a time, than no, I would not place as often as I do, I would probably get my ass kicked, so there is no reason to make it sound like I was being obnoxious by saying that I place a lot. If you have advice for where I can find help with heads up play than that would be appreciated.

[lastchance]

<10x BB, it's all about push/fold.
10-30x BB is about bluffing preflop and postflop.
30x BB+ is about having actual skill.

[splashpot]

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I am a better player than most at this level, which is why I place about 75% of the time.

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If this were true long term, you would be the greatest SNG of all time. No sarcasm. Most good players hit around 40%.

[Irieguy]

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I'm sorry is that sarcasm? I'm looking for help with heads up. Placeing third is hardly worth the effort at the stakes I am playing, and second is frustrating. I'm playing $10 ones, and I am a better player than most at this level, which is why I place about 75% of the time. If I were playing for more than $10 at a time, than no, I would not place as often as I do, I would probably get my ass kicked, so there is no reason to make it sound like I was being obnoxious by saying that I place a lot. If you have advice for where I can find help with heads up play than that would be appreciated.

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Saying that you finish ITM 75% of the time and then asking for help is like going to a track coach and telling him you can run 100mph but you would like him to help you run faster.

You can't run 100mph, so as long as you go around saying that it will be difficult for you to get people to take you seriously and spend their time and energy trying to help you.

Irieguy

I'll keep out of your forum then Irie. Perhaps I am wrong, but it feels like I am placing much more often than I am not. I've made enough money (by my standards) playing them, that I am certainly winning more than losing. At these low levels it isn't difficult to double up and watch most of the table lose on all in's that they shouldnt be in. If I am over estimating my win percentage it is simply because I have taken the money I have won over the last month and estimated the number of games I've played. I took that at about a 75% win. Maybe I am completely wrong . . . maybe that isnt a big enough time period to be accurate at all. I didn't really see the need for the way you respoded to the post. So if I am wrong, and I am placing less than 50 % of the time, and most of that being second or third place, would I be ok with asking this forum about improving on heads up play?

[Village Idiot]

Here is what I use as a general guideline playing heads up.

Heads up approx. 7 out of every 8 hands are battles between unpaired cards.

You will almost always have the odds to call from the small blind.
Say the blinds are 500/1,000

The pot is 1,500 and it costs the small blind 500 to call.
You are getting 3-1 to call.
There are very few hands you will be up against that you will give you odds worse than 3-1 pre flop.
This means you can call with any two cards.

If the big blind raises on you frequently and you have called with 3-2 off then it's a different issue.
See below.

Position matters more. Unless someone gets all in you already know who will have position for the entire hand.
Unlike a larger table where you may be able to get enough people to fold to take position, unless someone goes all in you know what position you will have the entire hand.

Playing the Small Blind per Harrington
At least call from the small blind with any two cards, unless your opponent has been raising frquently from the BB.
Then toss bad hands that are in the bottom 20% of starting hands heads up.
These are,
Suited non-pairs - 82, 73, 72, 63, 62, 53, 52, 43, 42, 32
Unsuited non-pairs - 94-92, 84, 83, 75, 74,73, 72, 65, 64, 63, 62, 54, 53, 52, 43, 42, 32

It's a potential raising hand if you have a hand in the top 40% of starting hands and both players stacks are under 10X (BB+SB+antes).
If both stacks are 10X(BB+SB+antes) or over then any hand in the top 30% is a potential raising hand.

If you call and are raised, then call with any hand in the top 30% of starting hands.

If you call and are reraised all in call with any hand in the top 20%.

If you raise and are reraised call with any pair or any hand in the top 10% of hands.
Harrington states that 80% of reraises are made with 2 high cards, which is why you call with any pair.
You may want to call with the top 20% hands if you are getting odds of 3-1 or better.

If stacks are large compared to the blinds 10X (BB+SB+antes) or better then he says call with 6's or better or AJ or better.

Playing in the Big Blind per Harrington.
You will be out of position so you want to end the hand as fast as possible unless you have a monster and are trying to trap.

If the SB calls and both stacks are 10X or less then raise with the top 30% of hands.
If the stacks are larger then tighten up to the top 20% of hands.

If the SB raises call with any top 30% hand and reraise with any top 20% hand.

If the SB raises all in then call with any top 20% hand.

If he hasn't been raising much, then tighten up to calling with any top 20% hand and reraising with any top 10% hand.

Top 10% Hands
Pairs: AA-66
Suited non-pairs: AK-A8, KQ-KJ
Unsuited non-pairs: AK-AT

Top 20% Hands
All of the above plus
Pairs: 55
Suited non-pairs: A7-A3, KT-K8, QJ, QT
Unsuited non-pairs: A9-A7, KQ-KT, QJ

Top 30% Hands
All of the above plus
Pairs: 44
Suited non-pairs: A2, K7-K5, Q9, Q8, JT, J9
Unsuited non-pairs: A6-A3, K9-K7, QT

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