Trying not to go insane - HU play

[DasLeben]

I don't get it. It doesn't matter if I go into HU play with 7000 chips, I'll undoubtedly lose 'em. Admittedly, HU and ITM play is the weakest part of my game, but as you can tell by my numbers, I've had about enough of this [censored]:

1st - 8.7%
2nd - 18.4%
3rd - 11.7%

Granted the sample size (my last 100 games) makes this worth damn near nothing, but you can see why I'm steaming. This trend has continued prior to this 100 as well. So, here's my latest feat: losing a 7000 to 1000 lead, which is the 3rd time in my last 7 HU matches. Apparently I'm doing something wrong, so here's a replayer friendly summary of my last HU match. Tear it apart, tell me I'm doing something wrong.

***** Hand History for Game 2211700616 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:28:00 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 3
Seat 3: monjogey (2500)
Seat 5: sarahsue (2650)
Seat 6: DasLeben (2850)
monjogey posts small blind (250)
sarahsue posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 6h, Ac ]
DasLeben raises (2850) to 2850
DasLeben is all-In.
monjogey folds.
sarahsue calls (2150)
sarahsue is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $5550 with sarahsue
Creating Side Pot 1 with $200 with DasLeben
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Qd, Ad, 9s ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 8d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 3s ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5550 | Side Pot 1: 200
Board: [ Qd Ad 9s 8d 3s ]
monjogey balance 2250, lost 250 (folded)
sarahsue balance 0, lost 2650 [ Ks Qh ] [ a pair of queens -- Ad,Ks,Qh,Qd,9s ]
DasLeben balance 5750, bet 2850, collected 5750, net +2900 [ 6h Ac ] [ a pair of aces -- Ac,Ad,Qd,9s,8d ]

***** Hand History for Game 2211701811 *****
sarahsue finished in third place and won $20.
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:28:16 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2250)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5750)
monjogey posts small blind (250)
DasLeben posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 9d, 6d ]
DasLeben: gg
monjogey raises (2000) to 2250
monjogey is all-In.
DasLeben folds.
Creating Main Pot with $2750 with monjogey
** Summary **
Main Pot: 2750
monjogey balance 2750, bet 2250, collected 2750, net +500
DasLeben balance 5250, lost 500 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2211702578 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:28:26 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2750)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5250)
DasLeben posts small blind (250)
monjogey posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 5h, 9c ]
DasLeben folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
monjogey balance 3000, bet 500, collected 750, net +250
DasLeben balance 5000, lost 250 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2211703232 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:28:35 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (3000)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5000)
monjogey posts small blind (250)
DasLeben posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 5s, Jd ]
monjogey folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
monjogey balance 2750, lost 250 (folded)
DasLeben balance 5250, bet 500, collected 750, net +250

***** Hand History for Game 2211703855 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:28:43 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2750)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5250)
DasLeben posts small blind (250)
monjogey posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 4s, 2c ]
DasLeben folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
monjogey balance 3000, bet 500, collected 750, net +250
DasLeben balance 5000, lost 250 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2211704524 *****
500/1000 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:28:52 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (3000)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5000)
monjogey posts small blind (250)
DasLeben posts big blind (500)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ Td, 5s ]
monjogey folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 750
monjogey balance 2750, lost 250 (folded)
DasLeben balance 5250, bet 500, collected 750, net +250

***** Hand History for Game 2211705122 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:29:00 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2750)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5250)
DasLeben posts small blind (300)
monjogey posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ Qh, Tc ]
DasLeben raises (4950) to 5250
DasLeben is all-In.
monjogey folds.
Creating Main Pot with $5850 with DasLeben
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5850
monjogey balance 2150, lost 600 (folded)
DasLeben balance 5850, bet 5250, collected 5850, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2211705829 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:29:10 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2150)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5850)
monjogey posts small blind (300)
DasLeben posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ Ks, Kh ]
monjogey folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 900
monjogey balance 1850, lost 300 (folded)
DasLeben balance 6150, bet 600, collected 900, net +300

***** Hand History for Game 2211706445 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:29:19 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (1850)
Seat 6: DasLeben (6150)
DasLeben posts small blind (300)
monjogey posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 9c, Kc ]
DasLeben raises (5850) to 6150
DasLeben is all-In.
monjogey folds.
Creating Main Pot with $6750 with DasLeben
** Summary **
Main Pot: 6750
monjogey balance 1250, lost 600 (folded)
DasLeben balance 6750, bet 6150, collected 6750, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2211707157 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:29:29 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (1250)
Seat 6: DasLeben (6750)
monjogey posts small blind (300)
DasLeben posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ Jh, 6d ]
monjogey raises (950) to 1250
monjogey is all-In.
DasLeben calls (650)
Creating Main Pot with $2500 with monjogey
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 4d, 4c, 8s ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ As ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 6s ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 2500 |
Board: [ 4d 4c 8s As 6s ]
monjogey balance 2500, bet 1250, collected 2500, net +1250 [ Qc 4h ] [ three of a kind, fours -- As,Qc,4h,4d,4c ]
DasLeben balance 5500, lost 1250 [ Jh 6d ] [ two pairs, sixes and fours -- As,6d,6s,4d,4c ]

***** Hand History for Game 2211708791 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:29:50 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2500)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5500)
DasLeben posts small blind (300)
monjogey posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 8h, Qc ]
DasLeben raises (5200) to 5500
DasLeben is all-In.
monjogey folds.
Creating Main Pot with $6100 with DasLeben
** Summary **
Main Pot: 6100
monjogey balance 1900, lost 600 (folded)
DasLeben balance 6100, bet 5500, collected 6100, net +600

***** Hand History for Game 2211709671 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:30:03 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (1900)
Seat 6: DasLeben (6100)
monjogey posts small blind (300)
DasLeben posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ Kc, 7s ]
monjogey raises (1600) to 1900
monjogey is all-In.
DasLeben folds.
Creating Main Pot with $2500 with monjogey
** Summary **
Main Pot: 2500
monjogey balance 2500, bet 1900, collected 2500, net +600
DasLeben balance 5500, lost 600 (folded)

***** Hand History for Game 2211710907 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:30:19 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (2500)
Seat 6: DasLeben (5500)
DasLeben posts small blind (300)
monjogey posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 6h, Jd ]
DasLeben raises (5200) to 5500
DasLeben is all-In.
monjogey calls (1900)
monjogey is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $5000 with monjogey
Creating Side Pot 1 with $3000 with DasLeben
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 7c, 3s, 4h ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 8d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ As ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 5000 | Side Pot 1: 3000
Board: [ 7c 3s 4h 8d As ]
monjogey balance 5000, bet 2500, collected 5000, net +2500 [ Kh 4c ] [ a pair of fours -- As,Kh,8d,4c,4h ]
DasLeben balance 3000, bet 5500, collected 3000, lost -2500 [ 6h Jd ] [ high card ace -- As,Jd,8d,7c,6h ]

***** Hand History for Game 2211712091 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:30:35 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (5000)
Seat 6: DasLeben (3000)
monjogey posts small blind (300)
DasLeben posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ 4c, Qs ]
monjogey folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: 900
monjogey balance 4700, lost 300 (folded)
DasLeben balance 3300, bet 600, collected 900, net +300

***** Hand History for Game 2211712706 *****
600/1200 TourneyTexasHTGameTable (NL) (Tournament 13120039) - Wed Jun 15 17:30:43 EDT 2005
Table Table 35278 (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 2
Seat 3: monjogey (4700)
Seat 6: DasLeben (3300)
DasLeben posts small blind (300)
monjogey posts big blind (600)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to DasLeben [ Jh, Qd ]
DasLeben raises (3000) to 3300
DasLeben is all-In.
monjogey calls (2700)
Creating Main Pot with $6600 with DasLeben
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 2d, 5c, 7h ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 4c ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 3s ]
** Summary **
Main Pot: 6600 |
Board: [ 2d 5c 7h 4c 3s ]
monjogey balance 8000, bet 3300, collected 6600, net +3300 [ Ad Td ] [ a straight, ace to five -- Ad,5c,4c,3s,2d ]
DasLeben balance 0, lost 3300 [ Jh Qd ] [ high card queen -- Qd,Jh,7h,5c,4c ]

And no, I'm not looking for sympathy, so save those comments.

[Sabrazack]

I didn't have the time/patience to go through all your hands, however i can tell you your sample size really means nothing if that is of any comfort. I had a 25% ist place ratio after 100 played tournaments, it was insane. Now im down to a more modest 14.5% after 600 played tournaments. Its most probably variance, dont worry.

Ok, i just looked it over, and i think you should definately call with your K7 hand. You saw him push Q4 before that so K7 should be an easy call. Also maybe push one or two of the trash hands when the blinds are this high.

[microbet]

Coulda called with the K7o.

[wookie]

definitely call the K7o

HU is definitely a crap shoot - play to make no mistakes and play to induce your opponent to make mistakes - in the long run it will work out. Be relentless.

- w

[curtains]

The fold of K7o is so unbelievably dreadful it's hard to put into words. This is not a "could have called" situation. It's so automatic it's not even funny. Sorry for my harsh tone, it's just that folding there is so bad. I would probably call with the 96s too against reasonable opposition. I stopped at the K7 hand , Ill look at the rest now.

Ok the rest was all normal. Id probably push the 95o if I recall....maybe something else, but really the K7o fold was the worst. If you constantly make folds like that, don't expect to have great headsup results, it's just not going to happen.

[Steve]

Yep call w/ the K7, otherwise you played it fine.

[microbet]

Even if you're yelling at me and not DasLeben, it doesn't bother me. Getting yelled at is probably the most +$EV thing that can happen on this board. I make the call with K7o and worse also, but need to be more sure of myself before I'm a rootin-tootin-8-tabling-$215-cowboy.

[curtains]

Of course Im not yelling at you, you didnt fold K7o. Also I'm only up to 6 tabling the $215s while playing 2 $109s. Almost at the full 8 tabling of $215s at which point Ill turn to adding the $400 ministeps, the $500 stars turbos or the 1k steps into the mix, although that should still be a little bit away. I'm due for a really bad run too any minute now....

[sturips]

I find HU play is more about controlling the game and the pot size. There was a thread about betting impetus a few months ago which helped my game particularly in HU situations.
Personally I mix my play up a bit more and try to control the game when it gets to this stage. I will see more flops and control from there, let him make mistakes, dont auto-call his all-ins, throw in a few min raises (your K9, Q10 hands) and complete from the SB with middling hands (your last j6), you should then be able to throw him off a few flops and chip away at his stack or muck them accordingly.

Stu

[DasLeben]

[ QUOTE ]
The fold of K7o is so unbelievably dreadful it's hard to put into words. This is not a "could have called" situation. It's so automatic it's not even funny. Sorry for my harsh tone, it's just that folding there is so bad. I would probably call with the 96s too against reasonable opposition. I stopped at the K7 hand , Ill look at the rest now.

Ok the rest was all normal. Id probably push the 95o if I recall....maybe something else, but really the K7o fold was the worst. If you constantly make folds like that, don't expect to have great headsup results, it's just not going to happen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sweet. No, no need to apologize. This is the exact sort of thing I wanted/needed to hear. I think I have been making too many folds such as this, which is really affecting my results. I'll look into it further and post hands.

Thanks for the help guys.