Heads-up Battle Analysed (long)

Argus · #1 07-19-2005, 07:54 AM

I was playing some 3-handed poker and it degraded into what I considered an interesting headsup match for about 100 hands. I'm including the whole thing and analysing my play. I am also very open to any comments or questions. I hope that I can help less experienced headsup players as well as get help myself. This took a decent amount of time, so any feedback is appreciated.

Questions I'd like the answer to include:
Was this helpful or worthwhile for you to read?
Are you interested in reading another post like this?
What do you think of my play?
Who do you think has the best of it in this match, Hero or Villain?
Did I analyze Villains weaknesses well?
Did I think about the hands properly?
Any other comments are of course very welcome.

First of all my read on villain was that he was very much a LAG. He only open raised on the button 3-handed, and was doing so with about 55% of his hands. He also seemed to view me as a LAG since he would make plays with total cheese and wasn't afraid to call with king high. He would also 3-bet my raises extremely liberally. He was good at randomising his play; sometimes he would just give up even after 3-betting, but other times he'd go very aggro with a marginal hand. Still, I think he did it too much and would let me get a lot of value out of my ace high and weak pair hands. He was also willing to fold to scare cards a bit too often, and fancied himself a good hand reader. He was decent, but not extraordinary from my point of view.

The stakes here are 2/4 and villain started our exchange with 37.5 BB in his stack. I was sitting with quite a bit more, nearly 60. (I'd reloaded earlier but made it back from the third player.) SB is the button here (acting first preflop). Any time I say that a player "opens" a pot I of course mean that they raised first in. Limps will be noted.

Before the hands I'll give a short discussion of my strategy. I wanted to see as many showdowns as possible, but at the same time didn't want to feel like a call down artist when I should be able to fold earlier. I was also willing to bluff scare cards and make value bets with strong aces if the board texture and his play made it seem like he would fold or call respectively. I didn't open limp once, because I wasn't going to have much difficulty getting action for my big hands. My strategy instead would be to occasionally call his raise/3-bet with big pairs instead of re-raising to play a bit of rope-a-dope. Nearly any pocket pair is going to showdown unless it doesn't play.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [ 5S,JS ].
I probably wouldn't play this, but it's getting close. J7s is seeing a flop.

SB:
Hero [ Ac, Ks] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 9S,6C,4D ]
Villain checks, Hero checks.

TURN [board cards 9S,6C,4D,3D ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 9S,6C,4D,3D,3H ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ 9D,5D ]
Hero mucks cards [ KS,AC ]
Villain wins 9.75 BB

This was a free showdown semi-bluff raise and it went horribly awry. I was confident that I had 6 clean outs most of the time, so folding is bad. Then when it came time to fold UI I forgot my plan and remembered him doing stuff like this with 72o.

BB:
Villain opens and Hero calls with [ 4D,AD ].

FLOP [board cards 3D,10S,KC ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

TURN [board cards 3D,10S,KC,QD ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 3D,10S,KC,QD,JH ]
Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 4.8 BB

I sensed either great weakness or great strength with the flop check, and I liked bet/folding the turn more than check/calling since I can save a bet when behind, at the risk of being bluffed out. I figure he'll fold worse hands rather than bluff-raising them. Going runner runner was not part of the plan, but I really liked doing it. I'd have tried a river check/raise, but I was certain it would be checked behind by any worse hand.

SB:
Hero [ 6C,6S ] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards JS,7D,2C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards JS,7D,2C,10S ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards JS,7D,2C,10S,KH ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ 4H,9H ]
Hero shows [ 6C,6S ]
Hero wins 7.75 BB

The AK hand spooked me, and I decided I'd given too much action on the wrong streets. This hand was going to be different: I wanted at least one bet in on every street and to go to showdown. A reassuring result.

BB:
Villain opens and Hero calls with [7H,AD].

FLOP [board cards 10C,5D,JS ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 10C,5D,JS,8S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 10C,5D,JS,8S,7C ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ 5H,8C ]
Hero mucks cards [ 7H,AD ]
Villain wins 6.75 BB

Plan was just to see a showdown. WA/WB line might have been better here, since he's known to call with hands worse than A7, but I didn't see it as much of a value bet. Perhaps that means check/fold was better. He just seemed so wild to me.

SB:
Hero [QS,JH] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 4D,8S,AH ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5 BB

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [5S,2C].
I probably have two live cards, but I can't bring myself to defend any two.

SB:
Hero [4S,5C] folds.
This was borderline for me. Their suited brethren are about my bottom end of playable.

BB:
Villain limps, Hero raises [KH,KC], Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 9C,7S,4D ]
Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 9C,7S,4D,JC ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 9C,7S,4D,JC,JS ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ KH,KC ]
Villain mucks cards [ QD,4H ]
Hero wins 9.75 BB

The flop call is only to check/raise the turn. I want him to consider a turn check/raise a very significant threat. If he calls down I plan on doing it with big hands; if he had folded I planned on using it as a semi-bluff in the future. I also want to set up free turns with draws.

SB:
Hero [5C,6C] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards 10D,QC,6H ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 10D,QC,6H,KS ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 10D,QC,6H,KS,2H ]
Villain checks, Hero checks.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ AH,10C ]
Hero mucks cards [ 5C,6C ]
Villain wins 7.75 BB

Another pair, another showdown. Turn was a free showdown play, partly because I wanted to see how he reacted to it. If he stops and goes I throw up a little and call for the only time unless he's full of it.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [9S,4C].

SB:
Hero [AH,AS] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards QC,2D,AD ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

TURN [board cards QC,2D,AD,7C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards QC,2D,AD,7C,KH ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ AH,AS ]
Villain mucks cards [ 8H,QS ]
Hero wins 8.75 BB

I thought him calling down a flop raise was more likely than calling down a turn or river raise. It seems to represent the least strength to this player, who has seen me raise the flop for free cards with flush and two-pair draws. I was hoping he'd stop and go. If a similar hand happens later my plan is to play it differently.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [4D,JS].

SB:
Hero [9S,9H] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards AD,10C,AH ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5 BB

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [4C,2S].

SB:
Hero folds [10C,5H].

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [KH,9D].

FLOP [board cards 10H,AC,7H ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 10H,AC,7H,3C ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 10H,AC,7H,3C,2D ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ KH,9D ]
Villain shows [ KS,7D ]
Villain wins 4.75 BB

[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I think check/folding the turn is better, since king high on an ace board is a lot weaker than ace high on a king high board. I was confidant I had outs, but the pot was small.

SB:
Hero [JH,KD] opens, Villain folds.

BB:
Villains opens, Hero calls with [5D,KH]

FLOP [board cards 9S,QH,2D ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

TURN [board cards 9S,QH,2D,AD ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 3 BB

2 cards in the red zone that don't pair me, time to evacuate.

SB:
Hero [6C,3H] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [2H,QC].

SB:
Hero [10D,4D] folds.

BB:
Villain folds. Hero [3H,KH].
I'd have played, though I'm reconsidering K2-K3s, and K2-K6o in hindsight.

SB:
Hero [JS,7C] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards AD,KH,3D ]
Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 3.4 BB

After folding a few in a row I thought I could make a move. I was impatient and unlucky with timing.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [2H,9D].

SB:
Hero [8H,8C] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards KD,KH,2S ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5 BB

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [QH,7D].

SB:
Hero [KS,5S] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 10S,2S,3D ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 3.4 BB

BB:
Villain opens, Hero 3-bets [4S,4C], Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 7S,5C,5S ]
Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 7S,5C,5S,9S ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 7S,5C,5S,9S,JC ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ 4S,4C ]
Villain mucks cards [ 10D,AS ]
Hero wins 8.75 BB

I knew I needed to 3-bet more preflop, but I wasn't sure with what hands. I was pretty sure this was one of them though. It couldn't have gone more according to plan.

SB:
Hero [3H,4C] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero 3-bets [KC,KS], Villain caps, Hero calls.
Unfortunately there's a 4-bet cap HU.

FLOP [board cards 7S,4H,QC ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain 3-bets,
Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 7S,4H,QC,7D ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 7S,4H,QC,7D,JC ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ KC,KS ]
Villain shows [ KH,KD ]
Hero wins5.50, Villain wins5.50.

I was shocked by the chop to say the least, as was Villain. I liked that he let the check/raise happen twice and that he got a bit fearful with an overpair to the scare card. I'd play this the same way again, and will keep this line in mind for when I flop a monster.

SB:
Hero [KD,JD] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 10D,3S,4D ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5BB

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [8C,9C].

FLOP [board cards 6H,10C,QS ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

TURN [board cards 6H,10C,QS,6C ]
Hero bets, Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 6H,10C,QS,6C,10H ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 6.75 BB

I try these semi-bluffs a bit too often I think; nearly every time I get the chance. I think check/call again might be a better line at least some of the time hoping to check/raise a favourable river.

SB:
Hero [6H,9D] folds.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [4D,4C].

SB:
Hero folds [9D,JS].

A misclick. Any two cards nine or higher should be played in my opinion.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [3D,7H].

SB:
Hero [JC,AS] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 2S,JH,7D ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 2S,JH,7D,6S ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 2S,JH,7D,6S,5C ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ JC,AS ]
Villain mucks cards [ 7C,8C ]
Hero wins 8.75 BB

The check/raise just re-affirmed to me that I was well ahead. I called planning to raise the river, figuring the call then turn raise line was too fishy. I might also immediately 3-bet on a draw heavy board.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [5S,AD].

FLOP [board cards 10D,9C,5H ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain 3-bets,
Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 10D,9C,5H,3S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 10D,9C,5H,3S,QC ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ 8H,7C ]
Hero shows [ 5S,AD ]
Hero wins 8.75 BB

The showdown a pair strategy is pretty good here. He likes to play draws like this. His tendency to bet the river a lot is something I kept in mind in other hands, figuring my chances of check/raising this street was decent.

SB:
Hero [7S,4D] folds.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [9C,KC].

SB:
Hero [QH,5D] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [4S,KH].
By this point I'd decided weak kings just weren't worthwhile, especially OOP.

SB:
Hero [7C,7S] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 3D,2S,4S ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5 BB

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [QD,9S].

FLOP [board cards QS,7S,5S ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

TURN [board cards QS,7S,5S,5C ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards QS,7S,5S,5C,6C ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ QD,9S ]
Villain mucks cards [ 3C,AH ]
Hero wins 5.75 BB

I whiffed a flop check/raise, which is fine by me. It gives me a free chance to make
my flush and induces villain to call down with a worse hand.

SB:
Hero [AC,JD] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards 10D,4D,AS ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

TURN [board cards 10D,4D,AS,7S ]
Villain checks, Hero checks.

RIVER [board cards 10D,4D,AS,7S,6C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ AC,JD ]
Villain mucks cards [ 10C,QC ]
Hero wins 6.75 BB.

I checked behind on the turn hoping to collect a river bet, but on this double-suited board with two high cards out I should have bet.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [4C,JD].

SB:
Hero [JD,KC] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 4S,5S,3C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5 BB

Whereas I prefer to fold preflop, Villain seems to prefer to fold to my flop continuation bets.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [ KS,AS ]. Alas.

SB:
Hero [3S,8S] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [JC,6C].

Again, just on the wrong side of playable.

SB:
Hero [9D,4H] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero 3-bets with [KS,QD], Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 7H,10S,6C ]
Hero bets, Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 7H,10S,6C,7S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 5.75 BB.

I learned from my past mistakes here. I 3-bet more liberally, and gave up earlier. Even though I lost, I thought I played well in this hand. (If he'd called the flop I'd planned on whiffing a check/raise on the turn.)

SB:
Hero [9C,JH] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 8S,3S,5S ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain calls.

TURN [board cards 8S,3S,5S,9H ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards 8S,3S,5S,9H,2S ]
Villain checks, Hero checks.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ 3D,QD ]
Hero shows [ 9C,JH ]
Hero wins 6.75 BB

I didn't have the cajones to value bet this river. I think his check means he doesn't have a flush, but that still doesn't mean a worse hand is calling. The argument for a bet is that a better hand might fold, but I prefer the check behind.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [4H,KC].

FLOP [board cards 9D,6S,9S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 2.5 BB

This was another hand that made me go [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] afterward. This is a decent flop for my hand and I just gave up. Shouldn't have called in the first place if I'm going to give up on flops like this. Raising is probably better.

SB:
Hero [2H,QC] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [5S,4H].

SB:
Hero [6D,5S] opens, Villain folds.

A bit too feisty here: I'm likely to be called with junk that beats me.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [8C,2H].

SB:
Hero [10S,7C] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [10D,6C].

SB:
Hero [JS,4C] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [7S,JD].

I'd folded quite a few in a row so I might have been able to make a move with this, but I decided against. I want to preserve my advantage in starting with better hands without allowing Villain an automatic profit in shovelling chips in.

SB:
Hero [9C,7C] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards JS,8D,4D ]
Villain bets, Hero raise, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards JS,8D,4D,AD ]
Villain checks, Hero checks.

RIVER [board cards JS,8D,4D,AD,6D ]
Villain bets, Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ 9C,7C ]
Villain shows [ JH,5D ]
Villain wins 8.75 BB.

I was hoping to take advantage of my recent folding spree and my marginal draw. I was hoping either to fold Villain, hit my gutshot, or make a pair to beat him. On the river I thought this was a perfect time to bluff-raise, and it almost worked. Villain commented that he couldn't believe I'd outdrawn him and that he knew he shouldn't call but he wanted to see what kind of crap I'd just pulled on him. His five high flush was great against my nine high nothing.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [10D,6H].

SB:
Hero [JD,9C] opens, Villain folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [3S,JD].

SB:
Hero [6H,7D] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards QC,2S,6S ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards QC,2S,6S,2C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards QC,2S,6S,2C,9S ]
Villain checks, Hero checks.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ AH,JS ]
Hero shows [ 6H,7D ]
Hero wins 5.75 BB.

He tries to punish me for raising cheese, but I suckout like a fish. I think I missed a river value bet (and fold to a check/raise). As with my other marginal pair hands I wanted a bet to go in on every street and I wanted a showdown. I only managed one of two here.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [10C,8D].

SB:
Hero [KC,6S] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards 5H,KD,9H ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 5H,KD,9H,7C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 5H,KD,9H,7C,6C ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ KC,6S ]
Villain shows [ 9S,KS ]
Villain wins 11.75 BB.

I was a bit surprised not to be 3-bet on the river, but I think the straight cards scared him. I don't think I gave too much action, even though I lost.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [9C,6C].

FLOP [board cards QH,3H,4S ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

TURN [board cards QH,3H,4S,2S ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

RIVER [board cards QH,3H,4S,2S,8S ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ 9C,6C ]
Villain shows [ AS,7D ]
Villain wins 3.8 BB.

Last time I tried shooting at the turn on a checked through flop I got called down too, but since he's likely to bet the turn if I check and I'd like to see the river I prefer a bet here.

SB:
Hero [7S,9C] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 3C,6D,6C ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 3C,6D,6C,9D ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 3C,6D,6C,9D,5S ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ QD,4C ]
Hero shows [ 7S,9C ]
Hero wins 8.75 BB

I really wimped out on this hand. I should have put another big bet in on the turn since I really improved a lot there. His check/raise just made me think 6, but it could certainly been a smaller pocket, a 3, or another draw.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero 3-bets with [5S,5D], Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards 2H,QD,2S ]
Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 3.4 BB

SB:
Hero [AH,9H] opens, Villain calls.

FLOP [board cards AD,3C,7C ]
Villain checks, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 2.5 BB.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero 3-bets [KS,QS], Villain caps, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards JC,6H,3D ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards JC,6H,3D,5S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 5.75 BB.

An unfortunate series of events. I can't see winning this hand very often if I continue.

SB:
Hero [AS,7D] opens, Villain folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [4C,7D].

At this point a third player sat in for a about 20 hands. He was a weak player, and not much happened of excitement while he was with us. Villain did not get out of line, he caught me getting slightly out of line once, and only one pot got bigger than 8 BB. At the end of it I was down 1 BB, and villain was down 3.5 BB.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [6S,4H].

SB:
Hero [KH,2C] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards 6D,AC,5D ]
Villain bets, Hero folds.

SHOWDOWN
Villain wins 3.4 BB

I don't like giving up, but I've got nothing going on. Again, weak kings don't seem worthwhile to me.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [10D,4H].

SB:
Hero [8S,10C] opens, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards QD,QS,9S ]
Villain bets, Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 4.4 BB

Villain seems to have a nose for when I'm opening loose and 3-betting to put the fear of god into me. However I know he can't always have a 3-betting hand so I figured a gutshot and one card higher than the singleton was enough to check/raise with here hoping to steal the pot. Turns out I was right.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [KH,JC].

SB:
Hero [QD,5C] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [QC,KH].

FLOP [board cards 10H,3D,8D ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

TURN [board cards 10H,3D,8D,2S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 10H,3D,8D,2S,4C ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ QC,KH ]
Villain shows [ QH,4S ]
Villain wins 3.8 BB

I liked that bets only went in while I was ahead, but not much else about this hand. I was being results oriented from my last couple KQ hands and didn't 3-bet. Then I called down allowing Villain to make a pair on the river. This hand reminded me of the need to get aggressive even with marginal holdings against this player.

The third wheel sat in again for a single orbit here, wherein he hit and ran. Stacks are now 61 BB for me and 22 BB for Villain.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [3S,3D]

FLOP [board cards 8H,KD,JH ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 8H,KD,JH,2D ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 8H,KD,JH,2D,AC ]
Hero bets, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 5.75 BB

My plan here was to check/call, check/call, bet pretty much any board that didn't give me a big hand or draw. Alternate lines could be considered, I just wanted to see a showdown because I always felt uncertain about the strength of my marginal pairs. I understand this is a weakness in headsup play, so suggestions of a better line are welcome.

SB:
Hero [QC,6D] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [6D,KH].

FLOP [board cards 6S,5D,4S ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain 3-bets,
Hero calls.

TURN [board cards 6S,5D,4S,JH ]
Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 6S,5D,4S,JH,JD ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

SHOWDOWN
Villain shows [ 9C,7H ]
Hero shows [ 6D,KH ]
Hero wins 10.75 BB

Villain got out of line with a fairly strong draw and I persevered to win a tidy pot. I pulled the turn stop and go reading villain for wanting a free card, and got raised. That made my plan to check/fold the river UI, but I made two pair so I decided to see a showdown. The results made me think that perhaps my plan was ill conceived; in the future I'll see a showdown without improving as long as the river doesn't hurt my hand.

SB:
Hero [2S,10C] folds.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [4D,6H].

SB:
Hero [6D,8C] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [10C,8H].

FLOP [board cards 7C,9D,3D ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain 3-bets,
Hero caps, Villain calls.

TURN [board cards 7C,9D,3D,QC ]
Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero calls.

RIVER [board cards 7C,9D,3D,QC,JH ]
Hero bets, Villain raises, Hero 3-bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ 10C,8H ]
Villain shows [ 9H,QH ]
Hero wins 15.75 BB

My turn to get out of line with a draw. The flop cap was unnecessary, and having seen Villain raise several turns after I stop and go, I don't know if a bet is advised. I had just built all this momentum up and let it continue. On the river when I hit, I knew villain did not read me for a straigh so I hoped for the bet/3-bet instead of a check/raise and it worked out quite nicely. This hand prompted Villain to complain about my draws always coming in and his always missing.

SB:
Hero [3H,4C] folds.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero folds [7C,QH].

Now that Villain is getting a bit shortstacked I'm going to tighten up slightly. I don't expect he'll be folding as many marginal hands in fear of bluffs because he'll be in all-in range soon. This will also provide a good change of pace after my T8o suckout.

SB:
Hero [3H,6C] folds.

BB:
Villain folds, Hero [2C,3H].
Nut low wins again.

SB:
Hero [10S,JD] raises, Villain 3-bets, Hero calls.

FLOP [board cards AH,AC,9C ]
Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards AH,AC,9C,KD ]
Villain bets, Hero raises, Villain folds.

SHOWDOWN
Hero wins 6.75 BB

This hand just went totally against my plan, but I figure he has a 9 or low pair, or missed entirely more often than he holds a king or an ace. I haven't waited for the turn to raise yet this match, so I expect this play to work often enough (at least half the time) and I have outs and anything but a full house.

BB:
Villain opens, Hero calls with [AC,4D].

FLOP [board cards AH,10S,10C ]
Hero checks, Villain bets, Hero calls.

TURN [board cards AH,10S,10C,10D ]
Hero checks, Villain checks.

RIVER [board cards AH,10S,10C,10D,7C ]
Hero bets, Villain calls.

SHOWDOWN
Hero shows [ AC,4D ]
Villain mucks cards [ KH,5C ]
Hero wins 4.75 BB.

I thought a turn bet would fold a hand that might call a river bet, and a free card doesn't worry me in the slightest. Might throw villain off a bit to change from betting so wildly to checking good hands. If he had bet the turn I'd just call, but bet the river.

SB:
Hero [2H,7D] folds.

At this point Villain had less than 2 BB so I sat out. He started complaining about how I'm a giant luckbox. I told him that I was going to bed because he was out of cash. He reloaded to nearly 2000 BB (yes, two thousand) and told me he has plenty of cash to play me with. It was quite late and I had to get up to see my girlfriend in the morning so I regretfully declined his invitation, but suggested he be in touch. I look forward to playing him headsup in the future.

MrEngenic · #2 07-19-2005, 08:39 AM

I thought it was great reading. The advantage with reading HU hand histories like this is that almost all hands are interesting. You are better at HU than me so I can not comment on your play really.
Do post more of these.

AlwaysWrong · #3 07-19-2005, 08:47 AM

It would be helpful for discussion if you numbered the hands, and perhaps *'d any hands you think are interesting.

General thoughts:

- You play tighter than I do preflop

- I don't think you 3-bet from the BB NEARLY often enough (pretty much never).

- I think you need to be throwing out bets into your opponent when you're out of position more often.

- Overall too tight and too passive imo

trickymartin · #4 07-19-2005, 10:33 AM

Good post!

I don't play much heads-up, so I'm not really in position to give advice, but I think you should play looser and more aggressive preflop. Villain is opening with Q4o, 85o, 87o so I think you have to adjust and start 3-betting with more hands and also calling more raises from BB.

I would definitely read more heads-up posts like this.

spydog · #5 07-19-2005, 11:12 AM

Nice post.

I would probably ramp up the 3-betting preflop.

Your opponent seemed to fold too much, especially on certain flops (paired or Ace high). By taking the initiative more preflop I think you could have stolen a boatload of pots. I think I would have been more aggressive until he adjusted. Besides playing his draws strongly, he didn't really seem to play that tricky.