[Hopin2Steal]

So this past week I've gotten back onto Pokerstars to get some poker time in. On Wednesday night, I got into a heads up battle from a 9 seated sitngo that lasted fairly long considering we started heads up play at 75/150. I had a significant, though not dominating, chip lead (about 9,000 to 5,000). I didn't win until we had reached 200/400 antes.

Anyway, I'm mentioning that game because it was a really *enjoyable* playing experience. Two times before he lost, I had my opponent all-in but he sucked out on the river. The second time cost me the chip lead but I nipped away at his stack. I think we both played pretty well until his all-in move at the end (I think he lost focus and it was only a $10+1 table).

Because it was so enjoyable, I've considered playing heads-up on P*. I think I'm a pretty decent heads up player so I'm not really concerned about skill. I'm more focused on length of head-up tourney play vs. return and the fact that, unlike when I play a sitngo, if you lose heads up, you don't get any money. I'm also slightly concerned that suck outs are more damaging because there are fewer chips (just 3k total, correct?).

Does anyone play Heads-up that can comment on this?

[whataboutj]

I have not played HU torneis/games online but was thinking about it so this thread is great.

Looking forward to hearing peoples responses
J

[jdunford]

If you think online heads up is fun...

I've hosted (and played) 2 live heads-up tourneys. We've started with 8 players, and use a double-elimination structure:
http://www.homepokertourney.com/docs...ble-1000-1.pdf
(I always hoped we'd have a 16-player double-elimination tournament, but never had exactly 16 show up)

We do it a little differently; instead of having the blinds continue to climb at a constant rate, regardless of the rate that people bust out, we play 3 blind levels (increasing every 10 or 15 minutes, depending how much time you have), then wait for everyone to finish their "round", then losers play losers, winners play winners, etc., with the blinds and stacks reset (actually, we double the stacks/blinds, but basically it's equivalent to the first round; just sounds better to have bigger numbers each time).

It's a lot of fun in person amongst friends because a little knowledge of your opponents personality can tell you a lot about their game - or they can trick you and use such information against you. It's quite a psychological battle, and for players who rarely make it to heads up (or money positions in general) in the regular tourneys really enjoy and appreciate the experience.

[littlebu]

I've played a couple times. One thing though, you say that there's only 3k chips so suckouts will be more damaging. Total chips in your sng was 14K starting HU at 75/150 leaves a total of 93.3BB's on the table and antes to be starting soon. With 3K chips the table has a total of 100BB's and antes are way off in the distance which leaves a little more play room.

Originally Posted by Hopin2Steal

So this past week I've gotten back onto Pokerstars to get some poker time in. On Wednesday night, I got into a heads up battle from a 9 seated sitngo that lasted fairly long considering we started heads up play at 75/150. I had a significant, though not dominating, chip lead (about 9,000 to 5,000). I didn't win until we had reached 200/400 antes.

Anyway, I'm mentioning that game because it was a really *enjoyable* playing experience. Two times before he lost, I had my opponent all-in but he sucked out on the river. The second time cost me the chip lead but I nipped away at his stack. I think we both played pretty well until his all-in move at the end (I think he lost focus and it was only a $10+1 table).

Because it was so enjoyable, I've considered playing heads-up on P*. I think I'm a pretty decent heads up player so I'm not really concerned about skill. I'm more focused on length of head-up tourney play vs. return and the fact that, unlike when I play a sitngo, if you lose heads up, you don't get any money. I'm also slightly concerned that suck outs are more damaging because there are fewer chips (just 3k total, correct?).

Does anyone play Heads-up that can comment on this?

[dad604]

If you think that you will do well, go for it. Try it for awhile and see if it is +EV.

[Hopin2Steal]

Originally Posted by littlebu

I've played a couple times. One thing though, you say that there's only 3k chips so suckouts will be more damaging. Total chips in your sng was 14K starting HU at 75/150 leaves a total of 93.3BB's on the table and antes to be starting soon. With 3K chips the table has a total of 100BB's and antes are way off in the distance which leaves a little more play room.

Actually, 13,500, which makes it 90BB. I hadn't thought of that. I guess I'll try it. Once I get heads-up, I usually win. So if I have even more room to play with, I should--in theory--do fine.

[tomb1]

I play lots of heads-ups on PS and FTP. There are many pros and cons of HU, as you mentioned.

I always play the turbos, for several reasons. The rake is low. The games go fast. The blinds usually do not matter -- I seldom get to the point where the blinds force the action, unless you lose a big hand and are short-stacked of course.

There's much more luck o' the cards involved in HU play IMO, and it's winner take all. So don't expect to win 80% of them. But you can usually figure out pretty quickly what kind of player you're up against, and play accordingly. This will give you an edge, but the cards do matter much of the time.

[Hopin2Steal]

Hmmm. Well. it seems that $5 heads up play is much easier than $11.

[mrticsay]

I've played over 350 HU matches on p*.

Its hard to comment on whether you should play or not. It really depends on what you like to do and what skills you are trying to take advantage of (or develop). I know I enjoy HU (obviously by how much I've played), but it can be a "tough way" to play if you aren't used to it-

There's no way to "back into" the money.

There's no way to sit on the sidelines while you have bad cards.

You can have a run of great cards, but there's only one person who could come in and pay you off (and the may not).

Etc. Etc.

But, it is part of poker. And whether its at the end of a small home game or the end of a professional event, the HU skill is what's going to make a big difference in your payday (since payouts are generally pretty steep).

I like it because I think you have to "play poker". Its not a situation where you sit around waiting on big hands and opponents mistakes...or the occassional bluff. You have to be ready to play every hand and find the best way to play it every time.

[mrticsay]

Something to consider, the rake can be a killer...you can do that math yourself.

A quick 2 player HU example, win 2 and lose 1- your net is 1 buy-in less 3 rakes.

So, I like the 4 player HU.

Win 2 matches and take it all down- your net is 3 buy-ins less 1 rake.

Lose 1 4-way and win 1 4-way- your net is 1 buy-in less 2 rakes