I want to ask something related to heads up play. Recently, I luckily made it to the final two players. I had pocket 8’s. Later part, I chased for an 8 on the flop and luckily I got what I wanted and had 3 of a kind, however straight draw was possible then. I felt confident thinking he won’t have anything. I slow played. Unfortunately, my opponent had the straight and won.

Do you think in such situation, I just thought of myself, milk the pot and had the most I can out of my opponent? Also, did he folded as I raised high?

Another thing, in the event there is no straight draw, is it a wise move to milk the pot with 3 of a kind and then when a straight draw is already visible, just bet strong? What do you think?

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Freeman
Freeman,

If this was a full table, I would say bet out your set to chase out the draws. Since you were heads up, the odds of him having the draw were much longer. I personally would have probably tried to slow play the set in the situation too.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Last night, I was in a 14 person NL tourney. I believe the players who joined were mostly average players, just one or two were really good players. The entire night, I was doing okay and was actually dominating the table. I played aggressively and was focused then on winning the pots alone.

At some point, with an average player, I got to heads up. Good side was that I had more chips, I believe 2-1. Blinds then were at 500-1000. In the small blind, I was dealt A-8 suited and so I decided to go all in with a little hope of stealing blind. Consequently, with 910 of diamonds, he called. Flop came and brought 2 diamonds. Turn followed but was a blank. Finally, river came and gave him a flush. Because of this, he won.

Now I’m wondering if my all in play with A-8 suited is a good one? I believe I had the best hand then so I went all in. I was also expecting that the guy will call as I was stealing his blinds and was pushing him.

On the other hand, in a heads up game, is going all in with any ace pre-flop effective? How about if I’m the chip leader? And do you think putting in a raise while hoping that flop would hit is far better? What about pocket pair? Or I’m the chip leader?

Sorry for the many questions. Please bear with me, I badly need your help.

Thanks,
Alexander
Alexander,

Without knowing the stack sizes etc, I can’t say whether the push was really good or not. However, raising with any ace preflop is a good play heads-up. If you went all-in, that’s not necessarily a bad play. It turned out you were ahead. You just got unlucky.

Heads up you want to raise with a wider range of hands to include pairs, any ace, and two big cards. Being the chip leader or not doesn’t matter. You want to push your big hands preflop. Otherwise, see a lot of cheap flops with your other hands and hope to flop well.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I joined a 10 buy 8 man tournament Monday night. Later, it was down to 3 handed and in terms of chips I was second. At some point, player leading in chips beaten the other player. He had one or two lead advantage over me going into heads up play. Well, it appeared to me as a not so big advantage as when I play heads up, I open up a lot and will play almost any cards and so for that I end up calling and raising with marginal hands while hoping to have some action and fun.

Honestly, I find my approach pretty much effective however when I play with a certain player who would normally fold without a good hand and wouldn’t call bets or raises on the flop without mid to top pair, things are a bit different. In case I play with such kind of players, I would normally call raises hoping to bust someone later. Once I remember my stack decreased in an instant because of the blinds and minor dry spell. I had A9c and then went all in. Then with jacks he called and because no one had an ace he won.

How do you find the way I play? I’m now on great trouble as I don’t know if my strategies really make sense. Do you know any good strategies?

Thanks and nice site!

Regards,
Schwenning
Schwenning,

Your strategy is a good one but when you play tight players you need to be careful when they play back. Don’t stay in a hand with a tight player when they play back at you hoping to catch lucky. Usually all you will catch is 2nd place.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Say in a certain tournament you’re short-stacked and you have to do something immediately as you are blinded into some stuff. As expected, some will go with any paint. However, anyone who will call you might control you if you can’t have a not so significant amount. Well, A9 might work however your caller will have much better. What will you do then?

Well, based on my past experiences, if I am short-stacked, I normally go all-in with a suited semi-connector like 8-5 of Diamonds as a double up is more possible. However, I normally should not play against a pair for this to happen.

I’m wondering if what would you rather have against big slick, suited 8-5 or far better AQ. Please, I need to hear from you.

Thanks for your time. Nice site!

Lowe
Lowe,

If I am against A-K, I want either a pair or a couple of live semi connected cards like 9-10 or J-10 etc. When you are short stacked, a couple of big cards, a pair, or any ace can be a good hand to push. However, when that fails, try to be the aggressor in position. Yes, you will likely be called by a big stack or a better hand, but it give you a better chance of being heads-up for your tournament life instead of three handed or more.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Recently, I started playing no-limit holdem with friends. We started playing at my home actually. I’m wondering now as four of the last five games I’ve made it to heads-up but ended being 2nd placer. For several times then, I tried various strategies but of no help at all. Do you know any winning tips or guideline perhaps? Another thing, I’m curious if the strategies typically used for a six-person table different from strategies used at other table with lesser or more players. What’s your thoughts on this?

Thanks,
James Casey
James,

When you are heads up, open up your starting hand ranges. Try and see cheap flops with weaker hands and push your hands when you have the advantage. When you see cheap flops, try and push your advantages when you get them. Also, don’t be afraid to play middle and bottom pair when you flop them. Draw to straights and flushes a little more. Also, any ace heads up is playable for a raise.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Just 3 months ago, I started playing poker. First, I tried my luck in NL and then next in Limit. My first experience online was with William Hill here in the UK at the £1/2 tables. I believe I’ve played well.

Honestly, the first time, I was okay with NL however later on when I lost, I really lost big, leaving me with nothing that’s why I tried Limit.

Now, I want to ask if how I could join at tournaments. Of course I know you know. I would like to play at tournaments, however I don’t know how to join. How much time is needed when you play and what’s at risk? And as a beginner what kind of tournament should I consider first?

If possible, kindly give the procedures on joining a tournament online. It will be much appreciated.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks!

Tyler
Tyler,

I would recommend you play sit-n-go tournaments to start with to get you used to playing. Sit-n-go’s range from heads-up to 100’s of players. When you want to join a tournament, select the tournament and then click on the register button for that tournament. You will then be registered for the event. When the tournament starts, your table screen will load and you will see what seat you are at.

As far as how much is needed and how long, you can play for whatever amount you want. Many sites have free play tournaments and freeroll tournaments. Some have tournaments as cheap as ten cents. How much you want to spend is up to you. Most single table sit n go tournaments take about an hour. 45 player tournaments are around two hours, and so forth. There are turbo tournaments that are much faster, but I wouldn’t play those until you are used to playing in tournaments.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Cashing Out

It is best for every poker player to set a limit as to how much he or she can risk. By all means, set a certain point by which you will cash out, no matter what. However, consider some factors.

Develop sense of discipline that when you say that you are going to cash out $100 when you reach $200, then do so. Never go beyond the $200 limit. Be disciplined enough to follow what you yourself have set or else you won’t make it in poker.

Playing Heads Up Tournament

When your bankroll is on it’s way to getting low, then do the best option, play heads up tournaments where there is one on one and each player puts the same money up and winner takes all. More or less, if you win in a heads up tournament you can then double up your money and save the remaining that you have. However, just be careful as you may encounter a smart player along the way, who basically can win about 75% of these games and really do some poker bankroll building. Be very careful.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.