Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

Hey forum, I was curious on what everyone thought about playing the early levels of a HU sng. Some say raise raise raise that button while others play a more tight style. Im curious on what everyone generally thinks. Personally, I think people overrate the raise every button strategy and c-bet and gets them in trouble. Im helping a friend with HU and this is how it drew attention to me. His raising range at the 10 dollar HU sngs is far to wide against these donks. You really cannot raise with J5 and c-bet until a t least the 110s. I really think for new players trying to build a bankroll the best piece of advice I can give is just play solid poker, play alot, and dont tilt and I promise you your well on your way. Sorry this post was so long just something I learned while helping a friend.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

this thread seems to apply to your question:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...=4#Post11431357

I think there was a better one but I can't find it.

chrismystero

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

Very nice find mystero, I may print that out for my buddy. He seems to love to have crap put out in front of him. LOL hes learning tho trying to teach him its not mechanical.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

I raise a TON, and have success at it.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

Dave What site do you play on and whats your name?

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

One of the big AHA! moments I had was realizing that there were better and worse flops and opponents to cbet at. I know it's basic, but it's very important, because when somebody starting out hears "raise a lot PF, cbet frequently," they're liable to do so mindlessly.

If you're lucky, you get away with it for a while - especially if you draw the right kinds of opponents. But usually you find you're dumping a lot of chips when you cbet in bad spots.

The two key variables are obviously the flop texture and opponent's range/tendencies. I'd say you can absolutely cbet J5 profitably if you're playing a passive opponent who folds easily postflop (only continues with top pair+) on a rainbow flop of A92.

Easy things to pay attention to are how much your opponent is calling your PF raises and how often he calls a cbet given that he called the PF raise. If he's calling 1/10 PF raises, understand what his range looks like (very big cards, maybe PP's) and cbet or not according to whether those kinds of hands are likely to have the flop that you get.

And take HokieGreg's advice from the thread referenced above:

[ QUOTE ]
Don't worry about short term results if you are missing and they are playing back at you.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's definitely a bad idea to either start playing too passively or start bluffing too much just because you're carddead.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

[ QUOTE ]
Dave What site do you play on and whats your name?

[/ QUOTE ]
lol

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

your absolutley right, I guess Im just stressing to my student to KISS(Keep it simple stupid lol) It seems liek all new players cant give up a c-bet when they "think" there beat.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

I post my graphs, stats, hand analysis, etc, all through this forum, but I don't give out my handles.

[ QUOTE ]
Dave What site do you play on and whats your name?

[/ QUOTE ]

Usually, when this is written, you are calling the quoted an idiot. You are asking this because you think I would be easy money. It is sort of a joke.

edit to add: I did laugh out loud.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

No absolutley not..I was just curious on what your handle and site you played on was. That was not an intended jab at all. Sorry it was taken as that. I just like to rail friends and watch them play thats it.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

aggro definitely works well if you dont mind variance, bluffing, hero calling, and looking like a drooler quite alot. i love playing LAG :P

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

TruGrinder, you want to sharkscope him. it's ok. you can say it.

[ QUOTE ]
You really cannot raise with J5 and c-bet until a t least the 110s

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this is wrong. you just can't get spewy though and must adjust as neccessary. I have won more than a few matches with no showdowns at the 22 and 33's

so uh,

[ QUOTE ]
What site do you play on and whats your name?

[/ QUOTE ]

I want to sharkscope you and see if you know what you're talking about.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

DaveT, I do not understand why you must hide your username from us. It just shows weakness in my honest opinion. But whatever floats your boat and fills your bank account.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

[ QUOTE ]
DaveT, I do not understand why you must hide your username from us. It just shows weakness in my honest opinion. But whatever floats your boat and fills your bank account.

[/ QUOTE ]
Playing random fish > Playing other 2+2'ers.

Also, if someone was really, REALLY putting in the effort, they could rail him for 1000's of hands and then start playing him with lots of info on him. Pretty far-fetched, but still...

Lots of people hide their handles.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

MxGucci & Tru,

If him withholding his screen name is such a big deal and causes you to have a lowered respect for him, ignore him (click his name, click Ignore User) and then you never have to his posts, undoubtedly filled with a losing player's opinion.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

I have around 3000 posts from pocket 5's and over 2000 posts here so it's probably not a good idea for me to use this name on poker sites .

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

hey partysover I never said it was a big deal i was just gonna watch him play sometime. Lol hes probably a great player with all the info he gives. Dont make a big deal without something there.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

I am not on this site to hunt down opponent and prey on them. I am also not on here to brag. I am also not on here to hide my username on poker sites.

Goodluck to you all at the tables, you guys are true definitions of being a "shark" and hiding your identity. You may prey on us, while we get eaten alive, enjoy our dollars.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

[ ] I'm a shark, enjoying your dollars.
[x] You'll find me playing $6 HU on 'Stars, under-rolled.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

My comment wasnt towards you buddy. Why are you so harsh upon yourself? Everyone is a shark in their own eyes, everyone thinks they should have won the hand, why they lost the game, the opponent is lucky, your card dead, etc. Poker is an amazing art form.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

[ QUOTE ]
Playing random fish > Playing other 2+2'ers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

[ QUOTE ]
My comment wasnt towards you buddy. Why are you so harsh upon yourself? Everyone is a shark in their own eyes, everyone thinks they should have won the hand, why they lost the game, the opponent is lucky, your card dead, etc. Poker is an amazing art form.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not harsh toward myself but I also don't think I'm a shark. I'm more of a player in progress imo, especially when it comes to HU. I'm profitable in poker (marginally), yes, but I understand I'm not the best.

Anyways, I'm gonna stop replying in this thread, I seem to have a bad habit of turning threads Low Content, and it's never intentional.

chrismystero

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

Okay!!!

I ADMIT THAT I DO NOT HAVE A SHARKFIN!!!!!

Mx, I recall your opening post saying that you had a 23% roi at the 10s, and that is far better than me. A shark, playing at these baby stakes? Are you f*ing joking?

There are tons of things that I do not know. There are tons of things that I must still learn. I am a winning player; for now, that is proficient. I have holes in my game, and that is disappointing. All I can do is discuss, read, ask questions and learn more. Getting flamed is part of it as well.

I have played certain posters here, and some of them actually know who I am. I am not the only one who respectfully asks not to out my SN. ChicagoRy, JayShark, and Vinetou are winning players that do not make it a habit of telling their handles.

Really, why is it any of your business? If you are playing semi-seriously at the 33s, and you see someone with a +roi, there is about a 1/20 chance you are looking at me. If you want a further hint: if you are looking at someone with higher than a 5% roi, it MAY be me.

FWIW, SS does not always give the full story. I play at multiple sites under different handles. Many times, I take a slider at one site, bust, play at another, and refill that site. If you look at Stars vs FTP, you would think that my kid brother plays on one, and Phil Ivey plays on the other.

I also pointed out that my stats are on this site. If you look at the LC thread, you will see my bb/hand avg. level by level, and my month's graph thus far.

Enjoy.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am not the only one who respectfully asks not to out my SN. ChicagoRy, JayShark, and Vinetou are winning players that do not make it a habit of telling their handles.

[/ QUOTE ]
I know for sure ChicagoRy outs his SN all the time.
[ QUOTE ]
If you look at Stars vs FTP, you would think ...Phil Ivey plays on the other.


[/ QUOTE ]
Thinly veiled brag?


Cliff notes:
Screennames are ppls own serious bizz.

Re: Early Levels of HU Sng\'s
 

Only my Pokerstars name. But I only have like 400-500 games on FTP so nobody's missing out.

As for the original question until the forum regulars (lol) derailed it...

I prefer to raise most hands in the first level, regardless of level. Yea, J5o is pretty weak and I wouldn't raise it but I don't really waste time limping it in a 5 or 10 either.

If I find a player is a super station that doesn't raise, I might limp some low unsuited connectors for value when deep, but otherwise I rarely limp anything first level in lower games (especially on Stars where it is deeper). I generally limp when effective stacks are shorter.