Heads Up Primer?

[PokerSpiv]

After 4000+ tournaments in my database, my % of 1st finishes is still lower than my 2nds and 3rds.

My breakdown is something like 12/13/13/12% for 1st/2nd/3rd/4th.

Is there a good primer for how to play when you are down to the final two? I need to improve in this area.

[reedzhao]

ICM

[ymu]

It's not just ICM unless one of you is at around 10 (maybe 15BB or less) - then you could use ICM, or the SAGE system for pushing/calling.

The HU forum seems pretty clear that there is no "system" for HU.

Standard MO is to raise your button frequently to build a pot when you have position post-flop, and to c-bet most flops. This is OK, but you also need to look at how your opponent is playing and how to exploit/neutralise it - auto-raising the button is pretty exploitable if your opponent is good post-flop. If your opponent is better than you post-flop, neutralise him by going into push/fold mode earlier.

From your stats, it actually looks like you are bubbling too often and not playing aggressively enough when you get ITM. I don't think it's a HU issue.

[durron597]

This is not by any means "the be all and end all" for HU, but if you're completely clueless you can start with SAGE

SAGE

[PokerSpiv]

Actually, after just checking tourney manager, my stats are even worse than first though.

1st: 11.5%
2nd: 13.4%
3rd: 13.5%
4th: 12.7%
5th: 13.8%
6th: 12.5%

ITM: 38.4%

ROI: 11.8% over 4215 sitngos (mostly $22 and $33 speeds on Party). (16.5% roi on 22s, 7.5% on 33s). On 33s my 1sts are even lower, 10.5%.

[ymu]

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, after just checking tourney manager, my stats are even worse than first though.

1st: 11.5%
2nd: 13.4%
3rd: 13.5%
4th: 12.7%
5th: 13.8%
6th: 12.5%

ITM: 38.4%

ROI: 11.8% over 4215 sitngos (mostly $22 and $33 speeds on Party). (16.5% roi on 22s, 7.5% on 33s). On 33s my 1sts are even lower, 10.5%.

[/ QUOTE ]
This still doesn't look like a HU issue - you're probably getting to HU with a small stack too often by not playing aggressively enough once ITM, and you're bubbling far too often.

Take 4-5% off the bubble and distribute it between 1st and 3rd and the distribution would be decent.

[PokerSpiv]

Thanks guys. A quick brush up of SNGPT suggests that I am being too aggressive on the bubble (against the loose calling ranges of players on the 22s) and not aggressive enough when ITM.

[PokerSpiv]

This is the last 25 ITM finishes in my database.

3322222212332321332232322

I really need help [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]