Helmuth - Ferguson Head Up Match Theory Question

[David Sklansky]

I'm posting this because it is indirectly related to my Arnold Snyder post and many of the replies.

A couple of years ago the NBC Head Up Holdem Event came down to Phil Helmuth and Chris Ferguson. And the finals was the best two out of three. Helmuth won the first match and during the second match the announcer said something about how Phil can be a little more reckless with a one match lead.

So here is my question, regarding head up, no limit holdem, freeze out matches only.

Say you are in a position where you win the "championship" as soon as you win just one more out of a series of head up identical size freezouts against a player you have already beaten, know well, and who is an opponent who will not alter his own play based on the "standings". Let's say that you have five opportunities to win this one match. (As opposed to the two opportunities Helmuth had. I'm increasing it to five to highlight the points better.)

Given the above, in which of the following ways would you tend to alter your play as compared to how you would play if it was simply a one match championship?

Play tighter preflop

Play looser preflop

Make your value bets bigger/smaller

Bluff more/less

Semi-bluff more/less

Be more/less inclined to call very big bets or get involved with big pots

Any other adjustments you care to name.

For the sake of this question we will assume that both you and your opponent are tough players of approximately equal skill and playing styles.

I will return in a few days with my own answer after thinking about it a little more.

Also PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR YOUR ANSWER. DO NOT. It will have an influence on other posters and for the time being I do not want anybody to be influenced by anyone else. I mean for this to not only be a strategy question but also a poll of sorts.

[tipperdog]

In most cases, you should make no adjustments to your strategy.

[Rick305]

In this situation, I would play more aggressive.

[SuperPanda22]

Intuitively, I'm thinking to play a bit more aggressive than before, and perhaps loosen it a bit more.

[bsheck]

I'd say play tighter preflop, make smaller value bets, bluff & semibluff less, and be less inclined to get involved in big pots.

[alanbrown]

I'd make no adjustment to my play.

[Piers]

In theory I would not adjust my play.

In practice I probably would get a bit more sloppy, having several lives left will likely result in me loosing some of my focus.

[Karmic]

same preflop hand selection, but, more aggressive, more inclined to create big pots.

[Spy]

No adjustment

[FortunaMaximus]

Depends on the first blind level.