Someone talk me out of...

[phydaux]

Someone please talk me out of playing head's up limit hold'em.

I started playing limit hold'em, mostly because at that time that was what all the literature was about. But after playing FR limit for a while, I found I enjoyed FR NL a lot more. I made the transition to NL and have had a lot of fun, as well as made a decent amount of money.

But back in the day I read The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King. That story of the epic head's up limit matches between Andy Beal and the Corporation have really stuck with me, and I find myself wanting to play HU limit.

Byron Jacobs has a HU limit DVD set, and I'm thinking of putting my NL cash game on hold to play HU limit. I also have a copy of Poker Academy, and Phil Laak said once in an interview that PA plays a dead hard game of HU limit. I'm thinking I could use the DVDs to learn the basics, polish my game with PA, then put my roll at risk only after my skill & confidence were where I felt they needed to be.

The thing is, I don't want to give up on NL cash games. If I made the switch to HU limit, that's what I feel I'd be doing. I can play FR NL hold'em in casinos, at least as long as it stays popular, and I'll probably always be able to play NL hold'em on the internet. But baring any special events, I'll probably only be able to play HU limit on the internet.

I wouldn't mind learning HU NL, but that's way more complex than HU limit. Plus, the only resources for NH NL is Cardrunners and I'm not a member yet.

With Harrington on Cash & PNL II coming so soon, I feel like this would be a bad time to give up NL cash games. Or perhaps it's exactly the right time, since the fish will suddenly have all kinds of resourced to improve.

I'd love to read some comments from some of you long timers.

[Proofrock]

Is there any reason you can't play both? I currently play a mix of:
short-handed NL, full ring NL, short-handed limit, full ring limit, LO/8, PLO, and tournaments. There's no reason you can't improve your overall game by playing a mix of different games, and it will allow you maximum game selection opportunities, both live and online.

[Effen]

If you don't play a high enough limit (5/10? I'm nota limit player but it seems like the right limit that it stops being so huge) the rake will chew you up. Even capped at 50 cents.

[D.L.M.]

there is already a computer that can beat anyone at heads up limit. I would advise against specializing what a computer can already easily do. HU no limit is a diff story =). I bet i could tilt a HU computer (seriously).