HU Tilts Me...

Talking Poker · #1 01-24-07, 01:25 PM

I'm out of town right now, on my laptop. When I have a little while to kill, it's easier for me to play some quick Heads Up than to get into full games. By full, I of course mean 6 max. I generally do well playing HU, cash or tourney style, but I sure do tilt easily. I don't get super stupid or anything, but I do get pissed off. It's a crazy game and really frustrating when your idiot opponent is hitting everything and you are missing everything.

I think the thing that drives me craziest is the idiots who sit down with a fraction of a buy in, get it all in (usually as a dog) in the first few hands, inevitably suckout (I swear I win maybe 30% of these if I'm lucky), and then *POOF* - they are gone. Drives me nuts.

I dunno. Overall, I don't think I like HU all that much. I think plaing 6 max is probably better EV for me in the long run, but I'm not sure. Maybe if I was more careful about my HU game selection and leave tables when I run into good opponents, rather than stick around... but I don't.

Let me just say this: I wish I hadn't played at all in the last 24 hours. My January numbers were much better before.

Just rambling. Discuss if you want to.

eejit101 · #2 01-24-07, 01:39 PM

surely HU is going to be hugely more variant that 6max? Ive never understood the attraction of HU cash games, but i know you lot play them. Give me 6max anyday. Please disprove this theory

X-Longshot-X · #3 01-24-07, 03:23 PM

My advice if you are having a hard time playing HU for cash, go sit in a HU tourney....smaller buy in. Here you and your oppenent start off with the same number of chips, sure there is a lot of variance, but ide say that 85% of the time, the better player wins. I cant tell you how many times ive been shortstacked and managed to come back because my opponent is an idiot. I honestly believe HU SNG is better than cash simply because you dont have idiots that are coming in to win their 200 bucks and leave. YOu have more serious players who know what they are doing, and most people honestly DO NOT know how to play HU. Thats just my

Aequitas58 · #4 01-24-07, 05:40 PM

T h i n k.

Yes, HU is more variance. Variance comes from being involved in more pots. Here's a breakdown, because I know you can't do it in your head:

Full table = less variance than 6 max.
6 max = less variance HU.

You still don't get it? You play less hands at a full table than at a 6 max table. You also play less hands at a 6 max table than you do when playing HU.

Now, as far as why players prefer heads up... they are more confident in their abilities compared to the next guy. Also, there's no need to isolate the weak player, because there's only one other player at the table. Which is why it's important to know who you're playing. To maximize EV. Of course. For the record. (!!)

A general review for most, but it seems like eejit still can't connect dots.

PShabi · #5 01-24-07, 10:02 PM

Lou:
Never one to pull any punches!

sjay2k · #6 01-25-07, 05:00 AM

HU is real poker. You make decisions every hand, every street. There are so many more moves that you can pull HU than any forms of poker. Playing HU is the best way to learn, imo.

My winrate is much higher at HU than 6-max (and especially full ring). I'd play more, but it's too difficult to concentrate on more than a couple of HU tables at once. My preferred mix is one HU table and four 6-max tables.

Talking Poker · #7 01-25-07, 04:27 PM

Interesting..... I don't like mixing and matching like that. I play either 6 max (4-6 tables), or HU (2-3 tables).

I completely agree with you about HU being real poker.... I'm just not as good enough at it yet. I feel that I can handle.beat most opponents without too much trouble, but there are guys that I play that I just KNOW are better than me. It's like I haven't quite figured out how to counteract their moves yet. I will, in time. But it sure is a frustrating ride along the way.