Looking for a good Headup preflop strategy

[foolsgold]

I play a little but i want to make it my main game. I find my heads up games not too strong, a little too passive i think. Any tips would be welcome, i know i havn't posted any hands but im looking for a few beginner tips?

[James]

rule number 1 of pre flop heads up never call the small blind. I play quite abit low stakes heads up i would consider myself better than the average player. As soon as a player calls preflop its warning bells NOOB.

So heads up its always raise or fold, you want to raise about 70% of your hands in the small blind. I raise 45 upwards as long as my opponent doesnt play back too much. Heads up play is very difficult to explain because you have to adapt you your opponent if he folds alot raise alot, if he raises alot reraise every now and then. dont let yourself get run over. i will fold 34 probably preflop and K8/7 and below depending on how comfortable i will be with my opponent preflop.

Assuming your 100 big blinds deep be prepaired to push all in to a 3 bet Jacks or better (this also can differ if your opponent is very tight) Also push AK to a 3 bet.

I think what alot of new players do without thinking i knowtice is raise their stronger hands slightly more, so aces they will raise higher than their normal raise trying to get more value out of them. DONT raise everyhand you get preflop the same.

Right hope you were able to read all of that, any questions please reply il be happy to answer!

-Killa

[PokerPirate]

Just to clarify? We are talking about heads up cash games here right?

I prefere heads up on tournaments purely because i think that there is so much play in a cash game heads up (with 100 bbs) that the game usually ends in a cold deck.

[James]

yes cash games, i think what your saying a common misconception. As long as you always are making + ev moves in the long run you will always win. Sure you will get your flush beaten by a full house somtimes, you cant really help it most of the time but it works you way as well.

[PokerPirate]

Originally Posted by KillaFawk

yes cash games, i think what your saying a common misconception. As long as you always are making + ev moves in the long run you will always win. Sure you will get your flush beaten by a full house somtimes, you cant really help it most of the time but it works you way as well.

Is there a certain amount you try and build your stack up to before you leave? Or is it far more important that you stay on a big stack so that you can bully your opponent?

[James]

if my opponent is bad i will keep playing, heads up games are very volatile go up and down 4 buyins often. I think the main thing with heads up is game selection. Sometimes i get caught with pride and try and play a opponent i know is better than me until i lose like 5 buyins you can find lots of weak games. Remember if somone calls their small blind they will normally be a noob.

-James