Head to Head Play - What do you do?

[BigPhish]

I guess I'll start this off as a "what would you do" thread...

El-cheapie SnG at Royal Vegas. 10 players started at 1k chips each.

I play tight/aggressive in tourneys with 5+ players in. Not a lot of hands played, and when I'm playing, I'm raising.

This sometimes puts me into a position where I raise preflop then, when the flop eliminates my hand as a contender and I'm facing a big bet, I fold.

This has happened a time or three in this particular tournament with the guy I'll call "Big Stack" (how about just "BS" for short?). With 4 players eliminated, he has over 4k in chips to the board's average 900-ish and he's using it to push people off pots every chance he gets. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play back at him yet because of flops completely missing me.

Anyway, now fast-forward to final 4. I'm middle stack, BS is still big stack, and I've loosened up my starting hand requirements somewhat (this being final 4 and all). BS watches me eliminate #4 and then #3 from the tourney.

Now it's me and BS head-to-head. He has 5500 or so, I have 4500.

We play back and forth a few hands, nobody committing much, nobody really getting an advantage.

A hand comes where I have KQs and I raise preflop. He calls.

Flop is rags, and all diamonds (I have hearts). He throws out an all-in. I fold.

More back & forth play.

Then I get Ax offsuit and raise going in again.

BS calls.

Flop comes down rags, rainbow. Didn't hit my second card so I don't have a pair either. I'm first to act. I throw in a 1/2 pot bet to see where I'm at.

He throws all-in. At this point, I have about 1200 chips in my stack and BS's all-in covers me. The pot is a good 5-6k.

What do you do?

I'll post my thought process (quick as it was) and results when I get a chance this afternoon.

[TexasKowboy]

When I get heads up it's all in or fold. No raising and getting called. All that does is make you make a decission when you miss. I will fold a lot of hands Jx, Qx even Kx. but if I get PP or two broadway cards or Ax I am all in.

If he just wants to call my blind and I have trash I will let him. If I hit or he shows weakness it's all in. If I have a hand in the BB and he limps it's all in. I don't win all of my heads up matches but I win most of them.

As for your hand. You have to call all in because the blinds will eat you up next hand and your not going to see anything as good as what you have right now.

[BigPhish]

[TexasKowboy]

[BigPhish]

Results:

One thought immediately shot through my mind: "bullshit". It was so strong, I didn't pause to think about anything else - pot commitment, busting out, nothing. I haven't been playing very long (couple months) so I frequently question my instincts / reads, but I didn't even have time to this time. My mouse just went to the Call button and off we went. (Probably a bad move in the long run.)

Right after I clicked the "Call" button, my next thought was, "...or an A could fall...".

As the software flipped over his 63o (no pairs on board for him, either), he made a comment: "Interesting play there..."

Right after I won the hand, I typed back, "What, calling BS on you?"

I knocked him out next hand.

Looking back at his play over the course of the tournament, I know exactly why my mind jumped to the conclusion it did. As a result, I'm learning to trust my first impressions a bit more. Still, I should think a bit before I commit all my chips, no?

[TexasKowboy]

Always try to get a read on players you did a great job here. As the SnG is in progress watch each hand even if your not involved. Pick up on the weaker players betting habits. Small = big, big = small. everytime they have PP they bet half the pot. AK they bet 10X the BB. A lot of weaker players are creatures of habit. That is why it is best to bet the same amount whatever it may be if your bluffing or playing a monster.

Try and target the bluffer and get head up with him. Then when you flop any pair become a calling station for him. He will bluff the flop. Just call after a very short pause. He will check the turn. Check with him. He will then bet big on the river. Just call him. If he's beat a re-raise is just going to make him fold. If he got lucky and sucked out you didn't lose everything and go after him again.

He will ask you how could you call such a big raise with that. Don't tell him! let him think your a dumb fish. Make notes on him as a bluffer for down the road.

Different players to look for in a SnG.

The Bluffer - Most of the time this guy will over play AJ when it missed the flop. He will also over bet small pocket pairs and bottom or middle pair when over cards are on the board.

The Dreamer - This guy is just hoping to catch a hand AKA Calling station. Watch this guy when he stops calling and starts betting.

The Straight Shooter - He plays premium hands and is usually tight/aggressive. AKA The Rock.

The A Any - this guy raises and chashes with any Ace. He also likes to play any 2 suited cards. AKA The Fish they don't last much past the 3rd level.

The Pro - AKA The Shark, this is who you want to be. You want to combine the Bluffer, the Dreamer and the Straight Shooter into one poker playing machine. Knowing when to be whom is a trick that takes forever to master. But when your "in a zone" and your playing like the Pro you know it.

[JohnnyFourthSt]

[TexasKowboy]