Online Poker Strategy Articles

HU Holdem Part II: Jon Eaton

What a great time to win a heads-up tournament on PokerStars! I took down the $22 no limit matches this past Wednesday. We got to the final two, and first was set for $1k and second a little over $550. We chopped and saved $200 to play for, giving second $661, and I took first for $881.

I wrote a first installment of this series a few weeks back and never got back to it. Tonight I was running around town doing errands and decided to play a few tournaments when I got home. I started off with a bang in the first match and got out to a quick lead. Then I lost a ton of chips on a bad river and a bad play on my part.

I hadn't been showing a ton of bluffs, but had been caught in a few small-ish pots with real weak hands. It kept my image as loose-aggressive, which was to my liking because this guy kept calling when I wanted him to.

Seat 1: first opponent (1180 in chips)
Seat 2: sketchy1 (1820 in chips)
first opponent: posts small blind 25
sketchy1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [Jh Qs]
first opponent: calls 25
sketchy1: checks

I had been raising a lot when he limped on the button, because he did it so frequently. So in a few pots when I had a marginal hand like QJ, I wanted to just check and see a free flop. If I raised with every hand like this, I would get re-bluffed out a lot when he limp-re-raised all-in. He would play back on a rare occasion, but I had to give him some slack or else it would be obvious I was stealing all the time.

*** FLOP *** [8d Jd Ah]
sketchy1: bets 50
first opponent: calls 50

Since he had limped a ton, QJ looked like the best hand and I had to bet something.

*** TURN *** [8d Jd Ah] [Js]
sketchy1: bets 150
first opponent: calls 150
*** RIVER *** [8d Jd Ah Js] [Ks]
sketchy1: bets 400
first opponent: raises 400 to 800

I probably should have checked the river, or bet less. I thought the re-raise here by me on the end was a bad play at first, but I don't think it's a huge mistake either, considering it just cost 130 more chips. If I thought my hand was good, then it would be foolish to just call instead of raising him his last few chips. He will call no matter what, and there's a chance my hand is the best. Regardless, I think I should have bet less on the river, as I should have been observant enough to realize QT was a possibility. I got bent on believing that they had a missed diamond draw or an ace, and were just trying to bluff me out or get value from top pair. sketchy1: raises 400 to 1200
first opponent: calls 130 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
sketchy1: shows [Jh Qs] (three of a kind, Jacks)
first opponent: shows [Qh Th] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
first opponent collected 2360 from pot

However, I chipped away pot after pot on a short stack and finally took control again. The final hand went down like this.

Seat 1: first opponent (1235 in chips)
Seat 2: sketchy1 (1765 in chips)
first opponent: posts small blind 50
sketchy1: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [Ad 5h]
first opponent: calls 50
sketchy1: raises 300 to 400
first opponent: calls 300

Once again he kept limping on the button, and I kept going after what I perceived to be dead money in the pot.

*** FLOP *** [5s Qd Kh]
sketchy1: bets 1000
first opponent: calls 835 and is all-in

My stomach turned when they called'

*** TURN *** [5s Qd Kh] [8d]
*** RIVER *** [5s Qd Kh 8d] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
sketchy1: shows [Ad 5h] (a pair of Fives)
first opponent: shows [Js Ac] (high card Ace)
sketchy1 collected 2470 from pot

Then I was relieved when my hand was good and held up. I was off to a good start, and started off the second match the same as this one. I kept my pots small and played very slow and steady. Once again I chipped away, picking up pot after pot uncontested. The key to heads up play are pots like the following one, where you really don't have a big hand, but have to get value out of it anyway. Maybe the value is the strength of the hand, like second pair and your opponent doesn't act too interested in the pot, or the value of simply your opponent not having enough to call you with.

Seat 1: Second opponent (3280 in chips)
Seat 2: sketchy1 (2720 in chips)
Second opponent: posts small blind 20
sketchy1: posts big blind 40
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [5h Kd]
Second opponent: raises 40 to 80
sketchy1: calls 40
*** FLOP *** [3s 6d 2c]
sketchy1: checks
Second opponent: bets 80
sketchy1: calls 80

I had a thought either my king high was good, or they were really weak and I could steal the pot later if they didn't bet the turn or I hit good. I figured a king, four or five would be best, and if not, I had to believe I had some bluffing opportunities if the board came good on the river. Something like a six or another medium card.

*** TURN *** [3s 6d 2c] [Js]
sketchy1: checks
Second opponent: checks
*** RIVER *** [3s 6d 2c Js] [Tc]
sketchy1: bets 200
Second opponent: folds
sketchy1 collected 320 from pot
sketchy1: doesn't show hand

There's nothing great about this play by any means. I'm not showing it to you to show I bluffed someone out of a pot with king high. I'm showing it because you should see how one of the typical pots in heads up play is played. No one had anything, and neither of us were too interested in playing a big pot. They gave up on the turn, and I stole the pot on the river. They did the same thing to me on a few occasions, or at least, did the same type of thing and bluffed out a weak hand.

You see a lot of big bluffs and so forth on TV, and aren't seeing them in perspective of the war. A small battle, like this 320 chip pot, goes a long ways to winning the war. All of these small pots kept mounting my lead in every match, even when I got caught bluffing or lost a showdown. I rarely didn't have control of a match the whole time.

Seat 1: Second opponent (3640 in chips)
Seat 2: sketchy1 (2360 in chips)
sketchy1: posts small blind 20
Second opponent: posts big blind 40
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [3c Kd]
sketchy1: calls 20
Second opponent: checks
*** FLOP *** [6c 8c Ks]
Second opponent: checks
sketchy1: checks

I had been playing pretty fast, but I also had two gears and checked frequently when I missed a flop. I figured if I bet here, I might get them to fold a six, eight, or something like JT that might make a second best hand on the turn. With only one small straight draw and no flush draw, I figured I could check. The only over-card would be an ace, and I didn't think they held one.

*** TURN *** [6c 8c Ks] [3s]
Second opponent: bets 120
sketchy1: raises 160 to 280
Second opponent: calls 160
*** RIVER *** [6c 8c Ks 3s] [Qc]
Second opponent: checks
sketchy1: bets 400
Second opponent: calls 400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
sketchy1: shows [3c Kd] (two pair, Kings and Threes)
Second opponent: mucks hand
sketchy1 collected 1440 from pot

I was biding my time and playing some pots strange, and picking up calls when I wanted them. I also got a few timely bluffs. Finally I finished this one off with a fairly bold call. As you will see, it looked like I had the best hand' but they hadn't exactly been the bluffing type up to this point. They were playing a very passive game, and my hand felt second best in some respects.

Seat 1: Second opponent (1620 in chips)
Seat 2: sketchy1 (4380 in chips)
sketchy1: posts small blind 50
Second opponent: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [As 8h]
sketchy1: raises 300 to 400
Second opponent: calls 300
*** FLOP *** [Jd 3c 5s]
Second opponent: checks
sketchy1: checks
*** TURN *** [Jd 3c 5s] [8s]
Second opponent: checks
sketchy1: bets 400

Up until this point in the hand, I felt I had the best hand. I didn't bet the flop because if I bet any amount of around 400 chips, I am in a tough spot if they push. It would only be another 800-something to call, even with nothing that could be the best hand it would be a tough decision. I figured I should check and bet when I hit what looked like a good card. If I bet, I might get bluffed off of the best hand by a draw of some sort or a total bluff. Maybe it was a weak check on the flop, but I had my reasons.

Second opponent: raises 820 to 1220 and is all-in
sketchy1: calls 820
*** RIVER *** [Jd 3c 5s 8s] [5d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Second opponent: shows [9c Ah] (a pair of Fives)
sketchy1: shows [As 8h] (two pair, Eights and Fives)
sketchy1 collected 3240 from pot

They could have easily had something like any jack, a set, two pairs, or something similar. It looked like I bet enough that I would be committed, so their all-in was very scary. I mustered up the courage and called, and won the round.

Playing a lot of small pots will give you more information about your opponent at a cheaper cost. You don't have to bet a lot to get people to fold nothing. My third opponent did the same style of poker, and it would be a battle of courage between the two of us. We both knew the other would play with lesser than average hands, so we played the re-raise game a lot. Whoever would put in the second raise usually took the pot down!

Seat 1: sketchy1 (5950 in chips)
Seat 2: Opponent three (6050 in chips)
sketchy1: posts small blind 40
Opponent three: posts big blind 80
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [Kc Ts]
sketchy1: calls 40
Opponent three: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qc Kd 9d]
Opponent three: bets 100
sketchy1: raises 300 to 400
Opponent three: raises 500 to 900
sketchy1: calls 500
*** TURN *** [Qc Kd 9d] [5h]
Opponent three: bets 1200
sketchy1: calls 1200
*** RIVER *** [Qc Kd 9d 5h] [5c]
Opponent three: checks
sketchy1: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Opponent three: shows [Ks 2h] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
sketchy1: shows [Kc Ts] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
Opponent three collected 2180 from pot
sketchy1 collected 2180 from pot

I thought I was gold and check-raised the flop, and when they re-raised I was scared but could still beat a lot of hands so I gave him some action. On the turn I still felt I had the best of it, but I really thought my hand was good against his weaker king or second pair. I also heavily believed he had a pair and flush draw, or a pair and some sort of draw. In some respects, I should have raised here, but I also knew that I might still be drawing and I should make it as cheap as possible to see that draw through.

We kept tangling in pots like this and he started to get the best of me. I was short a little but kept charging back. It was a tight match to say the least.

Seat 1: sketchy1 (5530 in chips)
Seat 2: Opponent three (6470 in chips)
Opponent three: posts small blind 100
sketchy1: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [7d 7s]
Opponent three: raises 400 to 600
sketchy1: raises 1750 to 2350
Opponent three: raises 4120 to 6470 and is all-in
sketchy1: calls 3180 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [6d 4h 9c]
*** TURN *** [6d 4h 9c] [Ad]
*** RIVER *** [6d 4h 9c Ad] [Jh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
sketchy1: shows [7d 7s] (a pair of Sevens)
Opponent three: shows [Qh Ks] (high card Ace)
sketchy1 collected 11060 from pot

He had been raising the button a lot, and I also kept playing back at him. I felt when he re-raised, he thought he was just taking the pot back. I was positive he thought I was really weak, and would fold here. I really thought the sevens were good and decided this was a good spot to double up if they could hold.

I thought I had them done for when I doubled them up in another coin toss hand! Then after that I lost another race, and they were almost even. I also gave them some help when I flopped top two pairs against their made straight. Thank you poker gods. This was followed up shortly after when my KJ couldn't outrun their A6, and we were practically even again.

Seat 1: sketchy1 (7140 in chips)
Seat 2: Opponent three (4860 in chips)
sketchy1: posts small blind 200
Opponent three: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to sketchy1 [As Td]
sketchy1: raises 800 to 1200
Opponent three: raises 3660 to 4860 and is all-in
sketchy1: calls 3660
*** FLOP *** [3s Jh 7c]
*** TURN *** [3s Jh 7c] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [3s Jh 7c Ts] [2d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Opponent three: shows [Ac 9h] (high card Ace)
sketchy1: shows [As Td] (a pair of Tens)
sketchy1 collected 9720 from pot

It was another real close decision but I got lucky and was right. I was ready for round four and the money now! At thirty two players, I was guaranteed just $37.20, which wasn't much of a return. So in the next article, I will talk more about heads up play and show some hands from my next three matches. Until then, good luck out there!

note by gank: Jon Eaton is a great friend of mine, he is a very talented poker player who has had a lot of recent success both in real life and online in No Limit Holdem.