Sit 'n' Go Tournaments (SNGs)
Almost exactly a year ago, following a close analysis of my results, I decided to stop playing cash games and focus on tournament play.
Most of my time since that decision has been focused on playing multi-table tournaments (MTTs), however I have also spent many sessions playing one table Sit n Go's ('SNGs'). When I refer to SNGs, I sub-categorise them in three areas: full table (usually 9 or 10 players), short-handed (usually 5 or 6 players) and heads-up (one opponent).
Whilst I have played a few full table SNGs, most of my time has been focused on playing heads-up and short-handed games. In general, confident in my abilites, and with a bankroll swelled by my success in multi-table tournaments, I have played these SNGs for the highest limits I can find.
In this blog, I am going to share some of my experiences with you with regards to heads-up play. In my next blog, I will discuss my experiences playing short-handed SNGs.
Playing heads-up poker online
From among the top poker rooms featured on Poker Verdict, several offer heads-up tournaments. Pacific Poker has an excellent volume of heads up players with games ranging from $2.50 up to $200 per game. The same can be said of Paradise Poker who additionally give you the option of playing in a $500 game. But the two sites that stand out for high stakes players are UltimateBet and PokerStars, both of whom offer heads-up games for Omaha, as well as holdem and offer the option to play in games up to $5,000 buy-in.
My choice of game
I decided to focus my efforts on PokerStars where I play as thekid08. In March, with just over $7,000 already in my Pokerstars account I decided I would use this bankroll to focus on playing high stakes heads-up poker. The plan was to focus on $500 and $1,000 games, and assuming I was successful, to migrate to $2,000 games.
Off to a flyer
Frankly, for all the confidence I had going into this heads-up trial, I couldn't have dreamed that I would make the start I did. I played five $500 games and I won four of them. I moved up to $1,000 games, played seven games and won five of them. So, a little earlier than intended, I moved up to the $2,000 games. Quite unbelievably, I won the first nine games I played. In a little less than three weeks, I had played 21 games and had won 18 on them with a profit before fees of $22,500 and a total net profit after fees of $21,740!!
A brutal downswing
Sometimes when things seem too easy in life you take them for granted and this was no exception. I started to lose my focus and a lot of my discipline. When I started the experiment, every game meant something and I wanted to extend my winning run as long as I could. Once I made this great start, I started telling myself 'you are a great heads-up player, this is easy money, you have a big edge".
In reality, as you can imagine at these stakes, most of the players are very good, so this was far from the truth. It was even more removed from reality when I started taking liberties, playing two heads-up matches at the same time, or playing a heads-up game while also playing another tournament.
I also made the lethal mistake of playing at stakes beyond my means. I 'traded up' to the $5,000 game. I took a few very bad beats (which will always happen in poker, of course) and I consequently played out two losing sessions at these much larger stages. In just these two sessions, all my previous profits were wiped out.
My figures for May, June and July made ugly reading. In the period, I made a collective loss including fees of just over $38,000. I had gone from a high point of a $22k profit to a low of a $16k deficit.
Stopping the bleeding
I keep detailed records on all the poker I play. Over the period May/June/July, I managed to win money in other disciplines that initially hid the terrible downswing in my heads-up fortunes. But around the end of July, I started analysing my heads-up results and the full horror hit me. How had I let it get so bad? I resolved to put it right and started by trying to identify the areas that needed improvement. I have detailed some my thoughts below and hope that they may be a useful guide to anyone trying to make money playing heads-up games.
When and where you play. I had much more success when I played without any background noise or TV. Full concentration is needed to play top level players. Also no multi-tabling, no play when too tired and no short sessions. If you play a couple of games and lose - don't start trying to get even for the session. Unless conditions are right, call it a day - it is long-term not short-term profits that count! Similarly, if you win a couple of games you don't always have to go on a tear and try and win five in a row. Be content to call it a day and come back refocused and ready to add to your winning streak later on.
Who you play. Initially I was very cautious about playing new people or players I ear-marked as being strong heads-up specialists. When I was over-confident this went out the window. To maximise profits there is nothing wrong with being selective and either way you should always keep detailed notes on your opponent's playing style for future reference.
How you play. I noticed that I was playing a very creative and varied game and that this helped me regularly beat other creative players who I could tempt into bluffing. But there are many successful heads up players who play a relatively tight-solid game. Against these players, my creative play would only ever win me small pots whilst losing me bigger ones - a formula for losing poker! To play against the best you must be a chameleon, adapting your strategy according to opponent and situation. For me, this means, when the situation demands, I have to roll up my sleeves and slog it out with the rocks.
On the postive front...
Since this analysis I have lost a further $4,000 but feel I am playing much better and it is only a matter of time 'til I turn the corner. I have also put the knowledge gained to good use, compiling a guide for all Poker Verdict readers on some of the best heads-up players out there. Also I have earned a hell of a lot of Frequent Player Points at PokerStars (their equivalent to air miles). So far this has bought me $1,000 in free tournament buy-ins, some funky clothing, some top poker books and even a 24-inch LCD TV and monitor!
Lets hope the monitor displays a return to better form for thekid08. I'll keep you posted
Until next time...
1 September 2006
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