Sit and Go Guide - Playing heads-up poker at the end

Sit and Go Guide - Playing heads-up poker at the end

While many glamorize heads-up no limit hold'em as the ultimate test of skill, the truth is that in a sit and go tournament, heads-up play is usually the simplest and most mathematical portion of the tournament. The reason for this that usually the stacks are small enough - fifteen big blinds or so - that the only correct plays are pushing all-in or folding. While it is hard to get a big edge in this situation for this very reason, many of your opponents will make big mistakes and so you can still come out ahead in the long run.

The button/small blind

On the button you are first to act preflop and have to post the smaller blind. In a short stack situation it is actually something of an advantage to act first, and of course it is better to have to put less money in the pot without looking at your cards. The correct play here is usually to push all-in, but sometimes to fold your worst hands. With any ace, any pair, and any two face cards, you should push in against all opponents with fifteen times the big blind or less. With twelve big blinds you can add hands like king-medium and suited connectors. With ten or less you should push any face card in addition to these hands. And with eight big blinds or less you should push with any two cards. It seems like you might be risking too much to win too little, but the reality is that you usually will have a 35-40% chance to win when called even when pushing with a truly trashy hand. You aren't "risking your whole stack" when you push, but simply risking playing a pot as an underdog, which will usually only cost you one or two big blinds in expectation while you win 1.5 if you push and win the blinds. Naturally, if you know your opponent is a chronic caller with hands that don't really warrant it, you might choose to fold some of the worst hands when your stack is large, but don't take this too far. With many of these hands, you could show your cards to your opponent and pushing would still be highly profitable.

The big blind

In the big blind you will often be facing an all-in push from your opponent. Your decision to call should be based on what range of hands you think they are pushing, and the odds the pot is offering you to call. Quite simply if you are getting 2 to 1 or better you should always call, and you should just about always call getting 1.5 to 1 or better. There are just few very hands that have you in a situation where you aren't going to win at least 30-40% of the time. Above that dependes more on your opponents range. For example an opponent pushes ten big blinds into you, you will be getting 11 to 9 on your call meaning you need to win 45% of the time to profit. At this level a good default range to call with is any ace, king ten or better, queen jack suited, and any pair. But if your opponent is extremely aggressive, pushing nearly every hand, you can add more marginal calling hands like the weaker kings and suited face cards. And if your opponent is the type to limp unless he picks up a monster, you should of course be folding without a large pair or ace yourself.

Against players that limp on the button

Many players will limp in on the button. This is usually a bad play, but you still need to react correctly against it. Usually you should respond by pushing. Push a range similar to what you would push on the button in this situation. Usually an opponent will limp with slightly better than average hands, but this is offset by the fact that there is more money in the pot as they have added another half a bet. With trash hands, check and take a flop. One common mistake many players make from here is checking too many flops in this situation when they miss. The type of player to limp on the button is usually not very aggressive, and you can steal a lot of pots with small bets. A good strategy is to make a minimum bet (half the pot here) each time you hit the flop, plus on about half the flops that you miss. This bluff doesn't cost much, but against most opponents who will automatically fold if they miss the flop, can be very effective.

Most sit and go strategy is complex enough that a simple guide like this one will only provide the fundamentals, but for heads up play with small stacks, nearly everything you need to know is right here. Remember, the most common mistake made is folding too much, followed by limping on the button. Your opponents may constantly seem to be getting the better of the luck in the all-in showdowns, but stay aggressive and you will win more than you will lose in the end.