2013/05/13

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 7th Update

Hi people,

First of all, I apologize for my "long" absence.
In the previous post, I talked about doing 100 extra games of 7$ NL Heads-Up since the things didn't go as I expected. However, I've decided later on to do 250 games (the repetition of the 3rd level) since it also doesn't went so well, and here are the statistics and results:
  • number of victories - 136;
  • number of losses - 114;
  • total invested - 1750$;
  • total won - 1814,24$;
  • profit - 64,24$;
  • number of VPP won - 455.

It was nothing special also and I've finished with a bankroll of 297,92$ (quite far from the 350$ that I expected).
Anyway, I am going to the next level (15$ NL Heads-UP) and soon I will talk about how is it going.

See you at the tables.

2013/03/24

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 6th Update

Hi everyone,

The 3rd level is done (7,00$ NL Heads-Up) and here are the statistics and results:
  • number of victories - 135;
  • number of losses - 115;
  • total invested - 1750$;
  • total won - 1800,90$;
  • profit - 50,90$;
  • number of VPP won - 455.

This level went worst than I have thought. A lot of bad beats, a lot of bad players (it doesn't mean that I am a good one, as I said in a post before) doing unbelievable things and the tilt...

I have some hands that I would like to show and discuss with all off you. I also would like to see your opinions and how would you play at the same situations.


Here is the first hand. I was with 675 Chips, quite short, and the other player with 2325 Chips. The Blinds were at the level 15$/30$. He was the Dealer, first to talk pre-Flop, and makes a simple call. I made a small raise, from 30 to 90 Chips, the other player calls, and the Flop came. Since I was very short and I had two pairs, I've decided to make an instant ALL-IN. The other player makes an instant call with an amazing pocket pair of 4's and the result is shown. A Flush on the River with a Diamond on the hand...


The second hand that I want to show can be seen above. I was the Chip-leader of the tournament with 1765 chips and the other player was with 1235 chips. The Blinds were at the level 20$/40$ and the other player was the Dealer. He raised pre-Flop from 40$ to 80$ and since I had the best hand, a pocket pair of Aces, I have decided to raise him 3 times (from 80$ to 240$). The other player calls and the Flop came. I was the first to talk and I forced him to bet everything or to fold (I made a bet of 994 chips and he had 995). He raises to 995 chips, I called and the Flop came. The rest can be seen.


And here is the last one that happened in this level. I would describe it as unbelievable.
As can be seen, I was de Dealer, the Blinds were at the level 10$/20$, and I made a simple call pre-Flop. The other player checks it and the Flop came. Since we were playing very aggressive and since I had the Top Pair I've decided to make an instant ALL-IN. The other player calls it at the same instant and the result can be seen. What does he have to make such a call? Absolutely nothing, possibility of nothing and he made an amazing Three of a Kind. Fantastic.


My actual Bankroll is at 233,68$ and the 4th level of the challenge (15$ NL Heads-Up) should start now. However, and since I don't feel quite comfortable to play this level with just 15 Buy-ins, I am going to do 100 extra games of 7$ NL Heads-Up and try to get close to 350$. I know that these extra games were not on the plan of the challenge, but in my opinion it makes sense to do that to don't through it all way.

Good luck to everyone and see you at the tables.

2013/03/16

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 5th Update

Half of the 3rd level is done (125 games) and I have to say that this is not going well. I am in a tremendous down-swing. I get crazy with some things that I see in this level. Even worst than 3,50$ NL Heads-UP.
Anyway, here are the statistics:
  • number of victories - 60;
  • number of losses - 65.

I will keep on play and see how it will finish.

Good luck guys and see you at the tables.

2013/03/06

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 4th Update

Hi people,

The 2nd level (3,50$ NL Heads-Up) of my challenge is finished and here are the statistics and results:
  • number of victories - 157;
  • number of losses - 93;
  • total invested - 875$;
  • total won - 1033,06;
  • profit - 158,06$;
  • number of VPP won - 290.

I think this went better than what I thought, specially the last 125 games. Maybe it is not so good for the amount of games that I've made, but in my opinion 158,06$ of profit in 3,50$ NL Heads-Up is not so bad.

I promised in the previous post to talk about some hands. However, I can just talk about one since I've just made one print screen.


At the beginning of this hand, I was the Chip-Leader with 2200 Chips and the other player had 800. The blinds were at the level 20$/40$ and since I was the Dealer, I've decided to make just a simple call pre-Flop. The Flop came and the other player, the first to "talk", bets 80$. Since I had the nuts on the Flop I raised him to 240$ (3 times his bet). My opponent goes at the same instant ALL-IN and, as it is obvious, I called him. The result can be seen.
That happens a lot of times in Heads-Up Poker or, at least, it happens a lot of times to me.
Please give me your opinions and say what have you made in this situation.

Anyway, I have already started the 3rd level (7,00$ NL Heads-Up) with the initial bankroll of 158,06$ (around 22 buy-ins, I know that it is a "suicide" strategy) and once I reach 125 games, a post will be made.

Good luck to everyone and see you at the tables.

2013/02/23

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 3rd Update

Hi everybody,

The first 125 games (of 250) in the 3,50$ level are done and here the statistics and results:
  • number of victories - 75;
  • number of losses - 50.
 
The first 65 games were really good and I have almost reached 100$. However, a small down-swing made me lose around 20$. At the moment my bankroll is at 80,72$ and let's see if I can reach the 150$ in the next 125 games.
I will try to make the print screens of some typical hands in Heads-Up Poker and then show it here.

Good luck to everyone and see you at the tables.

2013/02/08

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 2nd Update

First level (1,50$ NL Heads-UP) is done and here the statistics and results:
  • number of victories - 141;
  • number of losses - 109;
  • total invested - 375$;
  • total won - 389,16$;
  • profit - 14,16$;
  • number of VPP won - 0,66x250=165.

As can be seen, the results are quite bad. A lot of "bad" players (it does not mean that I am a good one, but I cannot make some things that I see everyday, like all-ins pre-flop with 6 3 and so on) in this level and it is hard to don't tilt.
Anyway, I am going to start the next level (250 games of 3,50$ NL Heads-Up) with the initial bankroll of 24,72$ (10,56$ from my initial bankroll at the beginning of the challenge plus the profit from the 1st level). That's not even 10 buy-ins but "no risk, no fun". I am expecting to don't find so many "bad" players at this level and I will try to play very concentrated (something that it's not easy sometimes).

Good luck to everyone and see you at the tables.

2013/02/02

The Big Heads-Up Challenge - 1st Update

So here are the statistics and a graphic with the variation of my Bankroll related to the first 125 games of 1,50$ NL Heads-Up:
  • number of victories - 77;
  • number of losses - 48.

As you can see, I had a good start and then a down-swing between the games 40 and 50, also provoked for some bad decisions that I have mad.
Anyway, I think is not so bad, but I have to improve my game in the next 125 games of this level, play more concentrated and try to don´t lose at least more than 100 games.
If you have comments to do with your opinions or suggestions, please fell free and don´t hesitate.

See you at the tables.

2013/01/30

Return and "The Big Heads-Up Challenge"

Hi everybody,

Almost 2 years passed since last time I wrote here. Many things contributed for my absence but I am not going to talk about them. However, I've decided to reactivate my Blog and I will try to keep it active.
I have decided to make The Big Heads-Up Challenge, at PokerStars, that consists on starting with a bankroll of 10,56$ and play the following number of games and levels:
  • 250 games 1,50$ NL Heads-Up;
  • 250 games 3,50$ NL Heads-Up;
  • 250 games 7,00$ NL Heads-Up;
  • 250 games 15,00$ NL Heads-Up.
In total, I should play 1000 games and in every level I must get an acceptable profit to go to the next one. I am not following the "rule" of the 100 buy-ins for my bankroll management (maybe I am doing it wrong), and I will go to another level if I will feel quite comfortable at the end of the 250 games in the previous level.

I have already started the Challenge and an update of that will be made soon.

Good luck everyone and see you at the tables.