PokerSoup Forums > General > head's up play: BB, SB

head's up play: BB, SB

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1. • Posted by Craig 2008-11-15 19:26:11
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   • My co-worker got into a discussion last night about who become the BB and SB when from 3 players down to 2 in a tourney.
     After the 3rd player is gone, the button moves forward as normal. But now the button is the SB and the other guy is the BB. Dealer acts first, right???

     My co-worker was arguing that the button is the BB and act's after the SB. He went through all 3 possible possibilities when 3 go down to 2 players and how it makes sense for the button to be the BB. He swears he's right. I swear he's wrong.

     We agree that the SB acts first but who is the SB? Button or not-the-button?

     I guess I could google it but its much for fun to discuss it. btw, does someone know a source that explains it and the logic behind it???

2. • Posted by jonschwartz 2008-11-16 11:33:56
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   • the button is the sb heads up. the logic behind it is that it forces action from the player at a disadvantage. in a full ring game, the players at the biggest disadvantage (because they're first to act on 3 of 4 streets) are forced into the pot in the blinds. likewise, the player not on the button heads up is at a disadvantage for most of the hand, and therefore is forced to put more money in the pot. it's a lot like the bring in in stud. the low card brings it in because the lowest card on the board is presumably the worst hand, so he's forced to put money in the pot. otherwise the game would be too nitty.

3. • Posted by Tony Gags 2008-11-16 19:36:45
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   • Jon is correct

4. • Posted by Jason M 2008-11-19 18:16:25
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   • Another way to look at it is that the same player doesn't act first before and after the flop. Last action advantage is given to the big blind preflop (not the button) and the button has it on all further streets.

     So make sure you complete from the small blind almost all the time when you are heads up unless your opponent is a raising machine.

5. • Posted by Tony Gags 2008-11-19 18:33:03
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   • IN tournaments when you are heads up with a weaker player, limping with most hands is definately best. When playing vs a player who tends to not raise much out of his big blind but calls too many of your raises, you want to keep the pots small pre flop so there is room to manuvure in position with the escalating blinds. In a deep stack cash game since the blinds never go up I prefer to 2x raise or fold most hands on the button vs these weaker players so it. A widens my range and B. Saves me a bet vs easily readable opponents who tend to call too many raises and play predictably post flop.

6. • Posted by Jason M 2008-11-19 18:48:11
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   • Good points. I meant make sure you always at least complete :) And I was of course referring to tournaments. I don't get much of a chance to play heads up cash game. Seems like fun, though!

7. • Posted by Tony Gags 2008-11-19 19:11:58
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   • Yeah Jason I figured you meant tourny's. I just had to throw my "2 cents" in with my cash game mentality lol

8. • Posted by Jason M 2008-11-19 21:41:53
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   • i appreciate it. i'm not nearly as experienced with that as i am with tournaments. do you sit down online and play heads up cash games? i could see how that could be very profitable if you play against the right people!

9. • Posted by Tony Gags 2008-11-20 02:12:49
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   • Not much I am more of a full ring/ 6 max player but if I find a good spot I'll jump in. Not down for the varience since I got the wifey and newborn:)

10. • Posted by Jason M 2008-11-20 05:01:43
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    • good point. i'm more of a recreational player. ;)

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