Playing heads up

[smithj]

Hello ppl, quick question... would you prefer to play alone (heads up against the dealer) or with other players at the table? I mean, would you consider this an advantage? I know that most of you play in crowded tables but in my case I would normally play HU. Also, if playing alone would you consider playing two boxes from the beginning, without considering the TC? (to see more cards per hand so that we can have a better read of the shoe)

J.

 

[johndoe]

Heads up is usually better, as you profit more from higher hands per hour. The only drawback is you can't wong in (generally).

Playing with two hands heads-up doesn't give you any real advantage.

 

[21forme]

I prefer one other at the table. That way I can sit out a hand or two, or take a break and have the other player eat the bad cards.

 

[matt21]

IMHO, playing heads-up is the way to go. if you can spread enough then the higher number of hands per hour and the fact that you no one else (other than the dealer) shares the high counts with you, are well enough to overcome the disadvantage of not being able to wong.
once i ran through all the numbers (doing sims) i tried to only play heads-up. it might be hard to do that at lower min tables though. the difference between playing at a crowded table and playing heads-up was big!

i tend to spread to 2 hands at +1 or higher as it increase EV whilst keeping ROR the same (or reduce ROR with same EV).

 

[smithj]

Thanks all for the good advice.

 

[shadroch]

I fin I do better gathering comps than actually winning money so I prefer a crowded slow table myself. 50-60 hands an hour is fine with me.