So I'm playing heads up NL cash games. The problem is I think I'm getting grinded. I'm loosing. Like nowhere else I would say. So I asked myself why. Here is what I've found:

* the regs there fold whenever I have value, generally on the second (turn) barrel
* whenever I'm behind, they are barrelling and putting me on weird spots.
* kind of got to fold constantly

I think they are exploiting me

So, I had to do something. What I've done is that I've observed a table for hours. I've looked at them playing
What I've discovered is still bugging me.

The first thing that blew my mind is that they play actually very differently with me and when they do against each other.

Basically, whenever they have mid-strength value, they will actually, often be defending their air range at the same time. So when they have top pair IP for example, instead of barreling the turn, they will check as they would with air.

I'm pretty sure that when they however double barrel, they are on made hands or on drawing hands -- which they balance that way I think.

It's almost like a system, like a contract.

So I tried. And it seems to work. I'm not sure. It's super weird. It seems that instead of getting barreled whenever I dont want to, it's not the case anymore. I've been able to put some ridiculous river bluff which becomes now plausible because 1) I can have any two cards and 2) "remember that sting?". I've also get some extra value from hands I would not have made a dime would have I barreled.

Oh there is the 3bet pots too. By protecting my air range on 3bet pot -- by literally checking the flop and sometimes the turn, I've discovered a new world. Long story short, the bluffs there are super cool and you catch quite easily all the 96s.

Overall, I think the most valuable thing is that my turn check range is now strong. It kind of makes sense since that barreling the turn decides between 2 and 3 barrel hands. If I 3 barrel all my mid strength hand, then whenever I dont, I'm just super weak.

The problem is, ultimately, I have no idea what I'm doing here. Maybe I've just dreamed for a couple of sessions. What's particularly bugging me is: when am I supposed to extract value now?

A couple of ideas:

* I can bet safe rivers with my top pair and my total air -- I make value from middle pairs and then from middle pairs respectively ???
* I can double barrel my top pairs on semi-drawy boards ???
* ???

It's terrific to have top pair and not barrel the turn. What am I supposed to do IP and OOP? When do I beat my opponent exactly in that scheme? The way I understand it is: once in a while, and as much as I can before my opponent change gears. Damn it's complicated.

I actually cross posted this (initially in beginner forum). The problem is that in the beginner forum the discussion is all about why those games are not for me. Can we concentrate on the theory instead please?

A little more info on your bet sizing might be helpful, that might be the missing piece of your puzzle. Are you a half pot bettor, 2/3? Do you change your sizing based on your hand that makes you easier to read? Based on the number of opponents in pot? Varying your bet sizing (sometimes low value bets w made hands, sometimes on your bluffs, same with larger bets). It can just throw an extra wrench in the works that your opponents have to wonder about, and is a way to extract value by getting them to misread you. Only if youre willing to make a variety of bet sizes with many different hands though.

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