[Isura]

Originally Posted by sh58

in a HU cash game i start my sessions against an unknown with a polarised range because i'm not sure of their calling frequency and calling range so i can gather some info by 3betting a hand that i am never getting in trouble with postflop (typically small suited cards), so that in effect it doesn't matter what his freq./range is if he happens to call the 1st time i 3bet because i am only stacking off with 2 pair+ or a draw where i at least have guaranteed equity against any range.

obviously against an unknown i will be 3betting with my standard strong 3betting range for heads as well up which is about 99+, AJ+ and proceeding postflop with standard lines.

as i continue my 3betting range will change depending on what i have found out about my opponent, just like you said already.

when you say depolarizing your range against someone who calls the 3bets really light, you really should (and probably are) be saying that you just cut out the marginal hands out completely and concentrate on 3betting any hand that figures to be ahead of his calling range, or at least plays well against his range so that you can always call a shove with top pair for instance w/o being dominated too often

another factor is how observant an opponent is. obviously against an observant opponent who plays well you need as wide a range of calling his SB opens and as wide a range of hands to 3bet as possible so that he can't narrow your range too much in either case.

a final factor that is very important obviously is how he plays postflop, because it doesn't matter how often he calls your 3bets if he folds to your Cbets unless he has a really strong hand

last point i wanna make is that your 3bet range is also affecting how polarised your calling range is to his SB opens, so that is something to consider. as interesting a topic is which hands are you calling his opens with, because you want to avoid having too narrow a range here as well.

Define 'getting in trouble postflop'. I think you are overestimating the problem of domination in HU. When you flop gutshots/2nd pair with small suited cards, and get floated or shoved on it is not exactly a good spot (where we will often have decent equity with overcard outs/have the best hand against a draw).