Playing Heads Up

If you are aiming at winning when playing tournaments, heads up play is something you will have to get to grips with.

Start Cards

One of the first things to be aware of is that you should and must play a much greater range of start cards. Hands such as T-8, Q-5 and K-4 which you would normally fold in a normal game, are raising hands that will win more often than not. Pairs, aces and high suited cards are monster hands in head-up poker.

Hands that you shouldn’t play are those containing two middle or low cards, even if they are suited, connected or both.

High cards win pots in heads up, low cards lose pots.

Style of play

In regards to your playing style, aggressive is far the best. It is more successful in heads up to win lots of small pots rather than the occasional huge one. The best way to do this is to keep your opponent under constant pressure. Calling is a defensive option and not really something you should be doing much of.

Position

In heads up you are either first or second to act. If your first you should always bet, even on rubbish hands. By doing this you are putting the pressure on your opponent and most of the time they will probably have a rubbish hand and will fold. It won’t work all the time and if you hand is truly bad you will have to be prepared to fold if your bet is called but least you are keeping the pressure on.

Stack size

The further ahead you are, the more aggressive you should be playing. The more short stacked your opponent becomes, the less inclined they will become to bet and this lets you win many uncontested pots.

If you are the well behind, then all-in bet is your way back into the game. Go all in with any hand better than J-7.

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