Heads up Poker Strategy
One of the most important phases of poker is the
heads up poker strategy. There are many players
that are very good at a full table poker game
but when they get down to a short handed game
they just do not play well. As a poker player
you have to realize that there is very big
difference between a full table, short handed
table and heads up. Just because you are good at
playing a full table cash game does
not mean you will be good heads up. The
good news is that there are ways to become good.
Aggressive Poker
The best heads up players are always the most
aggressive players. That is just the style that
needs to be played when you are heads up. You
have to be able to win as many blinds and small
pots as possible, and set your opponents up when
you have the chance. Even if you wait for a big
hand; who is to say you will ever get paid off?
You have to think of it like this. There are
only two of you that are playing in the game.
That means that there are only 2 hands that are
being played. Your hand value is going to go up
drastically then what it would be if you were in
a full table game. You have to remember the fact
that your opponent is not going to catch a hand
anymore then you are. Chances are, if you can be
more aggressive; you
will come out ahead in the end.
Hand Selection
In any part of poker hand selection is very
important. That is no different when you are
playing heads up. The big difference however, is
that you are going to have a much wider hand
selection then normal. You will want to raise
anytime that you think you have your opponent
beat. With any ace, king and other high cards
closer together, you should raise. In normal
circumstances you would probably not raise with
Ace 3. When you are playing heads up you raise
with Ace 3 every time.
Pocket Pairs
If there has ever been a time that a pocket pair
was important it is when you are heads up. If
you have any pair in the hole (big or small) you
probably have your opponent beat or you are at
least a coin flip. Go back to the aggressive
part and take advantage of that fact. Bet as
much as you can, and if you are called you can
rely on the fact that you are probably in a good
spot.
Get it in while you are Ahead
It is always important to get as much money in
the pot as you possibly can when you are ahead.
It is even more important when you are playing
heads up. Unless you have a monster and you are
trying to trap your opponent; you should always
get your money in when you know you are ahead.
Players tend to call more while playing heads up
anyways so you might as well take advantage of
that. You would be surprised what people will
call with before the flop when you go all in
with JJ – take advantage of that.
If heads up strategy had to be summed up into
just one word; it would have to be aggression.
There is nothing that is more important then
being aggressive when you are playing poker
heads up. If you keep that in mind you are
guaranteed to do better then you did before you
started playing aggressive. |
