Heads-up Strategy

Heads-up is basically an extreme version of short handed play, and therefore everything that makes short-handed tables different from full-handed ones is valid in its case two times over. The luck factor exerts an increased influence in heads-up situations, and because of that, despite the fact that there is an optimal way to approach this situation, the luck factor will also have one hell of a word to say in the outcome.

Since there’s not a whole lot you can do about the luck factor, let’s focus on things you can actually manipulate in order to improve your chances. Starting hand selection should be changed radically when playing heads-up. Throw your usual hand selection out the window: not only do all starting hands improve when playing against a single opponent: unless you play many of your starting hands, you won’t be able to put pressure on your opponent and won’t be able to be aggressive. Anything with an A or K in it becomes a monster starting hand, and pocket pairs gain huge value regardless of how big or small they are.

Another thing that needs to be said about starting hand selection is that the criteria by which you usually decide whether or not a starting hand is strong enough will have to be radically changed as well. As you probably know, the weakest starting hand in Texas Holdem is the 7,2o. Now then, what would you say if I told you that the same hand wasn’t the weakest in heads-up play? When playing heads-up, the values of the cards in your starting hand gain additional importance. Instead of the 7,2o, the worst starting hand in heads-up play will be the 2,3o. Do not give too much credit to suited cards. In heads-up, such implied odds hands lose a lot of value. Hands that are already made are the real deal there.

Aggression is the one word which most accurately describes optimal heads-up strategy. Exert pressure on your opponent paying attention to your position. Position is extremely important in poker in general and it retains that significance in heads-up play too. The player who has position on his/her opponent has total control over how the betting shall proceed.

Redefine your ‘made hand’ standards as well. If you only hit middle pair on the flop, or even low pair, the odds are pretty good that you have the best hand at the table. Do not be shy to act on these hands.

Don’t be shy of shoving all-in either when you think you might have the best hand. The all-in is a powerful psychological weapon in heads-up poker, as it puts far more pressure on your opponents than an equal size raise would if it didn’t mean an all-in. Going all-in is subconsciously viewed as a declaration of total war by your opponent. If the first time you manage to make him fold, the second or third time around the pressure kicks in and he’s much more likely to call you with a potentially weaker hand.

Another thing you need to know about heads-up play is that it is rewarded extremely well by rakeback. Heads-up, you’ll play more hands per hour than at any other table, and that means you’ll end up generating more rake too. A rakeback deal is the only way to recover some of the money that you lose through the poker rake, and because you’re going to lose a lot at your heads-up table, you’d do better to sign up for one before you begin playing.