Heads Up Poker : ...

[Kramer]

Have you ever been in a heads-up poker match and realized
just how much DIFFERENT one-on-one poker is from
multi-player poker?

Most players learn strategies for winning no limit Texas
Holdem when there are 4... 6... 8... or 12 players at the
table.

Not 2.

Yet, you can't win a game or a tournament without MASTERING
heads-up play.


In fact, heads-up play is perhaps the MOST
IMPORTANT aspect of Texas Holdem... and here's why:

If you can't win at heads-up poker, you'll never come in
first place.


Period.


Most players-- when they make it to a heads-up match-- are
COMPLETELY CLUELESS and don't know what to do. Especially
when it comes to DEFENDING a chip lead.

Why is that?

I think there are three main reasons...

1. Most players only make it to a heads-up match once in
awhile.... so they have very little EXPERIENCE playing poker
one-on-one.

2. The strategies for starting hands, odds, tells, and
betting are so RADICALLY DIFFERENT for heads-up poker
versus-- say, at an 8-man table-- that most players don't
have the KNOWLEDGE needed.

3. Most players don't get to watch and study poker GREATS
play heads-up Holdem, because even the greats will only make
it to a heads-up match once in awhile.



You see, when you have a big chip lead in heads-up action, the first secret is YOU MUST ATTACK.

To get a perspective on this, think about how you play when
you're the SHORT STACK...

You're prepared to go all-in as soon as possible, right?

Well, you must use this to your ADVANTAGE when you're the
big stack, and PUT YOUR OPPONENT ALL-IN right away... rather
than the other way around.

When you have a big chip lead, YOU must be the one to create
"coin-toss" situations... and fast.

A coin-toss situation is when both players have virtually
equal odds... and the winning hand is determined by whatever
the flop, turn, and river cards are.

In heads-up poker, any starting hand with a FACE CARD is
playable. Or any pocket pair. It's that simple.

If you've got a big chip lead on your opponent and he CHECKS
or LIMPS-IN (calls the blinds), then you should IMMEDIATELY
put him all-in.

He wouldn't be checking or limping-in if he had ANYTHING
DECENT at all...

If he folds, you've stolen the blinds from him, which is
crucial. If he calls, you've created a coin-toss situation.

Odds are you'll win at least one out of every two coin toss
situations. Or at the very least, you'll win one out of
three.

Here's a basic summary of the "rules" you should follow when
playing heads-up poker with a huge chip lead. When I say
"huge", I'm talking about 10 to 1 or more...

Of course, you won't START with a 10:1 chip lead very often
(like I did against Brandon), but you will frequently BECOME
the 10:1 chip leader in a heads-up match if you're a skilled
player.

And that's the exact moment when you MUST PULL THE TRIGGER AND WIN THE GAME.

If you don't, the chip stacks can quickly even out again and
you may lose your chance forever.

Anyway... here are the RULES you should follow:

1. Any starting hand with a face card or any pocket pair is
good.

2. You should either FOLD or go ALL-IN every time.
Nothing
else.


3. Force COIN-TOSS situations... In other words, leverage
the 50/50 ODDS as much as possible. Do this two or three
times and you will almost always win the match.

4. If you're playing against a tight player, it will be even
easier. Keep going all-in on just about every hand and let
the blinds eat him to death.

Read and re-read those four principles and you'll be
prepared the next time you make it to a heads-up match.

In the meantime, you should IMMEDIATELY do two things:

1. Call a friend or poker buddy and invite him over to play
you heads-up. Put $5 or even just $1 on each game... it
doesn't matter.

The point is to play game after game after game in a
heads-up setting.

Play for as long as you possibly can.

When you're done, call a different friend and do the same
thing again. And then do it again next week. And keep doing
this over and over...

Trust me, your poker skills will SKYROCKET when you follow
this simple exercise.

[ZoomVT]

solid advice. Lean on the short stack all day long. I would suggest similar play with a 6-1 lead.

[smitch124]

Actually heads up is still the weakest of my poker skills....too many sit n goes end up 2nd instead of 1st for me...definitely hurts my ROI. Of course from me its all Omaha H/L but some of the rules still apply.

[smitch124]

Hah!! thanks Kramer I just won a $10 Omaha H/L sit and Go....not sure if it was due to this post but I'm giving you credit anyway. Also I'm looking for that "water dispensor online" can u give me a link?

[d107]

Originally Posted by Kramer

4. If you're playing against a tight player, it will be even
easier. Keep going all-in on just about every hand and let
the blinds eat him to death.

I always get burned and called when I do this

[smet9772]

I am a heads up god. But to be serious, it is actually my favorite and most profitable type of poker that I play.

[xxxFTWxxx]

i strive on the heads up /shorthanded game

changes more from a waiting game to actually outplaying people and psychological battles against opponents

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by xxxFTWxxx

i strive on the heads up /shorthanded game

changes more from a waiting game to actually outplaying people and psychological battles against opponents

i agree....i normally play 6 handed tables and rarely play a hand until the 5th level of blinds and then go to work...can't really play the person when the blinds are so low

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by d107

I always get burned and called when I do this

on that point against tight players...the best thing to do would just do a bit more than min raise...most likely they would fold a hand to that the same as they would to an all in...that way you only lose a bit of chips instead of putting them all at risk

[The Loner]

who's your source Kramer?

Ideally---any player will be playing 'head-to-head' constantly

cash or tourney

any game

more players in a hand ----the worse odds of your hand holding up

this is very misleading

[jim1701]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

on that point against tight players...the best thing to do would just do a bit more than min raise...most likely they would fold a hand to that the same as they would to an all in...that way you only lose a bit of chips instead of putting them all at risk

Wouldnt that classify You as the one "limping-in" ? I believe all or no is the better strategy no?

[Kramer]

Originally Posted by The Loner

who's your source Kramer?

Ideally---any player will be playing 'head-to-head' constantly

cash or tourney

any game

more players in a hand ----the worse odds of your hand holding up

this is very misleading

Heads up meaning you make it two final two in a torney of 100 say ...
how often do you getg their ?

0r 50 ?

[The Loner]

Originally Posted by Kramer

Heads up meaning you make it two final two in a torney of 100 say ...
how often do you getg their ?

0r 50 ?

did you write this?

why not site your source?

this isn't about my game - why change the subject

[The Loner]

Originally Posted by Kramer

Heads up meaning you make it two final two in a torney of 100 say ...
how often do you getg their ?

0r 50 ?

how is it any different from playing heads up in a cash gm

short stack vs. big stack

[House Money]

Thanks for the advice....I tend to just get owned when I get to the heads up stage of SNG.