Heads Up!
Posted by Waldorf 1 on 09 Oct 2008 at 16:10
Everyone who plays poker knows that heads up can be a terrifying prospect. Huge chip stacks can be rapidly corroded and even the bravest player can lose their nerve and fall apart. I’ve seen day’s worth of great tournament play wasted in a just few minutes as players make mistake after mistake. That said, it can be one of the most fun and exhilarating areas of the game, and if you master it, or at least know the basics, it’s a chance to stamp your dominance over other players and walk away with the top prize.
So, to help Adam in this crucial area (that’s if he ever gets to the heads up stage) tonight we’re going to be taking him through a mini heads up tournament; I’m going to be playing, along with a couple of pros and showing him the ropes.
Here’s my quick and dirty tips on how to play a heads up. As always, if you’ve got any more advice, leave a post!
Aggression and more aggression!
This is my number one way to win heads up. A strong and aggressive player will force weaker players into submission. Make your opponents pay to see the flop. If you let them limp in on the small blind then you’ll be letting them catch cards, which will make you lose more hands.
You don’t have to play every hand
If you’ve got a rubbish hand, it’s ok to fold your small blind. Most players play every hand in a heads up match but this is a mistake – you certainly can’t wait for the best of the best, but you don’t have to play 6-2 off suit either. And don’t get worried about the chips that you’re losing; folding the small bind makes the other player think you’re only playing good hands so you’ll be able to raise him off of his BB enough to make up for it. Which leads us on to…
Slow play the massive hand
If you get a big pocket pair, let the other player do the betting for you. This is player dependant, but if you’re against a player who is chucking their weight around, putting in massive bets and who keeps using the all-in bluff, why not let them lead the way – and then watch their face when you reveal KK!
Bluffing
Bluffing is much easier when playing heads up and the key is to trick you opponent into thinking you have a good hand, and that their marginal hand is not worth playing. Try and predict what draw they have too, and this is you chance to bring them down. So if you suspect they’ve got trips, and but there’s a potential flush draw on the table, bluff away, as usually they’ll think you’ve got the flush.
As always, this should carry a health warning though; bluffing is dangerous, and you never know when your opponent is going to re-raise you and then get the nuts!
Folding
Finally, know when to get out! Make sure you get out when your hand is dominated, especially if it can save you from a big bet or two. The key is to fold early and when you're in trouble rather than late and committed over your head.
Remember, like all of poker, practice is everything. Check out the heads up tables available on www.circuspoker.co.uk where you can play for a variety of pot sizes, and this will stand you in great stead for the real thing.
All Comments
Not bad, 8/10. Always make your opponent make a decision. You simply cannot be allowing your opponent to get a free draw. Simple.
Is to play really really agressive. Any card highter that a 10, I go all in. more often than not my oponent will fold, of they'll take me in, and my high card will pair up. Mix it up a bit though, just to keep them confused.
question for Waldorf1: under what scenarios would you fold a big blind? any at all? thanx Stuey
