One of the best ways to improve your poker game is to play heads-up. Many players lack experience playing very short handed, or heads-up, and this can hurt should you get to this point in a major tournament or an SnG. Plus, heads up provides you with the most experience you can possibly get for your money since you are basically playing every hand. Both Full Tilt and PokerStars offer huge amounts of heads-up games at every conceivable dollar amount as well as games other than NL Hold’em, like Omaha, Razz, Stud, etc. Playing these games from time to time, whether or not you play for much money, provides you with great experience that you will use when you come to heads-up play later on.
Many players are intimidated to play heads up, which is all the more reason why you should practice it! Playing poker one-on-one is a totall different experience than sitting at a full table and requires different play and different skill sets. I can always spot someone who has no prior experience playing heads up when I get to that point in a tournament; usually they make the mistake of waiting for good cards much like they would at a full table and it is then easy to run all over them. As I said, adjusting is key and once you are down to heads-up play you are in a totally different world. Playing these games before you get there in a large tournament is key to developing these skill sets and adjustments. As a side note, action junkies will love playing heads up since you have the possibillity of playing every single hand!
From time to time, when I get into a run playing large tournaments, I will switch to heads up to build my bankroll, as many of the players I will run into don’t have much experience playing this way. Keep this in mind as you practice and if you are one of these players, don’t make the mistake of playing for too much money too soon! Use it as practice until you become good enough to make money at it. Walk before you run!
So, if you find your poker game in a rut, or if heads-up is not something you are very familiar with, try playing some small games online. Not only is it good practice, it is a lot of fun and prepares you for the time you are playing heads-up for some big dough in a tournament.
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So back to the strategy: I’ve been wondering why heads-up lends itself to the playing of any hand you are dealt. It seems like 9-2 is a loser no matter how many people you’re playing. Is the point to see more flops and hope to score a big hand with small cards?
9-2 is not a loser heads up if the flop comes 9-5-4. However, if you are a full table, there could still be many hands that could beat you and many hands that could draw out on you. Heads-up, any 2 cards can win. You can have A-K six hands in a row and if your opponent plays junk 6 hands in a row, his hands hit flops and your A-K does not, you are going to lose.
The other point is this: there are 2 ways you can win a hand heads up. By having the best cards or by making your opponent fold. Remember, 2/3 of the time he will miss on the flop. If you are playing a lot of hands, you can take these pots from him, as well as the ones you actually hit the flop yourself. This makes playing a lot of hands a pretty powerful weapon heads-up..