subject: How to Win in Heads-Up Poker [print this page] How to Win in Heads-Up Poker How to Win in Heads-Up Poker
Useful Tips:
Show aggression: When you fall in a heads up situation in poker, you need to apply pressure on the opponent along with each move that you make. It will not happen by just checking and seeing any free flop. For instance, if you have a much weaker hand for raising from a small blind, then fold it.
Exploit your position: You and your opponent more likely will miss on the flops a number of times. Hence, exploit the excellent table position. For this, raise from small blind pre flop thereby continuing to show your aggression on the flop. Your opponent might find it difficult to continue with the game in the absence of a real hand, considering you show enough strength.
Adjust to the opponent: In a heads up poker bluff situation and within minutes, you will know much about the playing style of your opponent rather than in five hours of the ring play. Here, you need to use this information against your opponent. If the opponent is too passive, then raise more frequently. Trap using your monsters, if the opponent is too aggressive.
Change the play: By making use of bigger hands, you may take any weak line. Allow the weak hands to take one strong line. When your opponent starts thinking that he/she has pegged your style, then switch and try playing weak hands weak and strong hands strong. Next, again switch back and make sure your opponent stays off balance.
Position: If there is a flop followed by your hand, then you have one additional benefit here, since you get the chance to watch over your opponents. It offers you the opportunity to win considering you possess one excellent hand while reducing losses at the time of possessing any bad hand. Since only two players confront each other or meet face to face in heads-up poker, you gain this position 50% of the available time. You need to utilize this opportunity fully whenever it comes your way.
Play Offensive: There are a number of instances in a pre-flop, where your opponent might not possess a better hand. Here, try playing offensive, through which you will witness unpaired hands making or reaching the flop by about 30% only of the available time. It increases your winning chances by pressurizing your opponent on laying down the cards in his/her possession.
Manage the Pot: Each player receives both good as well as bad hands and tries to make sure that he/she wins the games that have larger pots, affording to lose on the smaller ones. Thus, when you play heads-up, be sure you check the size of pot and then plan strategies for grabbing your opponent's chips, each time you find it possible. Alternatively, on the weaker hands, lose as less as possible.
Analyze your Opponent: It is vital for you to judge your opponent's playing tactics, particularly regarding when he calls, checks and raises the bets. Try to figure out the betting strategy of your opponent while he has one strong or weak hand during the game. Accordingly, you may play positively and understand when to fold or call or raise in later games.
Change your Stance: After you analyze your opponent, customize or change your stance in the play. If you see the opponent playing little tight, grab this chance to raise or call your bets. Conversely, if you find it hard in calling his bluffs, then try decreasing the amount of bluff, further trying to enhance your opportunities to chance upon a good hand. To do this, try raising higher on the bet. However, if you realize that your opponent is making more bluffs, then flat calling is what you need to do. Similarly, when your opponent bluffs on the flop, try re-raising. This way, you need to change stances for competing with your opponent.
10. Bluff: Look for any opportunity for bluffing your opponent. At the flop, if there are three cards forming a straight or say two cards of one suit, then look for cards, which turn up the next. If you see any other card of the similar suit, then expect winning the hand through bluffing. Understand well that you confront only one player in heads-up poker, and your opponent will not necessarily possess a good hand.
11. Recognize your Limits: Players get easily carried away trying to play outside their bankroll, which is not a good thing to do. Scoring an advantage, whenever possible is important. However, best is to stay conscious about your limits. Avoid paying outside your bankroll, since it will facilitate better decision-making. You will be able in playing your hands the best way possible.
12. Realize the Mistakes you did: After the game is over, it is advisable you think over the way you played every hand along with the mistakes you committed during the game. A review of your performance will help you play better in future. Hence, analyze your errors and then be prepared with certain amends when you enter similar situations next time, when you are one on one with your opponent in heads-up poker.
In heads up situation, you need to master enough skills, which will enhance your returns on investment both in the multi-table and sit-n-go tournaments. More importantly, you will get to improve a lot on reading skills and accordingly there will be improvement in your game. You may play the heads-up poker in many poker rooms. When you encounter a heads-up situation in poker freerolls , the key to winning is confronting your opponent with sheer confidence and sound judgment, trying to give your best shot.
