One of Texas Holdems important features is playing the heads-up. This will help players benefit and make their game even stronger.

The most important part of the game is heads-up, coupled with knowing your opponent along with the right mix of aggression. An aggressive game is always a deciding factor on whether you’re going to win the pot or no. You could have the worst hands among all, but if your reads are good and you trust them, then the pot will be yours along with the right board.

Playing Position

Playing several raised pots that too out of position are not recommended, e.g. One shouldn’t call too many raises from the big blind. Two faced card hands like the A-8 and upwards as well as pairs can be re-raised. The 8-7 hands are of not much worth as these kinds of connectors can easily be overpowered by bigger hands which will eventually lose a lot of their value on heads up.

One can look for big cards like the K-10. In ring games these kinds of cards are easily overpowered, they still can play heads up much strongly. You will feel comfortable if you happen to hit a big pair with these kinds of cards and this is difficult if you have middle cards like 6-5.

Two things that can be done in a big blind when you’re on heads up is a re-raise or a fold. A standard re-raise would be anything in between 3-4 times your opponent’s bet, while you pump up the pre-flop pot. This makes it difficult for your opponent with a marginal hand. If the opponent happens to call, you can make a post flop and continue with your bet or can even lay down your hand, if you happen to miss it and the opponent takes a shot at the pot.

You can call out of position only when the opponent plays back at you and this is evident if he moves in a lot. Your decision on this move should be based on your read of the opponent.

Reading is the basic

It is crucial, in Texas Holdem, to read your opponent in a heads-up. This is because your opponent may just raise his hands heads up, which will result in much difficult reads. Paying attention to your opponent’s patterns will help estimate your opponents hand. Check if they often raise the button, call your button raises or even re-raise a big blind. Questions will help constrict the potential events.

Before acting it is crucial to read your opponents move. If you think that there is some possibility, you can think of putting in the second best hand. If you feel that the opponent is in a weaker position you can apply pressure and win the pot.

It is seen that players often aim to increase their chips quickly in heads up and ring games. In this case if you only sit back and watch your opponent’s errors, you can end up with all the chips. An excellent e.g. is avoiding placing everything on a pot bet, when you have the opportunity of winning smaller ones, that will get you the same goal and the risks are not that many. To know about your opponents hand the best is to place a half pot bet that can also be high and betting a minimal amount will help you with your intention.

It is evident when the opponents stack gets smaller, you can go on the button once they reach 10 big blind ranges. A hand should help make a raise, if you see that your opponent is left with the only option of pushing or folding. To others this may seem like a weak move, but this will help you get rid of you trying to fold semi decent hands. Limping puts your opponent in a short position and puts him in a situation where he needs to think if he can gamble with low rewards/high risk all in one move to win a blind.

It is essential in heads-up that you play in position and place belief on your reads, also play small pots which will help build a lead.

Also recommended:

1. Heads Up Texas Holdem Tips: Blinds and High cards
2. Heads up Texas Holdem Strategies
3. Sit-N-Go Poker Tournament Tips
4. Winning Tips for HORSE Tournaments
5. River Betting in Texas Holdem