*FUNDAMENTALS: Heads Up Play

The one area of the average players game
that needs the most work is Heads-Up.
The reason is simple.... lack of experience.

People tend to play with 6+ people
all the time. The only time they get practice
is when they happen to make it to the
last 2 people in a tournament...
and thats not much practice.
Usually the pressure is on, they feel
totally lost and they're not really sure
what to do.

Let me give you some pointers.

First off... in heads-up play, sometimes
it's all about the cards. In a Premier Poker Tour
style event, the blinds are often so high
relative to the chip stacks that there isnt
much opportunity to wait for premium hands.
A player who gets dealt a streak of better than
average hands will likely win.
Nothing you can do about that.

Most times though, both players will be
dealt weak hands. This is where strong
heads up players shine. They use Position
and reading their opponents to steal.

The number one mistake I see players making
heads-up is not using position/the button
to their advantage.
Heads-up, the Button is the Small Blind (SB)
who is First to act preflop...but is Last to act
after the flop. This is a HUGE advantage.

"Good heads-up stategy requires playing as
many hands as possible when in position and
pushing marginal hands as hard as possible
when out of positon" (1.)

Heads up, what would be weak hands at
a full table becomes a playable hand heads up.
7 out of 8 times both players will be dealt
non-paired cards. So when you are dealt a pair,
it is a strong hand and you should bet it
aggressively. Lets look at what constitutes
a strong hand in heads-up situations.


These stats are from Harrington on Holdem Vol. 2.

The top 20% of hands Heads Up
(58% or better to win)
Pairs : AA-55
Suited Non-Pairs: AK-A3, KQ-K8, QJ-QT
UnSuited Non-Pairs: AK-A7, KQ-KT, QJ

The top 50% of hands Heads-Up
(50% or better to win)
All of the above plus....
Pairs: 44-22
Suited Non-Pairs: A2, K7-K2,
Q9-Q2,JT-J5,T9-T7, 9-8
UnSuited Non-Pairs: A6-A2,
K9-K2, QT-Q5, JT-J8, T9

Dont bother trying to memorize the list,
its not necessary. I put it in here for you
to get a broad idea of what a good starting
hand is heads-up. K8 is a junk hand at a
full table, but heads-up its actually quite strong.


Lets look at combining hand selection
with position. When you are the Small Blind (SB)
you are always getting correct pot odds to
atleast call with any two cards.

The exception being if your opponents has
been aggresively raising you from the BB
when you limp. If thats the case, fold your very
weak hands (92, 84, 53, etc). Most times
you want to be raising from the Button.
Even if your opponent calls, you have
the advantage of acting after him on
every street.

When you are the Big Blind (BB),
you are out of position for the entire hand
so your objective is to end the hand quickly
if possible. If your stacks are relatively
small compared to the blinds and you have
a strong hand, move all in. Checking to see
a flop and either trying to outplay your
opponent later or folding if he bets
strong is likely the next best option.

When you or your opponent are short stacked
compared to the blinds (your stack is less than
10 BB), usually your only moves should be all in
or fold. The power of ALL IN is it puts your
opponent to a decision. If he has a weak hand
he will fold, if he has a marginal hand it will be
a tough call and might still fold. If he has a
strong hand and calls, you get to see all 5 cards
and you are still rarely worse than a 2:1 underdog
(most times will be closer to 50/50 or 60/40).
This is a great move when you are in the
Big Blind and out of position.


1. Harrington on Hold'em Vol. 2 -
Dan Harrington, Bill Robertie, 2005.

Recommended Reading (Advanced)
SAGE System (Heads-Up) by Lee Jones
http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/15250