But We Were Heads Up ? !

by Scott Paterson

There seems to be a pretty big misconception
about heads up play versus full table two player pot play.

The Scenario

Three early position players fold.
Player A, in middle position, opens for a raise with AJ of clubs.
The next player folds. Player B, on the button, calls.
The blinds both fold.
The flop comes 8h, As, 3d.
Player A, with top pair and a J kicker,
bets into player B. Player B calls.
The turn comes 4h.
Player A, thinking he has the best hand,
bets into player B again. Player B calls.
The river comes 9s.
Player A bets into Player B again. Player B calls.
Player A flips over his cards. A pair of aces with a jack kicker.
Player B flips over AK, and has a pair of aces with a king kicker.
Player B takes the pot, and player A inevitably says something
like “I thought my AJ was good because we were heads up.”

The Analysis

Although Player A’s chances of winning the pot
were increased because there were only two participants
playing to win the pot, he negelected to take into account
the difference between heads up play and full table
two player pot play. When you pair your ace (with a jack kicker)
heads up you very likely have the best hand because only
four cards have been dealt out to start. The chances your
opponent has AA, AK, or AQ are minimal.
When you pair your ace (and have a jack kicker) at a full table,
but an opponent behind you called your raise it’s quite possible
they could have AA, AK, or AQ because sixteen cards have
been dealt out to start (the chances of running into a bigger
hand increase). My point is that even though the chances of
winning a pot when fewer people are involved are greater
your actual hand strength only increases or decreases
as the number of cards dealt out increases or decreases.
If you hold AJ, and flop an ace heads up you can often take it
right to the river and prevail. If you hold AJ, and flop an ace
at a full table (even though only two people remain involved
in the hand) you should play much more carefully.
Heads up play is not the same as playing two handed at a full table.