Heads Up Poker

What is Heads Up Poker?

Heads-up poker is popularly heard in conjunction with games like Hold'em and Omaha. Heads up is not a poker variant itself, but just a way of playing Hold'em, Omaha, or other poker variants. The game is played between two players rather than six to ten players. A poker game can become heads up the moment only two players are remaining at the table at the start of a hand. Heads up poker game is also quite popular in online poker tournaments.

The chances of winning each hand while playing heads up poker are quite high as there's only one opponent to beat. As a result, players tend to play more aggressively and bluff more often.

Heads Up Poker Rules

Knowing the correct Heads up poker definition will help you to understand poker rules with ease. According to the Heads up poker rules, the dealer posts the small blind and the other players post the big blinds. After that, the player in the big blind receives the first card. The dealer also makes his first pre-flop play. On the flip, turn, and river of the Heads up poker game, the big blinds take the first action. Simply understanding the Heads Up Poker rules won't get you far in the game of heads up poker. In order to win at head-to-head poker, you must also know the game strategy.

How to Play Heads Up Poker?

Heads up poker, also referred to as head-to-head poker, is a variation of poker in which only two players participate. In general, every variation of poker can be played heads-up. As a result, depending on the type of poker you are playing, the rules for heads-up poker change frequently. Therefore, it helps if you know how to play online poker variants like Texas Holdem, Omaha, and others. Two circumstances generally result in the poker game going into a heads-up match:

1) When two players choose to play 2-handed poker intentionally.

2) When there are several players involved in a poker game, and everyone except two players have folded their cards or quit in the middle of the game.

In other poker games where the small blind is posted by a player seated clockwise from the dealer, and the big blind is posted by a player to the left of the small blind. In heads-up poker, the small blind is posted by the dealer and the opponent posts the big blind. The positions of the blinds is reversed in this game to make it fair for the poker players.

If the position of the blinds wouldn't have been reversed, the player who is not dealing gets to act first in the betting rounds before and after the flop, giving that player an advantage over the other.

The main advantage of heads-up poker is that there is only one opponent for you to defeat. Therefore, regardless of the cards you are given, both players in this game have a strong possibility of winning a hand. Because of this, most of the heads-up poker players adopt an aggressive approach. Additionally, bluffing is a common strategy used by most players in heads-up poker as there are only two players.

Starting Hand Rankings in Heads Up Poker

The starting hands in the Heads up poker game are somewhat different from usual poker games. As opposed to 6-10 players in other poker games, the heads-up game is played only between two people. You must never fold an ace in this game. The top poker hands in heads up poker game are:

A-A, K-K, J-J, A-K (suited or non-suited)

A-Q (Suited or non-suited), K-J (suited)

K-Q (suited)

9-9, 6-6

A-9 (suited)

Heads Up Poker Strategy

Analyse the game before acting

Before going aggressive, you should analyse the actions on the pre-flops and post flops. Think about whether or not to play a specific hand and how to play before you take action. Analyse the bets made by the opponent at every card that opens and finalise your actions accordingly.

Choose your playing style

When you play poker, you can either be a Phil Ivey, and play it cool, or a Gus Hansen, playing aggressive. Whatever playing style you choose must benefit you in the game. Your playing style should be strong enough to disguise your hand and make it easy to manipulate your opponent. In the heads up poker game, selective aggression is the key, where you analyse your opponent's possible range of hands before deciding to go aggressive.

Set your tempo

Whether you play aggressive or play safe entirely depends on your understanding of the poker game. But, you must set a tempo in the game, keeping the opponent under pressure at all times. Give out an impression that you are the stronger player.

Use your position to your advantage

Since there are only two players playing heads up poker, both players have a unique advantage of their position over the other player. You must know how to make the most of your position. For instance, if you are the last one to bet in the flop round, you naturally have an information advantage over your opponent. You can use that information to analyse and predict the opponent's moves and create pressure on the opponent.

Play a wider range of starting hands

Another important strategy to use while playing heads up poker is to mostly play a wider range of poker starting hands. This is because between two players, heads-up poker hands such as low pockets and aces increase in value.

FAQs

How to play Heads up poker?

The rules and heads up play are quite simple to learn. The dealer posts the small blinds in the game, and the players post the big blind. The dealer is also the first to go pre-flop and the last one on the poker flop river turn, where the big blinds act first.

Why is it called Heads up?

The game is called heads up as it means two-handed poker. As heads up is played between two players (other players have folded, and only two players are remaining on the table), it is a two-handed poker game.

What hands should you play in Heads up poker?

When playing heads up poker, some of the best starting hands are A-A, K-K, J-J, A-K (suited or non-suited).

How to play Heads up Hold’em?

The heads up poker and hold'em gameplay is quite similar; therefore, if you know how to play either of them, you can play the other as well. In heads up Hold'em, a player gets three opportunities to raise a bet. The quicker a player raises a bet, the higher edge they have over the opponent.