Click to view a list and previews of online poker rooms Playing two handed, or 'heads-up' poker is strategically much different than a full game. Strangely enough, players who are the crazy or unpredictable type seem to do well in heads up games. Possibly this is due to the fact that they are already used to playing hands aggressively. While being a tough player in nine handed games requires patience, discipline and aggressive play, in heads up poker a tough players needs to be super aggressive, be able to make good reads in almost every hand and have the skill to play weak hands well. You may have noticed that patience did not get mentioned as an important trait in heads up play . This is due to the fact that a lot of patient players usually don't learn to play weak hands well.
Knowing when to bet with bottom pair on the end because you are convinced your opponent has ace high is an important ability in heads-up matches. Basically, knowing when you have the best hand is really important for two handed games. Obviously this is important in any form of poker but even more important in heads-up games and you will have to use this ability far more in these games.
When playing against a player who bluffs out against you all the time heads up, smooth-calling with a lot of hands on the flop and on 4th street is possibly a good move to make then to raise them on the river. Also, often you will find yourself playing heads up against a super-aggressive player, and when this is the case, some players like to slow-play their hands against them. For example, supposing you have Q-Q in the pocket and the player raises on the button. Calling can be a good option here for you to trap this player later on in the hand. Then supposing that the flop comes J-8-3. Checking and smooth calling again can be a good play to make. Then in this imaginary hand the next card is a deuce (2). Checking again to entice a bet from your opponent is a good move then you can finally make a raise (check-raising). Trapping your opponent at this point will make them less likely to try and bluff every hand because they will know you are capable of trapping them again soon!
One other play certain players like to make is to raise every hand when you are on the button. This strategy is good to use against a novice. This idea would be to raise on the button pre flop then bet every flop. By doing this, you are giving your opponent a chance to fold their hand every time you make a bet by putting pressure on them constantly and forcing them to call you with weak hands. However, against a tough opponent, this strategy could get you into a lot of trouble. A strategy to counter this is to simply re raise every time you cave, say, ace high, king high, possibly two cards above a nine or a pair. And then you become the aggressor and bet every flop!
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