When you go heads-up in flop games, the order of the blinds is switched so the button posts the small blind. This also means that the action goes to the button first pre-flop. Heads-up rules come into play if you’re one of the last 2 players at a full table after knocking everyone else out. You can also play heads-up intentionally from the start. Heads-up tournaments are super popular both online and at casinos.
Just as at a full table, the small blind is half of the big blind.
If you have a dealer, they’ll follow the same rule, dealing the first card to the player who isn’t on the button. This rule is likely going to be the easiest for you to remember because it follows the rules for literally any card game—the dealer would never deal themselves first.
Since the player on the button posted the small blind, it only makes sense that they’re first to act pre-flop. As the small blind, their bet isn’t technically live until they at least match the big blind.
As in full-table play, the amount of the big blind is the minimum bet, so double the big blind is the minimum raise.
Statistically, the worst hand in heads-up play is a 3-2 off-suit—and even that has a 29% chance of winning. Now consider that at a full table, pocket aces, the best hole cards you can get, only have a 30% chance of winning pre-flop. What about ace-king suited, a. k. a. “Big Slick,” the 4th best hole cards? Only 19%. [8] X Research source This doesn’t mean that you’re going to play every hand—you still want to be selective. But you can certainly afford to loosen up.
Play a running commentary in your head of what you have, what your opponent might have, and what hands could possibly beat yours. Adjust and correct each time a new community card is revealed. For example, if you’ve got an ace in the hole and the flop is A-K-4, your pair of aces looks pretty good. But if the turn card (a. k. a. “4th Street”) is a K, you’ve got to consider that your opponent might have 3 kings.
When you put a serious dent in their stack after a few hands, simply by passively calling their bets, they’ll usually rethink their strategy. You end up with a slight upper hand because you’ve just caused them to change their behavior.
Since you need information about your opponent to bluff successfully, it stands to reason that you only want to bluff when you’re on the button and can act last. Remember, when you bluff, you want your opponent to fold. You might have the cards to beat them, but you probably don’t. Get a good read on them, and make your raise big enough that they fold. When you’re bluffing, it’s usually best to have a hand in mind that you’re “representing. " Then, you simply play as you would if you had that hand. And as long as your opponent doesn’t have it, you’re pretty likely to take the pot.
Pay attention to your opponent’s stack as well. If they win more than 2 or 3 hands in a row, start looking to make a big move so you can stall their momentum and stay in the game. If you end up really short-stacked, go all-in at every possible opportunity. If your opponent has a lot more chips than you, they won’t think twice about calling you and you can double up a couple of times to get back in the game.
If you’re heads-up after having knocked out the rest of a full table, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’ve already got your opponent’s style nailed. You might know how they play against a full table, but you don’t know how they play heads-up.
Once you’ve got your opponent acting as though they’re playing the character you’ve crafted, you’ll see all sorts of opportunities to catch them off-guard and go home with the win. For example, if you want your opponent to call every time you push all-in, you might play to make him believe you’re a loose gun, betting all over the place and bluffing a lot. Let them “catch you” in a bluff or two. Then, when you’ve got the cards and you’re ready to push all-in, they’ll be more likely to call.
Remember that every chip you steal from your opponent equates to a 2-chip lead over them. Those small pots add up! Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s super rare in heads-up action for both players to have a really good hand. Most hands are won on the strength of a high card or a pair, so—usually—the first player to show interest in the pot is going to take it. [17] X Research source No reason that can’t be you!
Watch out for an opponent who seems to be betting out of boredom—that’s a great opportunity to go all-in and take the pot. Going all-in is also a great way to protect a strong hand against an opponent who keeps raising and re-raising but never for substantial amounts.
