The Info Examiner

Heads up play is something you absolutely need in your poker tool bag, as it is a valuable, multifaceted tool to have. The minimum amount of players needed to play poker is two, and if you are a regular player, you are eventually going to find yourself in a heads up situation. If a game breaks down and it goes from nine handed to three handed, being able to play shorthanded or heads up is an absolutely crucial to your profitability. Going deep in a sit and go or any other tournament is going to require you to play someone one on one in order to win, and if you only know how to play top ten hands, you will be blinded off by an aggressive opponent.

Playing heads up is a totally different game than full ring poker. When you are playing against one other opponent, you are forced to play more starting hands, and raise more often when in position, and reraise when out of position. Playing heads up teaches you a lot of techniques that you can use in full ring games when you are isolated against one other opponent in a pot. Heads up requires feeling out your opponent, getting a read on their playing style and the frequency in which they will do something such as raise, call, or fold. Heads up teaches the basic, innate skills required to succeed in any situation, and it is imperative that you have at least a basic understanding of heads up play if you want to have success in poker.

Playing heads up online is a much faster-paced, variable game that immerses you into a proverbial fight or flight situation. If you aren’t familiar with heads up, watch other matches in online poker and pay attention to the frequency of hands raised and review hands that are shown down. Once you jump into a game, feel out your opponent and figure out if he is going to be aggressive or passive, and devise a plan on how you are going to separate him from his chips. A heads up match can last for hours and get many rebuys deep, or it can last just a few hands. Have a plan and be prepared for whatever happens, and be in control and make your own decisions. Learning heads up will help you in every area of your game, and is certainly a worthwhile investment in your poker education.