Texas Hold’em, 1 on 1, Heads Up poker is a different game in terms of strategy compared to short handed games. Players are forced to put money thru a big blind and small blind in every round. In order to win, you should know how to get more than your fair share of chips by utilizing the advantage of your hands and your position.
Playing more hands
When you are given the cards during a heads-up game and you look at them, you have so many things to consider. The starting hand basics for the short or full handed hold’em do not apply. The average card dealt during a heads-up poker is the offsuit Q-7. Anything higher than this means that you have a better chance of winning playing one on one. So if you have a K-8, this is a monster and of course an Ace. When playing heads up, you need to loosen your requirements for your starting hand.
Be aggressive
He who is aggressive, brings home the cash. This principle also applies to heads up poker. In every match, you will have a money invested to the blind. Not that you have to protect it but you have to try and win the pot so in the end you will be coming home as the winner. You will also need to learn to raise the cards that you usually do not. You just cannot wait for premium cards before you make your move. Do that and you will most likely shake the hands of the other player after a while when he gets all of your chips.
Position
During a heads up match. You will have the button after every turn. You can use this position to take advantage. You will have to act preflop but you can put some pressure on the other players by raising their big blinds. Experienced players rarely fold their cards when on the small blind especially during the early parts of the game. You need to mix up your game play and put emphasis on raising preflop when you are on the button.
