Many players who start playing poker soon end up identifying more with cash games, tournaments or sit n' go. Within these three modalities, there is still a subdivision of the number of players per table.
In this division you will find heads-up, the famous mano-a-mano game where the action is intense, as you will always be involved and thinking about your actions.
Below are five tips for doing well in heads-up games:
1-Select the tables you will play at carefully
Try to avoid regular players, especially the tighter ones. There are plenty of bad opponents out there waiting to be faced, so why pick an experienced opponent and make your own life harder?
2-Create stop-loss limits
Tilt is a big problem that can cause good heads-up players to break their bankrolls. A good stop-loss to use is 2 buy-ins per opponent and 5 buy-ins in a day of play. Momentum and variance make a huge difference in heads-up play, so even if you feel like you are much better than your opponent, if you have poured several buy-ins into him, it is best to stop because it will be difficult to turn the score around.
3-Play loose in position
Position is everything in heads-up. Since there are only two players involved, being able to observe your opponent’s actions before they do will do wonders for you. The best heads-up players understand this mindset and use it to their advantage.
4-Play tight out of position
It is rarely wise to call out of position (OOP) with marginal hands against 3~4bb raises. There are times when it is correct, but it is generally better to 3-BET/Fold preflop out of position. Marginal hands are easier to play when you are the aggressor. Being the aggressor will allow you to win much more often with hands that you would not normally win if you were passive. An example: your opponent opens to 3xBB with TT and you 3-BET with KJo. The flop comes Axx. You bet out and he folds.
5-Take notes, adjust to your opponent.
Take your time playing (only play one table at a time when you first start) and take good notes on your opponents. Then, think about “how can I exploit this?” One benefit of taking notes and playing slower is that it can tilt your opponents. People enjoy playing heads-up online because of the high-action it provides. If you’re playing slower than normal, it can lead to your opponent making poor plays and wasting a lot of chips against you.
Article translated and adapted from Heads Up Poker Strategy: 5 Tips for Beginners
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