Heads Up No Limit Hold Em Strategy

Heads up No Limit Hold Em Poker is a very different game than a full ring poker game. Since there are only two players playing poker online, hands values change, and position is by far the most important aspect of playing heads up. When playing heads up, the player must make strategy changes to his game.

Pre-Flop Strategy

In a full ring game, raising under the gun is the most risky position to raise from, since the raiser has to worry about the eight players waiting to act after him. The button is the position with the least risk, since it is the last position to act that does not have a forced bet in the pot, and the button will act last on all betting streets. In heads up poker, each player is going to have the button 50% of the hands. A general rule of thumb in heads up poker is to either raise or fold when on the button, and never to call. While in a full ring game, the rule is when in doubt, fold, the rule of thumb in heads up is when in doubt, raise. The likelihood of the big blind folding is so great; raising every time on the big blind will more than likely be a profitable play. Aggression is the key to winning!

Post-Flop

Since there are only two hands being played in heads up play on PokerStar, the quality of the hands goes way down compared to a full ring game. Therefore, hands containing aces go way up in value. This is because many times, neither players will connect with the flop and ace-high alone will win the pot. Similar hands like small pairs go up in value as well. The key with these hands is to get to a showdown cheaply. Hands like small suited connectors go down in value, since they so rarely hit and the chances of getting paid off when they do hit, is decreased since the other player most likely will not have a big hand. As aggression is key pre-flop, it is the key to post-flop play as well. If a pre-flop raise does not take the pot down, a c-bet after the flop will most likely win the pot post-flop.
When playing heads up, play your position, and play hands that have showdown value, like pairs and high cards. Pair this strategy with simple aggression and showing a profit will be within reach.