Heads-up Poker Tips

I think my most favorite game is heads-up No Limit Texas Hold 'Em. It is more about psychology, tendencies, and heart than about your two cards. My first time that I played heads up that carried some kind of meaningful consequence, I was playing in a charity tournament that one of Michaela's co-workers was organizing. I had just finished playing very good poker with a field of about 40 people (I don't remember exactly), and I had my opponent out-chipped about 5 to 1 going into the end. On pure mathematical expectation of equally skilled opponents, I should expect to win about 5/6 of the time. I was very excited for the prospect. I then proceeded to play exactly like I had to get to that point, which was a tight-aggressive style, a style which I continue today.

Oops. My opponent adapted, and quickly started raising more often than not in order to steal my blind. I'm sure at the time I felt like I would trap him, and I'd raise him at just the right moment and get that sucker! Wrong. Smart opponents already know that you are looking to do this at some point. So, they raise relentlessly, figuring that they'll steal enough of your blinds to make up for the one or two times you catch them out of ten. Then they promptly fold, unless they have something...

After I lost this tournament, and the Chiefs' tickets, which were the prize for first, I vowed to improve my heads-up game. Michaela and I started playing at home a bunch. Michaela is a very intuitive poker player, and she is a challenging opponent. Although playing with different players with different styles is the ultimate way to train, Michaela switched things up enough against me to make things very interesting. I started to steal more, but she started to pick me off more with moderate hands, and vice-versa. What fun! I highly recommend playing with your partner, as they know you so well that they'll be able to pick up on things that most of your opponents do not. Even if your partner doesn't have the passion that you do for the game, playing a bit here and there will improve your game 100-fold.

I wish I could go back to that day and win those tickets. I'd stand a much better chance now. I love getting heads-up in tournaments these days, and I adapt so quickly that my record (at the levels that I play only) is statistically significantly more than 50%. Could I play on the NBC Heads-up Championship? Nope. They'd kill me. They have even more experience and adapt even more quickly. But players at the $5-$100 buy-in tournaments had better look out, as I'm on the move.

Having said that, here are a few tips to improve:

• play frequently with your friends and family
• adapt to your opponents' styles, and adopt a contrarian counter-style
• keep in mind that most opponents are aware that you might be up to something, so switch it up on occasion
• only act like you are looking at your cards, and play in the opposite way that your opponent wishes
• against a tighter opponent, raise frequently, and raise a similar amount with your big hands and small hands
• understand that it pays to be the dealer and act last on most streets
• if you get in a situation where you have either 25% of 75% of the chips in play, be more willing to take a coin-flip situation (pair vs. overcards)

Read Kill Everyone, by Nelson, Streib, and Lee if you wish to really improve your chances in a tournament setting.