Heads-up tournaments

Read our advice for playing heads-up tournaments in No Limit Hold’em. Includes ways to tackle your opponent, learn how to set traps and plan your game.

One of the most popular ways to enjoy poker, Heads-up tournaments have shot to fame as one of the most challenging forms of the game attracting players with big skills and large bankrolls. Read out top tips to find out how you can get the most out of the game. Good luck!

1. Plan your game
• How long are the levels?
• Does your chip position require a certain style of play?
• How many big-blinds have you started with?
• Do you need to mix or do you have a sufficient quantity to play a solid game at the start?
2. Check out the opposition
• Evaluate your opponents’ style of play and act accordingly
• Are they aggressive, passive, and cautious?
• Can you read your opponent easily?
3. Be less fussy about starting hands
• Remember that you will be playing lots of hands throughout a tournament so don’t be overly reticent
• An ace or a pair are perfectly acceptable hands – especially if your opposition tends to limp
• Understanding flop play is key
• If you don’t connect on an actual flop, you will often have to bail on your hand (aces and draws might be an exception)
4. Don’t hold back
• Don’t be shy about playing your middle or even lowest pair at the right time if there is a potential draw
• Don’t let a draw catch up on you
5. Trap
• Keep your opponent on their toes
• If you get a big hand, let your opponent bet
• Don’t be afraid to flop a big hand or check-call a flop to get a push on the turn
6. Call a short stack with caution
• If you have a big chip lead, you should not necessarily call a short stack
• Example:
o You have 17,500
o Your opponent has 2,500
o It’s all in
o You have 6-2
o You make a call
• Think carefully about this move. Even if your opponent is short, after one double-up he could be even. Ask yourself whether your hand is reasonable?