How to Out-Strategize Your Online Heads-Up Poker Opponents

It is merely impossible to win any poker tournament without a proper heads-up strategy in place. Most professional players employ a great heads-up strategy and we have developed a few tips which would help you acquire the same skills.

Regardless of where you would be playing, in the traditional casino or over the internet, every single tournament would come down to the heads-up match between the winner and the loser. Actually, that’s the only showdown which would decide the winner or the loser. It doesn’t matter where you play; the basic structure of heads-up play remains the same. Given that most poker players are not good with heads-up strategies, knowing these strategies would automatically give you a distinct advantage over them.

A majority of the poker players believe that at the time when it comes to the heads-up play, it’s all about luck. However, that is not the case. You can’t be wrong enough. The simple fact is that a lot of players do not know how to play the heads-up game and therefore they claim of being ‘unlucky’ with the strategy.

The first and the most important principle of all heads-up strategies is that you need to change your play. It is known that the value of the starting hand changes dramatically from one opponent to another. Therefore you need to come up with unique combination, so as to beat the opponent.

For an instance, any hand with an Ace is considered to be a good hand and should be played in an aggressive manner. This would lead to another principle for the heads-up games. As a player, you need to be pretty aggressive, even if you happen to have a poor starting hand. You need to keep the pressure on the opponent and try to collect chips on every single opportunity in the game. However, while playing poker tournaments, most players are already aggressive and hence you would need to re-raise often, so as to drive them out of the competition.

Lastly, with all of these principles mentioned above, the bottom line is that you need to play more hands. This would call for raising pre-flop with any face card such as the King, Queen or Ace and re-raising on the same. Such an aggressive strategy would help you to build a bankroll against the timid players and would keep the better players from knowing your hand. A strong hand would surely give you more opportunities to trap the opponents.

Professional Poker Tools – Heads Up Displays

An HUD, also known as the heads-up display is one of the best tools used by the online poker players to display statistics. However, these statistics are displayed on the tables of other players under your name. Such a tool is indispensable for the professional players. Most expert players are known to play more than one hand at the same time, about 4-16 tables in most cases displaying results on several monitors.

If you are someone who is playing multiple hands on different tables, it is practically impossible to keep a track of the opponent moves or assess their playing style. Therefore such heads-up displays would allow you to keep a track of your opponents, just by looking at their stats.

To elaborate more on how this works the hand histories of all the games and all the players is stored in your hard disk. These hands could be imported on to tracking software and then plotted on to the database. The heads-up display would read this database, along with the most recent hand histories for all the live tables. The stats are displayed directly on the table, so as the help the players make quick decisions and gauge the weaknesses of the opponents. You are no longer to watch the hand closely.

When it comes to the actual play, we all know that it would be beneficial to know the opponent’s playing style. As soon as you use the HUD software along with the data-mining software, you would be able to get a huge advantage over the opponents. The software would give you the flexibility to move around from one table to another and know your opponents in a moment, without spending too much real time in studying them. There are loads of players who are known to fold the flop around 60% of the times and would often check and raise the turn. As soon as you see that on the player’s stats and you see them calling the flop, you can know that they would check and raise on their turn.

The HUD displays would help you know the style of the opponent, without having to watch him for thousands of hands. The stats would help your assess their standard play and know the type of players on the table. There are some players who would run around on any table and raise about 50% of the times prior to the flop. You would know this fact even before the first hand is dealt and hence would affect your decisions throughout the play.

Another helpful feature of the heads-up display is that it would display the hole cards of your opponents after the hand is over, in case if your opponents try to go for a showdown. A lot of players would simply muck their hand so that the others cannot see it, but HUD would pick up this data as well. You would also know the river bet of your opponents and will help you bet the river with the players who bet on the weaker hands.

Gabe Kaplan – Celebrity Poker Player

We all remember the famous TV show from the 1970s known as ‘Welcome Back Kotter’. However, Gabe Kaplan, the artist from the show, is also one of the best poker players in the world.

Gabe Kaplan is known to have a varied lifestyle and was particularly known for his poker skills. Over the recent years, he hasn’t been active enough with poker but his list of poker accomplishments was at its best in the 1980s. He was also heard of making a comeback. His first appearance at the World Poker Series was in the year 1978. He came third at the World Poker Tour’s No Limit Texas Hold’em event and won about $250,000 in the game. He was also awarded the second place in the World Series of Poker Limit Hold’em game. His earnings from all the poker tournaments combine add up to $680000. He also works as an expert poker commentator and has appeared on shows such as International Poker Championship, National Heads-Up Poker Championship and High Stakes Poker.

At the same time as he was working on his hit TV series, he was also actively involved with poker from the years 1975 to 1979. He became addicted to the poker tournaments and was seen appearing on most of them. His accomplished poker skills got him rave reviews from the people within the industry. Gabe won the NBC Poker tournament defeating heads-up champions such as Kristy Gazes and facing other professional players such as Vanessa Rousso, Annie Duke and Howard Lederer. At the moment, the poker enthusiasts can find Gabe Kaplan commentating on the poker tournaments on ESPN, NBC and the Game Show Network. He is still involved with the stand-up plays as well as being actively engaged in the financial industry.

As of the year 2007, his total earnings from the poker tournaments happen to exceed $1,100,000 and with the recent reports of his comeback, we are sure to see Gabe Kaplan winning a lot of tournaments in the years to come.

Advantages of Online Poker

Now more than ever, people are choosing to take part in online poker instead of going to a casino. One of the major reasons is because visiting an online poker site is far easier and handier than going to a live casino. Imagine, instead of having to travel outside of your home to a busy, noisy casino, you can relax and experience just as much poker enjoyment in the virtual world with a simple “click” of your mouse.

Table Limits

Generally there are lower limits in online poker rooms than in live casinos. Of course, there are certain internet casinos that offer tables with higher limits, but there is usually enough diversity in table limits, to suit the budget of any player. Furthermore, the lower limit tables makes online poker an ideal environment for players to learn, develop, and try out new strategies without feeling as though they are taking a huge gambling risk. Thus, there is no worry of losing a substantial amount of money when practicing your skills online.

Variety

When it comes to choosing poker games and betting limits, no live casino can provide you with the variety you will find online. Choosing a desired poker table is important for all players, because it is essential that you feel comfortable while playing. Online poker rooms allow you the chance of selecting a table with a betting limit that you deem most suitable for your budget and expertise. You will also discover that finding a seat at an online poker table of your choosing is far easier and more probable than in a live casino.

Game Conduct

It is not possible for any players participating in online poker to break the rules of conduct that apply to the game. Due to computer technology and gaming software, no player has the ability to see their opponent’s cards, show their cards to other players, place string bets or act out of turn during a hand. The software will only permit the conduct that his been programmed to occur, and for the standard online casino or poker site, this means that you are entitled to see the number of players taking part in the hand, the money amount of each player, and the total sum of money that accumulates in the pot. On the other hand, in a live casino, players can break conduct rules, cause disruptions and stall the hand.

Player Support

Due to the fact that online poker can be played in the comfort and privacy of your own home or place of choosing, you can use a variety of special tools and programs such as calculators, charts and tables when playing a game. The purpose of these devices is to assist you in finding out the best odds in the hand. Although they are not considered cheating, and while some are even permitted in a live casino, the beauty of using these helpful tools online is that no one else can see you, and therefore no one can judge your actions or intimidate you when you play.

The Hand Rankings in Poker

Regardless of what player category you fit into, let’s face it; you need to know the basics of poker in order to really dig your heels into the sport of Texas Hold’em, or any other style of poker game for that matter. Thus, whether this is your first time learning about the possible winning poker hands, or you are simply in need of a little refresher course, here is what you need to know. The object is to achieve the highest hand by obtaining one of the winning card combinations. If a Hold’em game consists only of two players it is referred to as a “heads up” match.

Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit

Straight Flush: 5 consecutive cards of the same suit

Four of a Kind: 4 cards with the same value

Full House: 3 of a kind and a pair, with the 3 of a kind valued first

Flush: Any 5 different cards of the same suit

Straight: 5 cards of any suit in consecutive order

Three of a Kind: 3 cards with the same face value

Two Pair: 2 sets of pairs

One Pair: 2 cards with the same face value

If none of the above hands are achieved within a game, the player with the highest card wins. Additionally, In the event that two players have the same hand, the player with the highest card wins.

Now that you have familiarized yourself with the types of hands you are trying to obtain to win the pot, it’s time to learn or “refresh” your memory on how to play Texas Hold’em. Of all the games played in card rooms today, Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular game, and one of the easiest to learn, making it both fun and rewarding to play. The object of the game is to make the strongest 5 card hand by using a combination of your 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards on the table. When playing Texas Hold’em online, every player will have a turn at using the dealer button, which enables them to act as the virtual dealer. In addition each player will be required to post blinds at one time or another.

Heads Up Poker Strategy

In order to become a successful tournament player, you are required to have a great heads-up strategy in place. There are loads of popular poker rooms that offer free games to practice heads-up strategies in the Sit-N-Go tournaments. it has been observed that the beginner would soon fall into the trap of the gambler because heads-up poker is all about strategy.

The Button

All the poker players realise that position is of utmost importance, in order to increase your chances of a win here. If you happen to be on the button, you could be the first one to act during pre-flop and act last during post-flop. For all the heads-up games, there is a huge advantage on the side of the opponents. For an instance, if you are on the button and you make continuation bets or raise frequently, the opponents would call it quits, assuming that you have a better hand. On the other hand, if you happen to call last for the post-flop circumstances, your opponent would have to check and therefore you would be increasing your chances with the pot.

Therefore, having no position can turn out to be a bad situation for you as a player. If you are playing out of position, then you need to have a premium hand, in order to survive into the game. It would be recommended to call raised during pre-flop with some suited connectors such as an Ace or a King, along with pocket pairs. If you have an opponent who raises from the button, then it would be ideal to fold. If you find the player on the button limps, then you need to raise on the hand. It would be better to play the pre-flop out of position, rather than playing post-flop in random position.

Hand To Play in Heads-UP

One of the common mistakes people make with heads-up poker is to play every hand. It is imperative to put the opponents into the rags all the time, but it is essential to play good hands for the bigger pots. You would typically gain 10% while playing with suited connectors. It would be best to fold as soon as you notice the raise on the button. Play selected hands, so as to save the bankroll for the tougher situations during the game. Try to avoid the bigger pots after playing a part of your funds.

The Poker Exchange

The Poker Exchange is a four handed computer simulation of Texas Hold ‘Em. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Each hand is randomly generated, by a computer programme, as are the community cards.

The main difference between ‘normal’ poker and the Poker Exchange is that on the Poker Exchange there are no players, only observers. In normal poker, a player may only view their own ‘hole’ and ‘community’ cards i.e. their own hand. On the Poker Exchange, all four hands are revealed. As such, the objective isn’t to win, as in normal poker, but to back the winning hand and/or lay any or all of the three losing hands.At each stage of the play, odds to bet and lay each of the four hands are displayed by the simulation.

Another major difference between normal poker and the Poker Exchange is that, in normal poker, bets must be made at each stage of the game. On the Poker Exchange, betting on a hand is allowed at one or more stages in the game. In addition, betting one more than one hand is permissible as is laying more than one hand. Arbitraging one or more hands, i.e. betting on a hand to win and laying the same hand to lose, is also permissible.

Given that the exchange is a computer simulation, and therefore devoid of human intervention, folding is an excluded function. As such, the winner of the game is not usually declared until the ‘river’ card is revealed. The term ‘usually’ is used because hands, which cannot possibly win, are eliminated at the earliest possible stage in the game.

The option to back or lay any hand, at any time in the game, exists. It is therefore possible to place a bet on a hand after the cards have been dealt but prior to any cards being revealed. This action is considered to be a totally random act since the outcome of a bet is totally reliant upon luck. It is therefore not to be recommended.

Following the dealing of the cards comes the ‘preflop’ stage where the ‘hole’ cards of the four hands are revealed. The ‘community’ cards, at this stage, are not visible. Once a bet has been placed, it remains in effect until the game is ended. Further bets may be placed at any stage of the game. Again, they will remain in effect until the game is ended. At the end of the game, all bets are settled and funds either credit to, or debited from, the player’s accounts.

For those familiar with horse race betting, the Poker Exchange is akin to betting on a horse race whist it is in progress. This is called in-running betting. As a horse race proceeds, the odds on each particular horse either increases or decreases depending on the perceived chances of the horse winning or losing the race. This is also the case with the Poker Exchange and the odds on a hand winning or losing change at each stage of the game.

Texas Hold’em in Action

ROUND ONE – THE PREFLOP

As soon as a dealer has been selected and the blinds posted, the game begins with the dealer dealing each player two hole cards clockwise round the table. Once this is complete, the first round of betting starts and things begin to get interesting!

ROUND ONE – BETTING

At this point of the game, players must carefully consider their hole cards and determine if they have potential. Betting commences with the player to the immediate left of the big blind player, and follows clockwise round the table.

In this betting round, each player, with the possible exception of the player who posted the big blind, may either choose to fold (quit the game), call (meet the bet) or raise, increasing the big blind to a full bet. If players still left in the round choose to only call the big blind, then the player who originally posted the big blind is the only player who has the option to check (stay in the game without calling or raising) their own blind.

Players wager using the smaller level of the stakes at the table (Note: Refer to the section about betting structure listed above to see the example about the limits and rules for the betting rounds).

ROUND 2 – THE FLOP

By this point of the game, the excitement increases as the dealer deals the first three community cards face up on the board (the middle of the table). Now players can use these three communal cards in combination with their two hole cards to determine their hand possibilities.

ROUND 2 – BETTING

For this round, betting commences with the first player closest to the dealers left (it doesn’t matter if the dealer folds, betting always commences with the player closest to their left) and continues clockwise round the table. Betting follows the same structure as in the first round, with players able to fold, call, and raise. The first player to make a wager may check, and if no other raises are made, the other players may check also. Like the first round, players wager using the smaller level of stakes at the table.

ROUND 3 – THE TURN

Once the second betting round has come to an end, the dealer deals the fourth community card on the board. Now the game becomes even tenser as the players left in the game now have 6 cards to work with.

ROUND 3 – BETTING

The third betting round follows the same as the second betting round, with the exception that now players must wager using the higher level of the stakes at the table.

ROUND 4 – THE RIVER

At this point of the game, palms really start to sweat as the fifth and final community card is dealt on the board. Players now have all 7 cards at their disposal, and must make the best possible 5-card hand.

ROUND 4 – THE FINAL BET

Betting commences as it did in the last round, with the higher level of stakes at the table making up the wager.

SHOWDOWN

Here it is, the moment every player waits for – when their blood runs cold with defeat or pumps hot with the victory! Each player left in the hand show their cards, beginning with the last player to bet and continuing in that pattern. During the showdown players may also choose to “muck” (fold out of the game, without showing their cards) their hand. If in the event, a player wins by default, which means that every other player in the hand folded, no showdown will occur, and the winner is given the option to show their cards or not. For the most part, players choose not to show their winning hand, as it adds to the drama of the game, and keeps the other opponents guessing what the great hand was.

Establishing Your Poker Player Profile

When it comes to establishing your own poker player profile it is best to be adaptable. The more you change your tactics and strategies when playing, the harder time the other players will have at figuring out what your next move will be. A player who is adaptable is exceptional, as he or she can outwit all of their opponents when the stakes are high.

Of course, becoming a master of profile changing isn’t something that comes naturally, and like everything else, takes practice and plenty of experience playing against, and studying others. To help you with this task here are some tips to keep in mind on your quest to become a great player:

Don’t be afraid to fold - The best poker players in the world fold when they know their hand just won’t cut it. Folding doesn’t make you less of a player, on the contrary it shows that you know how to keep your chips.

Don’t study and try to outwit only one player - In online poker, most of the people you play against at a table won’t be there for long. Therefore, this strategy can prove to be a waste of your time if you constantly have to face new players.

Keep your emotions in check - If you are feeling upset or frustrated it would be best if you called it a day and calm down before attempting to play again. Negative emotions cause you to become distracted, and distractions cause your mind to wonder, allowing the other players to walk all over you.

Don’t fall into a routine – You may find that you are extremely comfortable with one strategy, but falling into a routine of using only one technique will turn you into a straight player, allowing others to gain a good idea of what your next moves will be.

Don’t become too comfortable – If you find that you are comfortable with the way you play, it’s time for you to improve your skill and try something new. Comfort is a sign of laziness, which can cause you to remain at one level, limiting your potential as a player and winner.

Keep your mind open for new ideas – Advice and a few pointers never hurts anyone, as it could be the one tip you need to progress your abilities. You can always learn something. Therefore, whether you get a tip from a professional, a book, a friend or even a kid, show your gratitude and don’t forget to return the favour whenever the opportunity presents itself. Being a good poker player is knowing how to think and act for yourself. So trust your instincts, learn to be flexible, and give it all you’ve got!

FOLD’EM AND BLUFF’EM

Knowing when and when not to fold or bluff during a Hold’em game takes experience, and the only way you are going to gain that is to practice and play frequently. However, knowing how to minimize your losses and maximize your winnings is all about knowing the right time to bet, call, raise, check or fold.

For instance, if you want to cut your losses, fold during the preflop if you do not have a strong starting hand. On the other hand, if you’re starting hand has potential, the longer you stay in the game and raise the bar, the more opportunity you have to get the other players to keep adding money to the pot; thus maximizing your possible victory. But the truth is, folding is sometimes difficult for players, especially for those players who have little patience and a lot or pride.

To help you decide when to fold ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I currently have potentially one of the best hands according to the number of players in the game?

2. Do I have enough faith in my hand to take on the other players’ personalities?

3. Is my hand worth the current wager?

Although you’ll never know the exact answers to these questions, the whole point of asking them is so that you will follow your gut instinct and do what you feel is best for the present game, and your budget. Basically, asking yourself these three questions is like giving yourself a bit of a reality check.

Furthermore, there are technically two particular rounds in Hold’em where folding needs to be considered seriously, the Preflop and the Turn. The preflop gives you an indication of your potential victory with your starting hand, so if it doesn’t look good, you can fold quickly out of the game and cut your losses early. The turn, on the other hand, is your last chance to fold before you put your final chips in the pot for the last round. Thus, if you reach the turn and all of your confidence in your hand has run dry, you can still cut your losses by skipping out on the showdown.

The whole point to bluffing is to trick the other player(s) into believing you have the best hand. The reason you want to do this is so that players will fold out of the game and you can win the pot. Sounds pretty straight forward doesn’t it? Sure it does, but like everything else in life, anything that sounds easy rarely ever is. After all, do you actually think there would be so many strategies out there if gambling was that simple? Of course not, and that’s why it takes skill. And how do you achieve this skill? Experience!

Above all, you need to remember that when it comes down to it folding is often your best option as it allows you to control your money, giving you the chance to really nail your golden opportunity once it finally comes your way. Hence, spend less time obsessing over winning every game, and use your focus on a good hand to maximize its potential and win the pot.

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