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Heads Up Strategy

Tournament play in poker is truly an art, and many believe it requires a higher level of hand by hand analysis than what is required for cash games – with different stages of tournament play requiring different strategies to be implemented by the player.  While the starting stages of any tournament requires a careful sizing up of the competition, and a player may need to adopt an all or nothing approach when closing in on the final table, players who make it to the heads up stage will need to once again adjust their strategies to suit the circumstances.

The heads up stage of any tournament is a real measure of poker character, where all of a player’s strategies and abilities will be truly tested.  With only one opponent standing between them and victory, players will be under more direct scrutiny than at any other stage of the game and, as such, no misstep will go unnoticed or unpunished.

While hand and odds analysis remain of the utmost importance, there is a massive psychological element involved in heads up poker play.  For many players, the only way to overcome this possible obstacle is to go into this tournament stage aggressively, choosing their plays in a way that makes them appear fearless and determined to their opponent.

Players who make it to the heads up stage of a tournament will need to play hands that they might otherwise have folded during the mid-stages of the tournament, remembering that not only do they need to dominate psychologically, but that also in late stage play the blinds will have increased to the point where several folds in a row could rapidly see them short stacked and on the back foot.  While no one is recommending players bluff their way blindly through heads up play, hoping for a miracle and refusing to back down, more risks when it comes to hand selection will need to be taken if a player is to succeed.

Of course, it is also important to acknowledge situations in which the opponent seems in a stronger position – as folding when necessary not only prevents avoidable losses but also sends a message that a player remains clear headed and analytical to the end.  Hopefully this will result in a little extra respect from opponents, which could be the difference between winning and losing when it comes down to that risky bluff moment.