[chris]

I've been playing heads up touneys on-line lately, and needless to say, the play is markedly different from other games. My question is - are there any set rules for playing heads up? Obviously high cards take precedence over suited connectors, and starting requirements don't really matter much at all. I've been trying to slowplay, but that hasn't done much for me either. The one thing that will work for me, at least in theory, is making large raises alot of the time, and occasionally slowplaying monsters, but if I do this, the savvy opponent will wait until he has a monster, or reraise me and put me to my chips only w/ top pair and fold most of the time. I haven't been able to find any book that addresses heads-up no limit play very well, and would appreciate suggestons.

[johnf]

I play quite a bit of heads up NL and I've found the best strategy goes something like this:

Always raise with Ace or King pre-flop, vary the size of raise.

Don't be afraid to call a small raise with garbage and then follow up the flop with lots of aggression if it looks like your opponent could have missed.

Most of all:
Don't find yourself commiting lots of chips when it doubt. It's good to see a lot of flops heads up (obviously), but don't get caught up in a raising war without SOMETHING to show. [Smile]

I know these are all pretty basic guidelines, but the trickiest thing about heads-up play is it differs with every player you sit down with. Some days being a maniac is hugely profitable, other days being tight will get you all of their money.. adjust your play to your opponent and don't lose concentration.. heads-up NL play can turn ugly really quick if you stop thinking for one hand.

[norshvind]

Always be patient and don't be afraid to fold. It's just you and the other. If it doesn't look good, just fold the small pot and look forward to the next flop.

My personal play is to play loose with the hole cards and tight with the flop. Most of the time, especially if the blinds are small, i will play every 2-hole cards dealt to me. The fact is that the flop is all random and who know what will come.