Heads Up Tournaments (one on one) are a different poker animal. There is little time to get information from your opponent in the early stage. You’ll have to think differently than you would in a 9 or 10 player tournament.

CONTROL THE ACTION

In Heads Up think about controlling the action. That means you’re going to bet much more frequently and with cards that would be considered marginal in a 9-10 player tournament. You will always be a ‘blind’, either big or small so you have money invested in every hand. Consider a pocket pair in heads up like you would a set in a 9-10 player tournament.

ODDS ON POCKET PAIRS

Do you have an idea of the odds of both players in a Heads Up tournament getting pocket pairs in the same hand? The odds are approximately .3%! that’s one in three hundred!

Like a full table tournament, position is power (I mean where you’re sitting not HOW you are sitting or whatever)! When you’re on the button, you are controlling the action, so take advantage of it. If you control the action, most likely, you will control the outcome of the hand.

When in position, bet the pocket pairs no matter what they are. Bet the high card hands (AK,AQ,AJ,A10,KQ,KJ). You’ll have to bluff some ugly hands as well.

BANKROLL MANAGEMENT

Let’s get the bare facts straight. Money management is critical. Do not get in to a $5.00 Heads Up Sit n Go with $20.00. You can expect the odds to be in your favor just over 50% of the time, which means you will come out ahead in the long run, but you’ll have to be patient and have enough back up cash to get there. I use the 5% rule. That is I try never to use more than 5% of my poker money on any one tournament. That’s if you’re playing correctly.

Be aware that almost all of us get tilted when things go poorly for an extended period. Watch your attitude and if necessary, get away from the table for while.

Your earning power on Heads Up tournaments is considerably less than at a full table. But, the games go fast and you can play many more Heads Up tournaments in the same length of time.

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