Heads-up poker is often mentioned in conjunction with popular types of the game such as Texas Holdem or Omaha. Unlike5️⃣ those variants it isn’t actually a type of poker game itself. Instead it’s a way of playing them. Intrigued?
What is5️⃣ heads-up poker?
Heads-up poker refers to any form of the game in which the hand is played out between just two5️⃣ players. Head-to-head poker in other words. Virtually any type of poker can be played heads-up.
Hands progress according to the rules5️⃣ of the specific type of poker you’re playing heads-up, just as they would do were more players involved. However, there5️⃣ are some heads-up adaptations in community card poker games such as Texas Holdem (see how to play, below).
Games of poker5️⃣ can become heads up when just two players remain at the table at the start of a hand, while heads-up5️⃣ tournaments are popular at online poker sites.
With only one opponent to beat, competitors have a high chance of winning each5️⃣ hand regardless of what they are dealt and tend to play aggressively as a result. Similarly, with only one opponent5️⃣ needing to fall for your bluff, bluffing is more likely to be successful.
How to play heads-up poker
As mentioned above, the5️⃣ rules for many forms of poker don’t change when playing heads-up. If you’re new to poker check out our how5️⃣ to play poker section for an introduction to the game and links to how-to-play guides for Texas Holdem, Omaha and5️⃣ other types of poker.
There is one key adaptation when it comes to playing community card poker games such as Texas5️⃣ Holdem and Omaha heads up, which see the normal position of the small and big binds reversed.
In poker games other5️⃣ than heads-up the small blind is posted by the player positioned clockwise from the dealer (or nominal dealer in online5️⃣ poker). The big blind is posted by the player to the left of the small blind.
The first round of betting5️⃣ begins with the player who sits to the left of the player who posted the big blind and all subsequent5️⃣ rounds of betting begin with the player who posted the small blind.
However in heads-up play, the dealer posts the short5️⃣ blind and their opponent posts the big blind.
Why is the position of the blinds reversed in heads-up poker? Basically to5️⃣ ensure fairness.
If the position of the blinds wasn’t reversed in heads-up poker the player who isn’t dealing would get to5️⃣ act first in the betting rounds both before and after the flop because there are only two players involved. This5️⃣ would give them an advantage.
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Heads-up poker5️⃣ and heads-up tournaments are widely available at the UK’s best online poker sites so why not try them for free5️⃣ with new customer poker bonuses and sign-up offers.
Learn how to play popular types of poker and the rules specific to5️⃣ each game
Want to know the rules specific to popular types of poker? Check out the links below.
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