Updated November 19, 2025
Most people think of poker as a game involving several players gathered around a table, betting and bluffing. The action can be intense, with chips flying and battles breaking out among an intriguing cast of characters.
However, not every poker matchup involves a sizable group of players – sometimes there are just two. Heads-up poker features two players squaring off against each other in differing types of poker games.
Keep reading to learn more about heads-up poker and what to expect when going mano-a-mano at the tables.
Explanation of Heads-up
There are generally two types of poker games in which players engage in heads-up play.
Here’s a quick look at those situations.
1. Cash games:
Many cash game scenarios see players battling it out heads-up. Either you are deliberately choosing to play two-handed or are playing a ring game where the other players have either left or haven’t joined yet.
Heads-up poker cash games involving just two players aren't popular in casinos. However, online platforms like 888poker regularly offer this format.
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2. Tournament final table:
Heads-up play occurs at the most critical time in a poker tournament when you’re battling one remaining opponent for the win. Heads-up play requires significant strategy adjustments and players must open their starting poker hand ranges considerably.
Online platforms may offer heads-up tournaments, where players battle for a fixed amount with blinds escalating throughout the match.
Additionally, major tournament series occasionally feature heads-up tournaments in which players compete in bracket-style formats. For example, the World Series of Poker features a $25,000 heads-up tournament each year.
Note that a hand may often be “heads-up” even if multiple players received cards in the hand. Provided only two players see the flop after all other players fold preflop.
For example:
“We saw a flop heads-up after open-raising preflop and getting one cold-caller.”
It’s crucial to remember that “heads-up poker” refers to action between two players. This scenario happens in cash games and tournament play.
How to Use Heads-up as Part of Your Poker Strategy
While many professional cash game players choose to play six-max or full-ring variants, a subset of professional cash players make most of their money playing heads-up games.
Expert heads-up cash game players can make more money than six-max and full-ring players.
- This fact is due to the ability to direct all one’s volume specifically towards playing weaker opposition. Ring-game players often face a mix of skilled and unskilled opponents.
- Whereas, if a heads-up player decides that their opponent is highly skilled, they can walk away from the game and select new opposition.
Heads-up games also allow a player to fine-tune edges over opponents. Most won’t be familiar with playing with two players. So, a skilled heads-up player can exploit less-skilled opponents.
However, this version, even when using GTO poker strategy, has significant variance, so players should adjust accordingly.
Heads-up Poker Strategy: General Guidelines
Exact strategy adjustments for playing heads-up will depend on the poker variant, but here are some general guidelines:
Range adjustment:
Preflop ranges will typically be looser when playing heads-up. While a ring game player might often elect to play 20-25% of his holdings, a heads-up player will usually enter the pot with closer to 60-70% of starting hands.
Play more hands with the chance to win more pots. Mixing in raises and three-bets can also be part of this approach.
Hand strength:
Made hands on the later streets are typically worth more in heads-up games. For example, in Texas Hold’em, holdings such as Ace-high may be strong enough to win a fair share of pots postflop. The same hand in a tight full-ring game is barely worth anything.
Marginal hands:
Along these same lines, players must be willing to call post-flop with more marginal hands than at a full table. Second and third pair can often help rake decent pots but pay attention to the board texture when making decisions with your hand. Pot control can help in situations like this.
While there are some positives to playing heads-up, there are a few things to keep in mind about skill advantage.
“Bumhunting”
Deliberately targeting weak opponents when playing heads-up is colloquially called "bumhunting" and carries a negative connotation. Exclusively targeting recreational players is bad for the poker ecology, but it’s also hard to argue with the business sense of refusing to play strong opposition.
So, while playing only weak opponents is excellent for making money, it is looked down upon by some in the poker community.
Heads-up Concepts
Here are a few final concepts to reaffirm when it comes to playing heads-up poker:
- Open up your range.
- Be willing to call with weaker hands than you might at a full table.
- Don’t be afraid to get aggressive, especially with a chip lead in a tournament.
- Try to get solid reads on opponents.
Examples of Heads-up Used in a Sentence
Knowing how to use poker’s lexicon at the tables will show that you understand the game.
Here are a few examples of using the poker term “heads-up” and “heads-up poker” in a sentence:
- It’s often said that heads-up cash games require more skill than shorthanded or full ring cash games.
- When playing heads-up, I try to loosen up my game a bit.
- Duston reached the final table and was soon playing heads-up for the championship.
- Four players remained in the hand on the turn, but Mike and I were heads-up after he bet, and two other players folded.
- I prefer playing multi-table tournaments online, but I am also working on my heads-up skills.
Conclusion
Heads-up poker is a game in which only two players compete for the pot. These scenarios occur in differing aspects of the game.
- In cash games, players are heads-up when all other players except two remain in the pot. These two players only compete against each other. Additionally, players may also find heads-up cash games available on many online platforms.
- In tournaments, players are heads-up after reaching the final two players at the final table. These players then compete to be the tournament winner. Some events occasionally feature heads-up tournaments with players advancing until the final match. Online players can find heads-up matches with the winner taking the prize pool.
Heads-up play has unique characteristics, and players must be ready to adjust to wider starting hand ranges. Finally, it’s still essential to trust your instincts and practice solid poker strategy.
See Also
