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WINNING STRATEGY FOR HEADS-UP
poker can be
"boiled down" to three simple steps:
    1. Push The Action
    2. Set The Stage
    3. Trap Your Opponent
Let's take a look...
Step one is to PUSH THE ACTION. In heads-up poker,
the blinds are often substantial.
And the FASTEST way to build your stack and gain
momentum is to win the blinds as much as possible.
Be the player to push the action...
Consistently raise when you're the dealer. This is
a wonderful position because you get to act FIRST
pre-flop but last post-flop. You can represent a
hand by raising... and then get a read on your
opponent after the flop.
The more you push the action, the more blinds
you'll win.
Of course, this behavior will also keep your
opponent OFF BALANCE... while he tries to adjust
to YOUR GAME.
As soon as he gets a hand, he'll start coming back
over the top of you. And that's when you back off.
Step two is to SET THE STAGE...
Now that you've been aggressive, it's time to set
yourself up for some BIG pots.
Heads-up poker is usually determined by one major
hand... maybe two. You want to SET YOURSELF UP for
that hand.
In normal multi-player poker, those "big hands"
usually occur when two or more players have great
cards-- like a straight versus a flush, or trips
versus two pair.
In HEADS-UP POKER, this doesn't happen nearly as
much, because the odds of someone catching a hand
like a straight or flush or whatever is much
lower.
That's why the SET UP is so powerful.
Here's how to set yourself up for victory...
First of all, realize that what your opponent is
trying to do is "figure you out". He probably
KNOWS that he needs to take control and steal
blinds in order to win the match.
After setting the tempo and stealing blinds from
HIM, it's time to give him a false sense of "hope"
and "control". And it's time to show your cards
once or twice...
After stealing a pot, show your bluff... just
casually. You can say something like, "Jeeze, I'm
bullying you here, you didn't have 9-5 offsuit
beat?"
Or maybe what you can do is "ACCIDENTALLY" show
your cards after winning a hand...
(This is sneaky.)
Toss your hole cards into the muck after winning a
hand so that they just "happen" to turn face up.
"Oops."
LOL.
This will surely get your opponent riled up.
Then what you do is PRETEND to fall into a
consistent betting pattern. Start checking the
flop-- or betting very small amounts consistently.
Every time your opponent bets, let him steal the
pot. But only let him steal it with BIG BETS... no
"wuss action" allowed.
In other words, when you don't have a hand, bet on
the flop the SAME EXACT AMOUNT a few times in a
row. When your opponent RAISES, muck it.
The goal is for your opponent to think, "Wow, I've
finally got this sucker figured out. He plays
aggressively and bets a lot, but folds when I
crank up the pressure."
Once he's thinking that... it's time for the KILL.
Step three is to TRAP YOUR OPPONENT...
What you do is wait for a good hand-- or a hand
you're confident will be the winner.
Then play it EXACTLY LIKE YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING YOUR
BAD HANDS.
This is important. This principle is the "secret"
that pros use for all heads-up poker.
When you catch something really good, play it like
it's bad. Let your opponent come to you.
Bet small, check the flop, or do whatever it is
that will get your opponent to try to steal the
pot.
Then go over the top of him.
Act is if you're TIRED of getting pushed around.
Of course, there may be no need to go over the top
of him. Often times in heads-up a single raise is
already all-in... and if that's the case, you've
won the game.
If not, then you just need to get your opponent to
go all-in trying to bluff this pot from you. (Or
maybe he has something OK.)
Remember-- your opponent must think you have
NOTHING. That way he'll risk a lot of chips to win
the pot and "bully" you.
Obviously, your strategy is to make him feel
pot-committed with the worst hand... that way his
only way to win the hand is to go all-in.
Any time I win a heads-up match because my
opponent goes all-in on a bluff when I've got a
real hand, I know I've played the match well.
For whatever reason, most players make too many
loose all-in bets heads-up... and that's exactly
what you want to capitalize on.
So remember...
    1. Push The Action
    2. Set The Stage
    3. Trap Your Opponent
This step-by-step process and these techniques are
BEST USED when you go heads-up against someoneÂ
with about the same starting amount of chips as
you...
And of course, every heads-up situation is
different, because every OPPONENT is different.
But the key is to know the OBJECTIVE in each stage
of your match... and the ways to ACHIEVE that goal
for any given opponent.
For HUNDREDS of great concepts, examples,
step-by-step processes, and pro-level poker
lessons like this one, check out my eBook "Texas
Holdem Secrets".
You can download it right here, right now:
Talk to you soon,
Roy Rounder
P.S. No one remembers the guy who came in second
place. People want a WINNER...
Your ability to "close the deal" and win at
heads-up will be one of the most important factors
in your poker profits and career.
So make the choice now to invest in your skills
and abilities and download my book, which will
show you the secrets to winning heads-up in all
sorts of different situations... including:
- How to make a COME BACK from the short stack
- Step-by-step exactly how to "lean" on your
opponent when you start with more chips
- Which types of starting hands you should look
for in a heads-up game
- And much more
So don't put it off any longer. Click here:
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within this site and newsletter is being presented
solely for entertainment purposes. We will not be
held responsible for any personal loss of wagers
or damages you may incur. Anyone concerned about
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Anonymous for further information.
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Roy Rounder Communications
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