Poker Strategy – Heads Up Ring Games
February 25, 2009
Playing heads-up ring games can be great rakeback strategy as it is a much faster way to build up a shared rakeback account. One must be careful, however, as it can also take a heavy toll on your bankroll if you don’t play it smart.
Playing heads-up ring games has its share of advantages and disadvantages. On the one side of the coin, you’ll be playing a lot more hands per hour, with a much higher percentage contributed to rake. On the flip side, you’ll want to stay away from multi-tabling as your thoughts should be focused on the high-speed heads up game.
The most frequent predicament associated with a heads-up ring game Rakeback strategy is the intense fluctuation of your bankroll. This is why so much focus is required to maintain a rising chip stack, while gaining maximum Rakeback.
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To make the most of this Rakeback strategy, you’ll want to see a lot of Flops. Luckily, viewing more Flops is acceptable in heads-up play, where it is a big no-no at full tables. When taking on a single player, you’ll have a much easier time deciding whether your hand is good enough to move on, or Fold after the Flop.
The skill level of your opponent has a lot to do with the success of this Rakeback strategy. If you’re playing a very tight, experienced player, he’s going to Fold a lot before the Flop. If no Flop comes down, no rake will be taken. Without a rake, the Rakeback strategy becomes pointless. Instead, try to find yourself a less experienced opponent who will call just to see Flops. These players are usually found in lower limit games and easily recognized after only a few hands.
The thing you want to watch out for most is over-betting before the Flop with a marginal hand. The more you risk pre-flop, the more you stand to lose if the Flop doesn’t improve your hand. The only time you should bet/raise high before the Flop is when you have a premium Starting Hand, or if you know you can bluff out your opponent and steal the Big Blind.
Another notable advantage to playing heads-up ring games is the ability to clear bonuses very quickly. Clearing bonuses requires points, which are accumulated by participating in raked hands. The more you contribute to rake, the more points you earn. Since heads-up games move so fast, not only are you fulfilling the Rakeback strategy, you’re clearing bonuses at break-neck pace.




