Many online poker players see a Heads-Up Sit’n’Go Tournament on the menu and immediately jump in because they assume it’s a 50/50 chance. Can’t pass up something like that, right? Experiences heads-up players, however, know exactly how to dominate weak players, and can easily increase those odds to 75/25 or better.

Don’t let yourself be the weak player who registers in a Heads-Up SNG for the even expectations. Instead, learn a solid heads-up SNG strategy and be the predator, not the prey.

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In this article, we’re going to give you a strong heads-up SNG strategy through basic dos and don’ts. If you follow the advice in this poker strategy, you can easily pull the odds well into your favor.

Heads-Up SNG Strategy – Position

In heads-up SNGs, there are only two positions – the first and last to act. This means both players are posting blinds every hand, big Blind for the first bettor, Small blind for the dealer. Just as in full-table tournaments, the Dealer position holds a great advantage.

Dealer Position

With any decent hand, from dealer position, make a move. A good bet is 3x the Big Blind, even with a hand like J-9. In a normal poker hand, this is a relatively weak starter, but in heads-up, chances are you are ahead of your opponent anyway. If he folds, you steal the blinds. If he calls, you should have the upper hand.

After the flop, if the big blind checks to you, raise again. You should easily take the pot. If you raised before the flop and the big blind raises after, beware. It’s better to give up the pot than lose a sizeable chunk of chips.

Big Blind Position

 

From the Big Blind, you have two very simple choices. Bet a premium hand, or a check anything else. If the dealer raises pre-flop, fold anything weak. If you make it to the flop, and connect with your hand, open with a pot size bet. Again, if you’re raised, be ready to fold. Basically, if you have a strong hand post-flop, run with it. If not, fold it (unless dealer is playing weak).

When you hit a premium hand in the big blind, make a normal bet. If you get raised, call – don’t raise back. This will tell the dealer you are trying to catch a flop, when in reality, you are way ahead to begin with. Continue this betting pattern after the flop to earn as many chips as possible.

Heads-Up SNG Strategy – Strong Hands

In heads-up SNG tournaments, hand strength has a whole new definition. You don’t need pocket Aces or Kings, or A-K suited. The same hands you would consider marginally playable at a full-table become good hands in heads-up SNGs. When you’re facing 9 opponents, chances are someone in the group hit a premium starting hand, or close enough to it. When it’s just two of you at the table, neither is likely to hit a premium hand very often.

When you do have a strong hand, be very careful to slow play it. Let’s say you’re holding A-K, and the flop comes down K-6-3. Your opponent checks. Check back to him. Anything more will scare him off. If he hits something like Jacks on the turn, your Kings are high enough to take him for a lot of chips before it’s over.

What about draw hands? Let’s say you have 10-J and the flop brings 9-4-8. You should be betting to steal the pot here. If you can make your opponent think you’ve got it made, he’ll drop out. If he does call, you have outs to back it up. The same heads-up SNG strategy applies to middle-pair.