One opponent, every decision

Here is the context for this part of the site. Heads-Up is a two-seat Hold’em table with you and one computer player. Every deal brings a blind commitment, so the same two positions alternate frequently. Both players use virtual chips, and the cards follow the same five-card hand rankings used at larger tables. Revisit the relevant section if a detail is unclear.

The button posts the small blind — details

This overview brings the relevant details together. In a two-player game, the dealer button is also the small blind. That player acts first before the flop. The other player posts the big blind and still has an option to raise when the small blind only calls. These details provide context for the choices described here.

Action reverses after the flop — details

This overview brings the relevant details together. After the flop, turn and river, the player in the big blind acts first when both players still have chips and remain in the hand. The button acts last. This special order is why a button decision before the flop and after it require different thinking. The surrounding sections explain the related topics in more detail.

Adjust your opening range thoughtfully

This overview brings the relevant details together. There is only one opposing hand to beat, which can make more starting hands playable than at a full table. This does not mean every two cards deserve a large pot. Consider the size of the blinds, effective stacks and the cost of being called. These details provide context for the choices described here.

Read the effective stack — details

This overview brings the relevant details together. The smaller remaining stack limits how much the two players can contest. An unmatched excess wager is returned rather than awarded as a separate win. Before moving all-in, check how much your opponent can actually call and how that changes your possible return. Read this alongside the related information on this site.

Recognize a free check

For this topic, keep the following in mind. When the current betting round has no wager to match, checking adds no chips and keeps your hand live. If your opponent has bet, the available choices change. The controls show Check or Call according to the current action, helping distinguish a free continuation from a paid one. These details provide context for the choices described here.

Balance pressure and restraint — details

For this topic, keep the following in mind. A bet can win by making an opponent fold, or it can be called by a stronger hand. Board texture and earlier betting matter more than a single large bet. Against this computer, results still vary because both the deal and parts of the decision process are randomized. The same principles apply each time you use this part of the site.

Compare both final hands

The key details are straightforward. At showdown, the best five-card combination wins even if one player uses no private cards. Suits do not break a tie. When both players share the same best five cards, the pot is split, with any indivisible chip assigned by position. These details provide context for the choices described here.

Build a focused session — details

The explanation below covers the main points. Start with a small number of hands and review the difficult spots after each one. Pause is available when you want time to think. A new table resets the chip stacks for this mode, while existing completed-hand statistics remain unless you clear local data. A careful reading can help you distinguish the different situations.

Review heads-up results separately — details

A useful starting point is the following overview. Heads-Up has its own saved table and statistics row. Your local hand history labels each completed hand by mode. Compare decisions made in the small blind and big blind rather than assuming results from a six-seat or nine-seat game transfer directly. A careful reading can help you distinguish the different situations.