Learn to Close

In baseball, one of the most important positions on the field is the closer. In tight games when teams are clinging to a one run lead, it’s the closers responsibility to finish the job. In poker, when you’ve invested hours upon hours or days upon days in a tournament, closing it out is of the utmost importance. The question is how do you practice closing? How do you seal the “W” every time you enter heads-up play? We’re here to offer you a few tips for perfecting your endgame.

First, remember that online poker rooms offer heads-up sit and gos. These are the breeding grounds for those looking to perfect their mano a mano play. I can’t stress enough the importance of playing heads-up sit and gos, even if it’s just against a friend instead of an actual competitor. Heads-up sit and gos on sites like PokerStars and Ultimate Bet come in all different shapes and sizes. There are turbo sit and gos and standard sit and gos at a bevy of buy-ins. As a rule, check out the tournament structure that you’re used to playing in and then find a heads-up sit and go that matches it.

Try to play at least one heads-up sit and go every day. Taking on another equally hungry poker player heads-up is not something you can master by just reading about it in a book. You need to get out there and practice often. Once you think you’ve mastered the art of heads-up sit and gos, move up in stakes just as you would in regular tournaments. Playing $100 buy-in heads-up sit and go tournaments should just about max out your growth.

Second, more often than not, the aggressor takes down the pot heads-up. It’s all about jockeying for position and picking your spots in poker, but heads-up, aggression becomes even more vital. That’s not to say that you should be reckless. However, make sure your game is sufficiently opened up when play reaches the final two. If you follow live tournaments two-handed, most hand histories will read like this: “Player 1 raised to 100,000, Player 2 folded. Player 2 raised to 90,000, Player 1 folded. Player 1 received a walk.” Heads-up is about pre-flop play, so don’t be afraid to be aggressive.

Third, don’t think about the money. I know it might be tough, but focus on playing poker and not about the massive pay jump between second and first. This is like telling someone who is about to bungee jump not to look down, but thinking about the pay increase between second place and the winner is not a wise idea. Instead, focus on playing the best poker you can and the money will come. In major live tournaments, playing heads-up means quite literally playing for millions of dollars. Big-time players don’t worry themselves about the money. Instead, they play fundamental poker.

Fourth, take a cheap flop if your opponent lets you. It’s similar to a lower-stakes cash game in that regard. The more flops you see and the more hands you’re involved in, the better the chance that you’ll encounter playable cards and boards. In essence, the more active you are, the better. One of the poorer strategies in heads-up play is to fold unless you have a premium hand. See plenty of flops and get your money in when the opportunity is right.

Finally, review your play. Make sure to use a program like PokerTracker or Hold’em Manager and go over your heads-up play using an odds calculator or a pen and pencil. Pay close attention to critical hands to see what you could have done differently. If you have any doubt, there are a variety of internet forums and training sites that will gladly provide you with insight if you post a few hand histories. Reflective play can accelerate your learning curve in heads-up poker. Take advantage of the outlets you have to solicit feedback. Don’t forget to take advantage of the great poker bonuses offered by the mayor poker rooms.