Use These 3 Steps To Win At Heads-Up

YOUR 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 someone 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: Texas Hold 'Em Poker Secrets

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

Casino Windsor Images

Severa; photos of the exterior of Casino Windsor:

http://www.hbrio.com/Casino-Windsor/casino_windsor_photos.html

Photos copyrighted by Gary Killops
Permission to use these photos granted to anyone who provides a link back to this site.



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Playing Against Calling Stations

Yesterday I had a bad day at the tables. I was at a table playing against not one but 3 calling stations and everytime I had a good hand I would play it agressively but couldn't knock the calling stations out. I lost three big pots on the river when the calling station would make his straight.

Here is a recap of one of them.

In this situation I have AK (hearts) suited before the flop and bet 5 times the big blind. Two on the calling stations called my raise.

Thee flop was a rainbow 7C, KS, 5D. Having the top pair on the board and the best kicker I made it 5 times the big blind and was called by one of the "calling stations."

The turn was an 2S which didn't help me but I figured didn't help him either so I made 10 times the big blind figuring this guy would fold .... but he called again. I figured the guy must have a high pair, maybe even two pairs since he wasn't going away.

The river was an 8H. I already had a lot of money in the pot and this guy was calling me, never raising me. I checked, he checked and I figured I won the pot with my pair of kings and ace kicker.

He shows a 6H and 4C and wins the pot with his 8 high straight.

I can't believe the guy called my pre flop bet with two low non suited cards. The flop helped him and he began chasing the last card to his straight and made it on the river.

Sure, if he didn't make the straight I would have made off with a nice pot playing agressive but it just wasn't my day. I hate playing against calling stations.

Gary

Casino Windsor To Hold Poker Tournaments

Starting September this year Casino Windsor will have daily Texas Hold'em Poker tournaments. Buy ins will start at around $50 up to $1000 depending on the tournament. As soon as I have more information I will post it here.

Gary

Las Vegas Casino Texas Hold'em Poker Tournaments

I am heading to Las Vegas next week and was researching internet sites for poker tournaments.

Here is a list of current tournaments I found.

Gary

MGM Grand
All New, No-limit Hold 'em Tournaments
Every Monday through Thursday at 11am
$60.00 Buy-in for $800 in chips
$5.00 Additional gets $400 more in chips
No Re-Buys!
Limited to six (6) Tables

Aladdin
Daily Tournaments at 10am, 1pm, and 7pm: Monday - Thursday.

10am $35 buy-in, w/ $5 add on. T1000 + T1000 for add on. Averaging 120+ players, sign up early. Coffee, doughnuts, muffins served for tourney players.
Blinds: 25/50, 50/100, 100/200, 200/400, 300/600 and up. 15 minute levels, freeze out.

1pm $50 buy in $10 add on. T1000 + T1000 for add on. Single rebuy for $40 for T2000 any time in first hour. Averaging 75-90 players.

Blinds 25/50, 50/100, 100/200, 200/400, 400/800 and up. 20 minute levels. Single rebuy.

New 7pm Freeze out Tourney: $50 buy in $10 add on. T1000 + T1000 for add on. Tourney is new but getting 3-5 tables/night.

Fridays at NOON. $100 buy in $10 add on T1000 + T1000 for add on. Averaging 85+ players.


Bellagio
$500 + $40 buy-in No Limit Hold 'em tournament every Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.

$1,000 + $60 buy-in No Limit Hold 'em tournament every Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Satellites are available for both tournaments.

The Wednesday tournament satellites are held on Tuesdays and on Wednesdays from 8AM and cost $130. with the top two players receiving a seat plus $30 cash.

Satellites for the Friday tournament cost $240.


Binions
7 Days a Week: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$60 Buy-in: Players will start with $1,000 in Tournament chips
$10 Bonus-buy: $500 Extra Tournament chips
$40 Optional Re-buy (1)
Registration starts at 12 p.m. Tournament starts at 2 p.m.
20 minute rounds
5% of prize money will be withheld for a drawing one hour after the tournament ends. All participants that entered the tournament & playing in a live game are eligible.

Friday & Saturday Evening: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$125 Buy-in: Players will start with $1,500 in Tournament chips
$25 Bonus-buy: $500 Extra Tournament chips
$50 Optional Re-buy (1)
Registration starts at 6 p.m. Tournament starts at 8 p.m.
25 minute rounds
Sunday Evening: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$325 Buy-in: Players will start with $2,500 in Tournament chips
Registration starts at 6 p.m. Tournament starts at 8 p.m.
30 minute rounds

$80 SATELLITES WILL RUN ALL DAY SUNDAY
Each table will award 2 winners for $325 buy-in Tournament
Plus $25 in cash


Flamingo
7 Days a Week: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$60 Buy-in: Players will start with $1,000 in Tournament chips
$10 Bonus-buy: $500 Extra Tournament chips
$40 Optional Re-buy (1)
Registration starts at 12 p.m. Tournament starts at 2 p.m.
20 minute rounds
5% of prize money will be withheld for a drawing one hour after the tournament ends. All participants that entered the tournament & playing in a live game are eligible.

Friday & Saturday Evening: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$125 Buy-in: Players will start with $1,500 in Tournament chips
$25 Bonus-buy: $500 Extra Tournament chips
$50 Optional Re-buy (1)
Registration starts at 6 p.m. Tournament starts at 8 p.m.
25 minute rounds
Sunday Evening: No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$325 Buy-in: Players will start with $2,500 in Tournament chips
Registration starts at 6 p.m. Tournament starts at 8 p.m.
30 minute rounds

$80 SATELLITES WILL RUN ALL DAY SUNDAY
Each table will award 2 winners for $325 buy-in Tournament
Plus $25 in cash


Golden Nugget
DAILY AT 11:00 AM
Limit Hold’em for the First Hour-No Limit Hold’em after the First Hour.
$55 Buy-in
One Rebuy - $40
One Add-On $40
20 Minute Rounds
1500 in chips.

MONDAY - No Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$125 Buy-in
Unlimited Rebuys -$100
One Add-On $100
30 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

TUESDAY - Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$125 Buy-in
One Rebuy $100
One Add-On $100
30 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

WEDNESDAY - No Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$125 Buy-in
One Rebuy $100
One Add-On $100
30 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

THURSDAY - Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$125 Buy-in
One Rebuy $100
One Add-On $100
30 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

FRIDAY - No Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$230 Buy-in
One Rebuy $200
One Add-On $200
30 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

SATURDAY - No Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$330 Buy-in
One Rebuy $200
One Add-On $200
40 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

SUNDAY - No Limit Hold’em
7:00 PM
$125 Buy-in
One Rebuy $100
One Add-On $100
30 Minute Rounds
2000 in chips

*A drawing will be held one hour after the11:00 AM tournament ends. $100 of the prize money will be awarded to a tournament player who is present in the poker room and playing in live action.

All tournaments have an optional chip bonus at the beginning of the tournament. Players receive an additional 500 in tournament chips for $5 in the morning tournament and in the evening tournament. This money goes directly into the tournament staff tip pool. This option must be used before the tournament begins.

Registration opens one hour prior to the start of the tournament.



Harrah’s
NL Tournament - Daily @ 11am
$30 buy-in with $10 add on and one $40 rebuy

Sit n go tournaments starting at 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Buy-in's of $40 and $60 both days.

$40 SNG's start with $800 in tournament chips winner take all.

$60 SNG's start with $1,000 in chips and pays top 2 spots 80/20.

Both SNG's start at 25/50 with 15 min. rounds.



Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace poker room offers No Limit Hold'em tournaments Monday through Thursday.

Monday, 1:00 p.m.: $40 Buy-in + $5.00 Add on. (1) $20 re-buy ($250 in extra chips for the $5 add-on).

Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.: $50 Buy-in + $10.00 Add on. (1) $25 re-buy ($500 in extra chips for the $10 add-on).

Wednesday, 1:00 p.m.: $40 Buy-in + $5.00 Add on. (1) $20 re-buy ($250 in extra chips for the $5 add-on).

Thursday, 7:00 p.m.: $50 Buy-in + $10.00 Add on. (1) $25 re-buy ($500 in extra chips for the $10 add-on).

Sunday, 1:00 p.m.: $50 Buy-in + $10.00 Add on. (1) $25 re-buy ($500 in extra chips for the $10 add-on).

The Imperial Palace poker room is a great place for low buy-in No Limit Texas Holdem tournaments.

Registration begins 2 hours before the start time of each tournament.

Most tournaments have 30 to 50 players.



Luxor
The Luxor offers daily Texas Holdem tournaments at noon and 8:30 p.m.

Luxor's tournaments are freeze-out tournaments (meaning if you bust out, you're done. No re-buys allowed).

For most daily tournaments the fee is $25, with a $3 optional add-on. You start with $250 in chips, or $300 in chips if you buy the add-on.

The game is limit Texas Hold'em during the first hour, with blinds beginning at 15-30 and raising every 15 minutes. After one hour, the game turns into No Limit, and the blinds continue to increase every 15 minutes.

Most tournaments usually take 2 hours.

The 8:30 p.m. tournaments on Monday and Thursday have $100 buy-ins, and $15 satellites are available all week to qualify.


Mandalay Bay
Monday through Friday 10am
$30 Buy-in Texas Hold'em Freeze-out
$300 Tournament Chips

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Evenings 6pm
$50 Buy-In No Limit Texas Hold'em Freeze-Out
$500 Tournament Chips

Sign-ups start (Day of Tournament):
7am for 10 am Tournaments
3pm for 6pm Tournaments.

Players' in live games receive first sign-up.

All Tournaments are limited to 30 players.



Mirage
The Mirage poker room offers more tournaments than most other Las Vegas card rooms.

The Sunday night no-limit poker tournament is one of the longest running in Las Vegas, and it attracts a lot of the local semi-professional poker players.

Tournament registration begins an hour and a half before each event. One-table "Satellites" are offered for a chance to win an entry into the event of your choice.

Sunday: 5:00 p.m.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$330 Buy-in with unlimited $200 Re-Buys for the 1st hour with 1 Add-on.

Monday: 7:00 p.m.
Limit Texas Hold'em
$130 Buy-in with unlimited $100 Re-Buys
for the 1st hour with 1 Add-on.

Tuesday: 7:00 p.m.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$130 Buy-in with unlimited $100 Re-Buys
for the 1st hour with 1 Add-on.

Wednesday: 7:00 p.m.
Limit Texas Hold'em
$230 Buy-in with (1) $200 Re-Buy
anytime during the 1st hour.

Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
No-Limit Texas Hold'em
$230 Buy-in with (1) $200 Re-Buy
anytime during the 1st hour.



Orleans
Daily Tournaments at Noon and 7:00 p.m.

DAYS TIME EVENT BUY-IN RE-BUYS

Monday Noon Omaha Hi-Lo $27.00 $10.00
Monday 7:00PM No-Limit Hold'Em $40.00 $20.00
Tuesday Noon Hold'Em $27.00 $10.00
Tuesday 7:00 PM No-Limit Hold'Em $40.00 $20.00
Wednesday Noon No-Limit Hold'Em $40.00 $20.00
Wednesday 7:00PM Hold'Em $27.00 $10.00
Thursday Noon Hold'Em $27.00 $10.00
Thursday 7:00PM Omaha Hi-Lo $27.00 $10.00
Friday Noon Omaha Hi-Lo $40.00 $20.00 (1)
Friday 7:00PM No Limit Hold'Em $60.00 $40.00 (1)
Saturday Noon Hold'Em $50.00 $20.00 (1)
Saturday 7:00PM No Limit Hold'Em $125.00 $100.00 (1)
Sunday Noon No Limit Hold'Em $50.00 $20.00 (1)
Sunday 7:00PM Hold'Em $60.00 $50.00 (1)

Players may purchase a dealer's bonus card for $3.00 prior to any tournament.

This money will go directly to the tournament dealers and players will receive 25% more in starting chips.

All tournaments except Sunday evening are bounty tournaments.

*Note: The Orleans daily poker tournaments are extremely popular. I recommend that you arrive at least two hours before the tournament begins to guarantee a seat.


Plaza
Cards go in the air three times a day starting with single table shoot outs during Morning Madness at 10 a.m., only a $25 buy-in. Then join the Lucky Seven tournament at 7 p.m. for only $50 with one $50 rebuy and then play in Midnight Madness, the most popular midnight tournament in Downtown Las Vegas. The buy-in is only $50 with one $50 rebuy.

For a chance to win big money don't miss playing in our Freezeouts every Monday and Friday at 6 p.m. Monday's buy-in is $200 with a $15 entry fee and Friday's buy-in is $300 with a $20 entry fee.



Rio
Daily NL Holdem Tournament at 12:00 NOON.
Maximum 60 players.
$40 buy-in for $1,500 in tournament chips.
(1) $40 optional add-on within the first hour for an additional $1,500 in chips.

The daily poker tournaments are averaging 40 to 60 players, and tournament schedule is temporary and may change after the new year.



Sahara
The Sahara poker room offers some of the longest running No Limit Holdem tournaments in Las Vegas.

Sahara offers poker tournaments every day at 11am, 7pm, and 11pm.

All tournaments are $42 buy-in with an optional $20 rebuy/add-on in the first hour.

$42 Buy-in, receives $2000 in tournament chips.
Optional rebuy/add-on gets you an additional $1,500 in chips.

Blinds start at 25/25 and increase every 20 minutes.

7pm is usually full and draws 150+ players, 11pm draws between 40-70 players.


Stardusk
Morning Tournaments Monday - Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Every Week.

No Limit Holdem
$40 Buy-in
No re-buy
No add-on
$1,000 in chips
Average 7 to 8 tables each tourney




Stratosphere
At least two tournaments per day: 9am and 8 pm.
9am: $22 buy-in.
one $20 rebuy.

8pm: $44 buy-in.
one $40 rebuy.

Buy-in gets you T1000.
There is a $40 rebuy in the first 4 levels which gets you an additional T1000, then if you make it to the first break (after level 4) you can add-on for an additional T1000.

*Note: PM tournament add on gets T2000.



Sunset Station
Monday - 10am: Limit Holdem
$18 buy-in
no rebuy
$2 add-on for an extra $100 in chips

Tuesday - 10am: Limit Omaha (straight high)
$18 buy-in
no rebuy
$2 add-on for an extra $100 in chips

Wednesday - 10am: No Limit Hold 'em.
$23 buy-in
(1) rebuy (can rebuy right away) - $10
$2 add-on for an extra $100 in chips
start with $500 in chips.

Thursday - 10am: Limit Holdem
$18 buy-in
no rebuy
$2 add-on for an extra $100 in chips

Friday - 11 am: No Limit Hold 'em.
$23 buy-in
(1) rebuy (can rebuy right away) - $10
$2 add-on for an extra $100 in chips
start with $500 in chips.

Sizing Up Your Opening Bet - Chris Ferguson

I never get tired of saying it: If you're the first to enter the pot in a No-Limit Hold 'em game, never call. If you aren't prepared to raise, throw your hand away.

Why, you ask? Simple. By raising, you put pressure on the blinds and the other players at the table, making them consider just how strong their hands really are. Chances are that by raising, you'll force marginal hands to fold before you even see the flop, limiting the number of players you have to beat through the rest of the hand.

OK, with that out of the way, the next obvious question becomes: How much should I raise?

To that, I say; it depends. First off, you shouldn't allow the strength of your hand effect the size of your raise. A tough poker game is like real estate. The three most important factors in deciding how much to raise are: Location, location, location.

You always want to make your opponents' decisions as difficult as possible. In choosing the size of your raise, you want to give the big blind a tough decision between calling or folding if the rest of the table folds around to him.

Raising from early position is to advertise a very strong hand - one that can beat the seven or more other players who still have to act. Since you are representing such strength, it doesn't take much of a raise to convince the big blind to fold. Also, since your hand is so strong, you actually don't mind a call from the big blind anyway. The real reason for a small raise is that you have so many players acting after you, any of whom might wake up with a monster and re-raise you.

When you raise in late position, you're representing a hand that can beat the two or three remaining hands. This gives you a lot more freedom to raise with marginal hands, but your raise must be bigger or the big blind can call too easily. Another reason to raise more from late position is that you're trying to put pressure on the big blind to fold, not call and, more importantly, you don't have as many remaining opponents who can re-raise you.

One of the most common mistakes in No-Limit Hold 'em is coming in for a raise that's too big. In early position, you want to keep your raises at about two times the big blind. With four to six players to act behind you when you're in middle position, raise to about two and a half big blinds, and raise to about three times the big blind from late position.

If you're representing a big hand by raising from early position, it stands to reason that you'll only get played with by huge hands. Why risk four, five or more bets to win only one and a half bets in the blinds when you're often going to be running into monsters along the way? If you're holding A-Q rather than A-A and a player comes over the top, you can lay it down without having risked much.

Some beginners raise more with their strongest hands to build a bigger pot or raise less with these monsters to get more action. Instead, I recommend that you play your starting hands the same way no matter what you have. With A-A or A-J, raise the same amount so you're not telegraphing the strength of your hand to watchful opponents. An exception would be if you know your opponents aren't paying attention and you feel sure that you can manipulate them.

These numbers need to be modified if there are antes. You should generally add about half the total antes to any raise. Your early position raise should be two big blinds plus half the total antes, and three big blinds plus half the antes for your late-position raises.

There are many loose live games these days. If you find yourself in one of these games and you can't steal the blinds with a normal raise, tighten up your starting requirements slightly and make larger raises. If this raise still can't take the blinds, don't tighten up anymore, but choose to raise an amount that you expect to get called once or twice behind you. Since your opponents are playing too loose, take advantage of it by building bigger pots when you think you're getting the best of it.

The last exception is when you're short-stacked. If making your typical raise means putting over a quarter of your stack in the pot, just go ahead and move all in instead. Betting a quarter of your stack before the flop commits you to calling just about any re-raise or, at the very least, it gives you a very tough decision. Moving all in here instead of raising less forces the tough decision on your opponents and eliminates one of your tough calling decisions. All of which brings us back to my first principle: Avoid being the one to just call.


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