About this episode

This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the skills required to succeed in heads-up hold'em poker.

Many #poker players regard heads-up play as the purest form of the game. You are locked in a duel of wits with a single opponent, constantly trying to outmaneuver them and countering their tactical adjustments. The one-on-one nature also means your skill edge is magnified leading to high win-rates. This podcast episode gives a comprehensive overview of all the skills required to succeed in heads-up play. In addition to strategic and tactical considerations, coach w34z3l also explores soft skills, including attracting weaker players to your table. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction to Heads-Up Poker Strategy 0:36 Why Starting Tables Yourself Attracts Recreational Players 1:55 When to Leave a Heads-Up Match 2:11 Simplifying Preflop Strategy in Heads-Up Play 4:29 Button Strategy: 80% VPIP Explained 5:11 The Case for Limping the Button 6:09 Defending Against 3-Bets on the Button 10:14 Big Blind Defense Strategy (80% Range) 11:00 Aggressive 3-Betting from the Big Blind (20%+ Frequency) 13:23 Continuing Against 4-Bets 15:14 Postflop Play: Translating Ring Game Skills 17:01 Understanding Toughness: Being Unpredictable 21:24 The Power of Overbets 22:49 Bum-Hunting and Table-Selection Ethics…

People in this episode

Host: Red Chip Poker

Guest: w34z3l

Topics covered

• heads-up poker
• strategy
• tactical adjustments
• soft skills
• table selection
• win rates

Keywords

• heads-up hold'em
• poker strategy
• tactical play
• big blind defense
• button strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Red Chip Poker

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• Realistic Expectations For Your Poker Decisions · S8E12 · June 9, 2026 · 22 min
• Poker Tips From LLMs: How Bad Are They? · S8E11 · May 26, 2026 · 26 min
• Live Poker Tells: Reading Your Opponents · S8E10 · May 12, 2026 · 26 min

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