Heads-up Pots vs. Multi-way Pots.

Introduction

The basic difference between playing in heads up pots as opposed to multi-way pots is simple. You've only got one opponent to "figure out." In a multi-way pot, the other players, your position and the betting to that point in the hand must be considered.

Heads Up

Information is the key to determining action in any poker hand. If you are just starting to play, the best step you can take is to limit your hands played to strong starting hands. As you gain experience and see how less powerful hands can work out positively for you, you can start to work those hands into your repertoire.

Given that you are playing a potentially strong hand, you stand a good chance of winning a heads up battle. You only have to beat one player. Hopefully you have been at it for a while and have some information on the opponent. Is he or she ultra-aggressive, betting at every opportunity? Or do they play a small number of hands, usually winning when they get involved? Your opponent's persona will be your most important piece of information to gather.

Are you first to act, or second? That order may change after the flop, since one of you may be in a blind and the other not. You'll want to keep in mind before the flop is exposed which of you has been the aggressor to this point in the hand. If your hand doesn't improve as play progresses and your opponent is betting, you may be better off folding.

If you are in a tournament, you must keep an eye on your opponent's chip stack. Consider their bet size. Would a call or raise result in your elimination if you didn't catch the winning hand? Do you think they are just trying to bully you, knowing you'd be eliminated if you lost the hand? If you have more chips than your heads up opponent, will aggression force that person off a weak hand?

Limit games are different from no-limit hold 'em. Players will push their chips around in an attempt to get you to fold in no-limit. In limit games, the most they can get into you for is one bet at a time. Understand that these limitations give your opponent a cheap avenue to catch that one card that he or she needs to fill in their hand. It's tough to bet players out in limit hold 'em, especially low limit hold-'em. And heads up, it won't cost your opponent much at all to stay with you.

You'll want to keep the odds in mind. As you prepare for your first few games, you may want to purchase an odds card, which will tell you the odds of each combination being the winner in any given hand. Some web sites offer calculators. Card Player magazine's site has one. Of course, if you're in a hand, it's impractical to enter all the info you've got into a website's calculator. Others may throw something at you. Figuring out the odds that you have a good chance to win is an important skill that would help any poker player be successful. In time, you'll be figuring the odds without even recognizing that you did.

Often, heads up confrontations turn into battles of will. Surely you've seen the World Poker Tour players raise and re-raise with absolutely nothing to present themselves as having the nuts, or the best hand possible. Again, knowing your opponent is important.

For more heads up strategy and tips, check out Heads Up Limit Holdem

Multi-way

In multi-way pots, you've got to know something about all the players. Player A may have just sat down at your table and immediately put in a raise. Player B has called every hand you've seen played at the table. Player C has only raised or re-raised any pot he's entered. And then there's you.

Knowing who your are is really important. All these raises and re-raises shouldn't scare you off if you've stayed with your beginner's philosophy. You are only playing strong hands at this point in your poker playing career. Unless you have Ace-Ace, it's possible that someone has you beat, but there are still cards to be dealt. Still, if you have yet to act and there's been a raise and a re-raise in front of you, you may need to rethink your participation in the hand. In other words, your King-Jack off suit just got a bit smaller.

Here's a clear cut difference between heads up and multi-way pots. You've got to consider the action to decide if you belong in a multi-way pot. It's a much less complicated decision if you are playing just one player.

Again, though, your time at the table will be best used gathering information on each player. Even if you aren't in a hand, you should be observant of the other players. Folding a hand does not mean start to watch the television. That will be your best chance to get a read on people since the emotions of being in a hand won't be a factor.

Your position is very important. In the ABC example in the first multi-way paragraph you can see how where you are in the progression will affect your action. If you are one of the first players to act, consider that the players to follow may interpret your decision as an indication of strength or an exposure of weakness. You should decide what you want an opponent or opponents to think and act accordingly. Acting last is always the best position to have. You've seen what the others think of their hands, now you can do what will give you the best chance to win the hand. Obviously in heads up action, you are either first or last.

The big chip stack usually carries the power in tournament play. Keep an eye on that player. If he's involved in a multi-way pot, understand that at any time, he could ask you to put all your chips in to continue. With multiple players in the pot, he's seeing multiple eliminations in one swing. If you are lucky enough to act after the chip leader, you can avoid confrontations with him. If you make a big bet ahead of him, know that he'll have the option of making you and the others in the hand risk their tournament life to continue. The other consideration is that he's got the chips. They are what you want. If you think you can get them, go for it.

Once again, limit games are something of a different animal. Few people will fold a hand in low limit games if there's any chance of sucking out the winner. As the stakes go up, the tendencies do change, but in a multi-way limit hand, it is quite possible to have three, four or even more players tossing chips into the pot all the way to the river. And this changes the odds.

You'll at some time study the process of figuring out the odds. If you're playing $4-$8 hold 'em, and there's 48 dollars in the pot and you are considering throwing in 8 more dollars, you'll be getting 6-1 odds. And if there are likely to be more bets, consider that you may just be getting the right odds to call with a hand you might otherwise fold. In limit multi-way pots, you will often have a good chance of scooping a big pot.

In any poker game, you are trying to gather information, on your opponents, on the cards you know are there and the cards you haven't seen. Your heads up foe and the cards in that hand present a picture. In a multi-way pot, your task is more complicated.

Things to Remember

Keep these things in mind. Your position is important in relation to your opponents'. Especially so in a multi-way pot. Your opponent gives off a poker aura. Knowing how to read that will be invaluable information, whether you're heads up or in a multi-way pot.