NL Heads-up: Playing on the flop
Introduction
In this article
- How to assess the strength of your hand on the flop
- How to play in position
- How to play out of position
How you play on the flop is of great importance in Texas Hold'em. Three community cards are placed face up on the table. This gives you a lot of information about your own hand. This is why it is important that you reassess the strength of your hand on the flop.
When switching to heads-up No-Limit Hold'em it is important to get a feel for how strong your hand is on the flop. This naturally depends on many factors, such as the community cards, the opponents and the metagame.
It is also important that you know how to play your strong, medium-strength and weak hands in different situations. In a heads-up game it is very important to play different lines and to balance these according to the opponents.
In a heads-up game you also have some very good information on the opponent's style of play, which means that lines that might not have been very wise to play if you hadn't known anything about the other players now might be an interesting option.
In this article you will learn how to assess the strength of your hand on the flop and which line to select in which situation on the flop.
How strong is your hand on the flop?
In a heads-up game you generally have a much looser range on the flop than you do in a full-ring or short-handed game. This means that you generally have weaker hands. For this reason you usually find yourself in very marginal spots.
In the heads-up game the expression "top pair = nuts" is used. Rules of thumb like these should of course always be treated with caution. In heads-up No-Limit Hold'em a top pair is also not always a hand in which you should invest your entire stack. This expression does however demonstrate how the hand strengths can change in an aggressive heads-up match.
And even though you play looser and usually more aggressive in a heads-up game and your ranges become a little wider because of this (also for going broke), the main objective is still to calculate your opponent's range and react accordingly. The successful PokerStrategy.com Coach atuerke once made a statement on this topic: "Heads-up players are no different from anybody else".
Standard lines in position
You have raised pre-flop and your opponent has called the raise. Now he checks before you. You now have the choice of either betting or checking behind.
If you hold a very strong hand, i.e. a top pair or better, it almost always makes sense to bet. You are usually ahead and want to build up the pot. In many cases you will also be so far ahead that you could value bet on the turn and river. If you check on the flop you will often be wasting value.
If you hold a medium-strength hand, i.e. a middle pair or maybe an ace high on a paired board, you can practice pot control on the flop and check behind, so that you might get to the showdown for relatively little money.
In some situations it is worth betting medium-strength hands on the flop. This might be the case when the opponent is a calling station for example, which would mean you can place a value bet. Even if there are many possible draws, it is better to bet on the flop when you can bet for value and protection against them.
Another possible scenario is that you're playing against a player who likes to float you out of position. This means that he often plays with weak hands or check/calls with air on the flop, so that he might bluff you at a later point in the game. You should also make a thinner value bet on the flop here and not play for pot control until you've done this.
If you're playing against an opponent who often check-raises on the flop you should only make a continuation bet with made hands, as you can continue playing hands like these against the check-raise too. You can check behind for pot control with all other hands.
If you're holding a very weak hand on the flop that doesn't have any showdown value, you need to ask yourself whether you'll be building enough fold equity with a continuation bet. This depends on the opponent, the board texture and especially the game flow.
The guiding principle "dry board -> bet; draw-heavy board -> don't bet" no longer applies now. In principle there is no board on which you should always or never make a continuation bet. Depending on the opponent, however, you should always keep to the following ground rules:
- You should generally bet with air more often on boards that you have on average hit well with your pre-flop range.
- You should generally bet with air less often on boards that your opponent has hit well with his pre-flop range.
In principle, if you have a draw you are faced with the same question as when you have a weak hand. You will need relatively little fold equity, however, to make the continuation bet profitable and can often get to see the river card for free if your opponent check/calls. For this reason it often makes sense to make a continuation bet with a draw.
If you're playing against a very aggressive check-raiser you can play draws on boards on which your opponent has often failed to hit something as a semibluff 3bet or float against his check-raise. On boards where it's very likely your opponent may have hit, you can just check behind them and see the turn card for free.
How you play against donkbets depends very much on the opponent. Many heads-up players don't donkbet at all. And many players who donkbet don't balance them very well. That's why it's very good if you can gather a lot of information within a short time about the hands that your opponent is donkbetting.
As you place a relatively high amount of continuation bets yourself most opponents will check-raise their strong hands on the flop rather than donkbet them. This means that donkbets by unknown opponents generally mean they have a weaker range than if they make a continuation bet for example.
That's why you can often bluff-raise a donkbet against many opponents. A donkbet is often a bluff or a sign of a medium-strength hand with which your opponent hopes to seize initiative but which is too weak to check-raise, especially on dry boards.
Apart from this the following rule applies again here: play medium-strength hands passive, strong hands aggressive and bad hands as well as draws aggressive or passive depending on the fold equity (so if you have draws call and if you have air fold).
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (10/15/30/101) [Donkbet_Flop/Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Contibet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is SB with T
, 9
Hero posts a blind of $0,25.
Hero raises to $1,50, BB calls $1.
Flop: T
3
5
BB checks, Hero ?
Your opponent doesn't donkbet (10%) and checkraise (15%) that much on the flop. But he also folds relatively few hands against a continuation bet (30%). You should definitely value bet on the flop with the top pair here.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (0/35/50/101) [Donkbet_Flop/Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Contibet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is SB with T, 5 Hero posts a blind of $0,25.
Hero raises to $1,50, BB calls $1.
Flop: T 3 4
BB checks, Hero ?
Now you have a weaker kicker than in the previous hand. Your opponent also check-raises (35%) and folds (50%) a lot more on the flop than in the previous example. Even though your hand has quite a lot of showdown value, you should use pot control on the flop here and check behind.
Because you will be underrepresenting your hand by doing this, you will be able to call a bet on the turn or river against a fairly aggressive player with relatively few problems. This way your opponent won't be able to bluff you out of your hand and you'll also be balancing your line of check behind flop, call turn, fold river with marginal made hands.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (0/35/50/101) [Donkbet_Flop/Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Contibet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is SB with T, 9 Hero posts a blind of $0,25.
Hero raises to $1,50, BB calls $1.
Flop: 7 8 4
BB checks, Hero ?
You're now holding an open-ended straight draw with two overcards against the same opponent. This is a great opportunity to semi-bluff your draw. You will get a number of hands to fold already when you make a continuation bet and as your opponent check-raises a lot he will have to fold quite a few hands from his check-raise range if you 3bet.
You will still have a very comfortable equity against the range with which he then goes broke because of your many outs. You will also be getting information with this line on how your opponent reacts when you defend yourself against his check-raises on the flop. If he often folds against a 3bet you can play this bet as a semi-bluff or even a pure bluff. If he goes broke very light, you can make this value bet with many more hands.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (7/5/30/101) [Donkbet_Flop/Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Contibet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is SB with 5, 4 Hero posts a blind of $0,25.
Hero raises to $1,50, BB calls $1.
Flop: 7 5 3
BB checks, Hero ?
In this example you're facing a typical calling station. Your opponent is not showing much aggression, neither through the use of donkbets nor check-raises, but does call a lot of hands on the flop. Although you're only holding a second pair, your opponent will have a worse hand in most cases and will continue to often call with these.
On this board your opponent will probably call a number of worse hands, from overcards to bottom pairs through to OESDs and gutshots. So you can place a continuation bet for value without any worries.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (60/5/70/101) [Donkbet_Flop/Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Contibet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is SB with T, 9 Hero posts a blind of $0,25.
Hero raises to $1,50, BB calls $1.
Flop: 7 8 3
BB bets $2 , Hero ?
Your opponent donkbets in 60% of the cases. His 5% check-raise quota means he check-raises very rarely and on the whole he folds a lot to your continuation bets. He will probably not only donkbet weak hands. The hand range with which he checks however seems to be relatively weak.
He can't be holding a hand which he could continue playing against a raise on the flop in 60% of the cases, however. He will probably make a donkbet with draws, air and weak made hands just as much as he does with strong hands.
As there is a good chance that your opponent has not hit anything on the board, you should raise on the flop as a semi-bluff. You will taking away his chance of firing a second barrel into a scare card and can take the free card on the turn if he only calls your raise.
Now you have the read on your opponent that he often donk/3bets as a bluff or that he rarely bluff bets the turn after a donkbet, you can also consider floating here. This means you only call on the flop and bet on every turn when your opponent checks before you.
Standard lines out of position
If you're playing out of position it makes sense to just check good hands:
- Balancing check/fold
You will often check/fold with weak hands on the flop. If you bet your strong hands out of position, the range with which you check on the flop will be very weak. Your opponent will therefore always be able to place a profitable continuation bet on the flop.
If you only check strong hands, and then call or raise a bet, your opponent won't just be able to make a continuation bet on every flop. So if you include a check/call and check-raise you'll be balancing check/fold and will be making it harder for your opponent to react to your play correctly.
- Taking advantage of regular continuation bets
Most opponents place a lot of continuation bets on the flop, but frequently bet with bad hands. If you just check your strong hands on the flop for the time being you will often see bets with hands that would fold if you placed a donkbet.
- Pot building with very strong hands
If you're holding a very strong hand you will of course want to go all-in. If you donkbet on the flop however and then bet on the turn and river you will not be able to bet your entire stack with a normal bet size. If you check-raise on the flop however, you will be building a large pot and it'll be easy to go all-in on or before the river.
These arguments mean that some players will not donkbet at all if they're playing against sufficiently aggressive opponents. Donkbets will still have their advantages however, which we will discuss in greater detail below. If you've decided to check on the flop you still have to decide whether you want to play check/call, check/raise or check/fold. You make this decision according to the normal model.
If your hand is strong enough to check-raise for value then you should do this. If it's too weak then you're better off check/calling. This also applies when playing draw-heavy boards, as protection is only worth using in connection with value play.
Whether you prefer to play draws with a check/call, check/raise or check/fold strongly depends on how your fold equity is with a check-raise, how many implied odds you have on the turn and river and whether or not you can still bluff your opponent out of the hand on the turn and river. As draws generally don't have very good implied odds when out of position, it's usually better to check-raise them on the flop.
If you're not holding a strong hand you have two options for bluffing your opponent. You can check-raise him on the flop if you think that he will often fold to this and that you'd be able to float him out of position. This means you play check/call on the flop and check on the turn, and then get your opponent to fold with a river bet on suitable boards.
But don't overdo it with the bluffing. Especially if your opponent plays back at you, you should also especially play for value out of position and check/fold if you're holding a weak hand.
If you have an opponent who fires a lot of multiple barrels it's worth playing only check/call on the flop, with stronger hands as well, and so leave out protection.
An opponent like this will often put you on a weak hand if you play check/call on a draw-heavy board and will often fire a barrel on the turn. This way you can win more money from bluffs with your strong hands and at the same time you'll be balancing your c/c, c/f with weak made hands.
As already mentioned above, even a donkbet has a number of advantages if you are not the preflop aggressor:
- Protection
You can always protect a hand on the flop by placing a donkbet. If you play check/call or check/raise instead you are giving your opponent the opportunity to check behind draws and are definitely giving him a free card.
- Pot building
Although you may not get to the river and go all-in with a donkbet if you're holding a medium-strength hand, you will not be giving your opponents the chance to check behind the flop for pot control. That's why when you check on the flop in some situations you are simply losing value from draws or weaker made hands.
- Initiative
You are taking initiative by making a donkbet on the flop. It is much nicer to play like this when you have medium-strength made hands. Especially if your opponent does not often raise against a donkbet it is a good way of taking over the initiative. If you show aggression yourself then you'll be able to better define your opponent's range than if you leave the initiative to him.
- Fold equity
Donkbets are a cheap way of winning the pot on the flop as a bluff if your opponent has difficulty adapting against them.
If you are not sure whether to donkbet on the flop you should always weigh up these advantages and disadvantages and ask yourself whether it's really worth making a donkbet in this situation against the opponent in question.
If you're playing against strong players you should always make sure that both your checks and your donkbets are well-balanced.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (90/50/55/101) [Contibet_Flop/Fold-to-Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Donkbet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 7 Hero posts a blind of $0,50.
SB raises to $1,50, Hero calls $1.
Flop: A 7 6
Hero ?
Your opponent makes continuation bets with 90% of his hands. That's a very high percentage. As you want to invest as much money as possible in your very strong hand you could apply a check-raise on the flop. By doing this you will be getting more out of air than if you made a donkbet. You can also get to the river and go all-in against good hands this way.
Why check-raise when the opponent often folds against a check-raise? Villain continues playing 45% of his flop range after your check-raise, and that's not a low percentage. The board offers a range of draws, which is why playing the line check/call flop, check turn would be poor play. The alternative would be check/call flop, donk turn. But you'd have to first balance a line like that and this opponent will probably not fold less often against it. It also has the advantage of diverting the action to the flop on draw-heavy boards. Made hands are willing to invest more before the draws arrive and draws are willing to invest more before they go bust.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (50/70/30/101) [Contibet_Flop/Fold-to-Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Donkbet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 7 Hero posts a blind of $0,50.
SB raises to $1,50, Hero calls $1.
Flop: A 7 6
Hero ?
Same hand, different opponents. This opponent places relatively few continuation bets (50%) and folds relatively often against check-raises on the flop. He continues to play a lot of hands against donkbets however.
In this situation you can build a larger pot with a donkbet than with a check-raise. You will keep a lot of bad hands in the round and can efficiently protect against draws on the flop already.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (70/60/70/101) [Contibet_Flop/Fold-to-Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Donkbet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is BB with 8, 7 Hero posts a blind of $0,50.
SB raises to $1,50, Hero calls $1.
Flop: Q 8 2
Hero ?
Your opponent places a relatively high amount of continuation bets and folds against donkbets very often. As you're holding a medium-strength hand you'll get most value if you check/call. If you would bet on the flop yourself or even check-raise, every weaker hand will fold and you would be giving up your showdown value.
Stacks & Stats
Hero ($50)
BB ($50) (70/60/40/101) [Contibet_Flop/Fold-to-Checkraise_Flop/Fold-to-Donkbet_Flop/Hands]
Preflop: Hero is BB with J, T . Hero posts a blind of $0,50.
SB raises to $1,50, Hero calls $1.
Flop: 9 8 2
Hero ?
In this hand you are holding an OESD with two overcards on the flop. Your opponent makes a relatively high amount of continuation bets (70%), folds to check-raises very often (60%) and doesn't fold quite so often against donkbets (40%).
If you have a strong draw you could profitably play a semi-bluff raise here. It would be interesting to know here whether your opponent always 3bets his made hands. In that case you would not get the pot odds needed to call and you'd basically be losing your equity if you check-raise and would be playing your hand as a pure bluff.
If that's the case you could also consider playing check/call or placing a donkbet. A donkbet would create a little less fold equity but you can then hit one of your outs on the turn and consider firing a second barrel if your opponent only calls. If your opponent tends to raise a very high amount of donkbets, you can also bet/3bet as he will have to fold a lot from his raising range.
Check/call is suitable if you think you'll be able to win a lot of money if you hit one of the later streets. This would be the case when your opponent multi-barrels a lot or is willing to invest a lot of money on the turn/river with weak made hands.
Conclusion
Flop play basically has special importance in heads-up No-Limit Hold'em. You can see more than half of the community cards and can already form a relatively good impression of how strong your hand will probably be if it gets to the showdown.
You play looser pre-flop in a heads-up match. That's why you hold worse hands on the flop on average. Especially a top pair and second pair can increase a fair amount in strength and can be played for value looser than in a full-ring or short-handed game.
But don't forget: you're still playing Texas Hold'em poker. ("Heads-up players are no different from anybody else".) The most important weapon you have is still your analysis of the opponent and his lines so that you can calculate his hand range as precisely as possible and are able to react optimally.
Both in and out of position you can choose from a number of diverse lines. When in position you need to decide between placing a continuation bet or checking, and maybe whether you fold, call or raise against a donkbet, and when out of position you need to decide between a check-raise, check/call and donkbet.
What you decide on depends on the opponent, the community cards, the history and of course the hand you are holding.
If you have a made hand you have the option of taking the initiative and playing for value aggressive or practicing passive pot control and getting the other players to bluff.
When you have a strong draw you usually either have the necessary implied odds for a passive line or the necessary fold equity for an aggressive line. You can also influence the metagame with your decision (for example when 3betting against aggressive check-raisers as a semi-bluff).
In the case of weak draws and air you only need to ask yourself whether you have enough fold equity to bluff profitably, or whether you should fold immediately.
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