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No Limit Heads Up Poker Rules

Playing a no limit game of heads up is perhaps the most common online. You will either play a mini tournament (still one against one) or play a single game one against one. Whether it is against one opponent or a mini tournament each game will only ever be against one opponent. The rules are simple, the winner will be the player who accumulates all the chips in play. You will usually start off with 1000 chips and both players will start off with exactly the same number of chips. The winner will be the player who gets all the chips in play.

There game structure is exactly the same as in Texas Holdem in that each player will initially get 2 hole cards followed by a round of betting. Then 3 cards will be dealt face up (the Flop) followed by a second round of betting. The 4th community card is then dealt face up followed by another round of betting. Finally the fifth card (the river) is dealt face up and a final round of betting and then the showdown.

The rules are such that once the blinds have been met, you can bet any or all of your chips on one hand, provided the minimum raise is met (see below). Of course you can fold or check any bet but when raising you are not limited (other than the amount of your stack). The winner will be the player who gets all the chips. So if you play a $50 heads up game then your opponent will have had to wager the same amount. There will therefore be a $100 prize pool which will go to the winner.

It is normal online for a fee to be taken much like in any tournament hosted online. This will usually be about 10% of the buy in. So a $50 heads up match will usually cost you $50 + $5 as the fee.

Note: In Heads up Poker, if you are going to raise a pot there is a minimum raise. For instance, if the player before you bets $20 then the minimum raise would be $40.

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