Head 2 Head Tournaments...

Head to Head games are just exactly that - you and your opponent, face to face at the table. Similar to other tournaments, each player has the same buy-in e.g. £5 plus the usual 10% rake - £5 + £0.50 and each player starts with the same number of chips e.g. 2000. The winner will take the buy-in e.g. £10.

However, that's where most similarities to other tournaments end. Head to Head games require a very different style of play so where in other games you can rely on your opponents to knock each other out, here it's only one opponent standing in the way of the pot!

The most important tactic for these games is confidence - you must have it and you must be willing to use it by betting aggressively at every opportunity. If you don't you'll get slammed.

Bet, or raise someone else's bet, in the first round of betting, before the flop. Do not bet too much, and don't raise an already large bet. If you think someone else actually has a great hand, fold and live to play another hand.

If you have a great hand don't jump in with a massive raise - most players will fold. Instead, force your opponent into the pot with gradual raises at each round. He will have invested so much at that point that he won't want to back out.

Head to head games are great for developing skill and strategy and giving you an insight to how others play under pressure. Many sites provide head to head games for a very small buy-in so use these to your advantage and make some money along the way!