I’m not opposed to playing heads up poker. It’s actually my best game. But if you’re playing heads up cash games, either online or in a casino, chances are the rake will eat you alive!
I came to this conclusion today, when I set down at a $200 heads up HA game (holdem / PLO mixed game) on full tilt. My opponent had $50 and I had $200. After 30 minutes of back and forth action, I busted him. My profit was $10. Yeah, the other $40 was diminished by the rake.
A much better option is playing heads up sit&go’s. They play out like sit&go’s. There’s a bunch of different varieties, like turbo’s, for faster action, or non escalating blinds, which play out more like a cash game. There’s a fixed rake for heads up sit&go’s that almost guarantees you’ll pay less then in heads up cash games.
The only time when heads up cash games would be clearly a better choice is if you’re playing $2,000NL (or a limit equivalent) and higher. The rake is capped at a certain amount that should have little effect in comparison to the pot sizes.
Very good point that many people just don’t consider. Myself being one of them. i love heads up, I find the fact that there is so much action keeps you alert, however it took me a whole 6 months before I realized what the house was making over what I made. This is why I will now decline all invites to a HU challenge outside of the Sn’G
If I am looking for a table where I can bring in xxx amount of dollars I now search for the smaller games 3-4 players or as you suggested the heads up Sit n Go’s