Heads-Up Bluffing Effectively in Heads-Up: When and How to Do It David Parker URL has been copied successfully! Bluffing heads-up means choosing the right moments and using pressure as a calculated tool Bluffing plays a very different role in heads-up poker than it does at a full table. With only two players involved, ranges are wider, hands are weaker on average, and aggression increases naturally. This creates more chances to bluff, but also more chances to get called. The first step to bluffing effectively heads-up is understanding position. When you act last, you control the size of the pot and gain more information from your opponent’s actions. This makes button bluffs more reliable, especially on later streets where hesitation often signals weakness. Timing matters just as much as position. The best bluffs usually happen when the board favors your perceived range more than your opponent’s. For example, high-card or coordinated boards are better for pressure than low, disconnected flops that often help random hands. Opponent tendencies should guide every bluffing decision. Against tight players, smaller and more frequent bluffs can be profitable because they fold too often. Against loose or stubborn opponents, bluff less and choose spots carefully, since they are more likely to call down with marginal hands. Bet sizing is another key factor. Effective bluffs tell a believable story, and that story depends on consistent sizing. Overbetting without a clear reason can raise suspicion, while bets that mirror your value hands are harder to challenge. Heads-up bluffs also work best when you have some equity. Semi-bluffing with draws or overcards gives you backup outs if called. Pure bluffs still have a place, but relying on them too often makes your play easy to read. Finally, balance is critical. Bluffing too rarely makes you predictable, while bluffing too often turns into a leak. Strong heads-up players stay flexible, adjust quickly, and know when to apply pressure and when to slow down.