The preflop round is arguably the most important round in heads-up, because you are forced to post blinds and play your hand. When you have the button, you have position on your opponent throughout the entire hand. There are three different preflop strategies that you should use, depending on how your opponent plays.
Vs A Loose-Passive (Calling Station) Player
You should start limping most of your hands and trying to get value when you flop a hand postflop. If you do elect to raise, try to raise 2.5x the BB. You should raise about 50% of your hands against this opponent.
Vs A Tight (Nit) Player
You should start raising most of your hands and trying to get value when they fold pre-flop or to your cbet on the flop. When you raise, raise 3x the BB, and cbet around 3/4ths of the pot every time. You should raise about 90% of your hands against this opponent.
Vs A Loose-Aggressive (Maniac) Player
You should raise strong hands and suited connectors on the button. You make your money against a maniac by flopping a strong hand like a straight or top pair top kicker and letting them bluff into you. Do not play trappy before the flop. Just raise and hope that they 3-bet you when you have aces. You should raise about 66% of your hands against this opponent.
