Ultimate Texas Hold’em is one of the most popular poker pit games. It was launched during the poker boom. Ultimate Texas Hold’em combines the favorite poker room game with the ability to win a jackpot with a royal flush.
Heads Up Hold’em was an answer to the success of Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Both games have the same concept. Players receive two cards and play the dealer’s two cards. There are five community cards shared by all players. The goal is to beat the dealer. The hand strength of other players at the table is of no concern.
There are two major differences between Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Heads Up Hold’em. It is enough that the strategy changes a little between the two games.
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Players may only raise three times the ante in Heads Up Hold’em
Heads Up Hold’em only allows players to raise three times the ante before the flop. This changes some of the preflop strategy from Ultimate Texas Hold’em. For example, a queen with an 8 or 9 is only played preflop if it is suited. No worse queen-high hands are played preflop. For king-high, only raise down to a 10 kicker, and suited down to a 7 kicker.
In Ultimate Texas Hold’em, players may raise three or four times before the flop. However, players should never raise three times. The best strategy is to raise four times or check. If you are not comfortable raising four times before the flop in Ultimate Texas Hold’em, then Heads Up Hold’em is perfect for you.
Bad beat bonus is automatic in Heads Up Hold’em
There is a side bet in Ultimate Texas Hold’em that pays players a bonus if they lose with a straight or better. This type of bet is not required in Heads Up Hold’em. That is because there is a losing odds bonus, which is the same as a bad beat.
If the player loses with a straight or better in Heads Up Hold’em, it is paid without the need to bet extra money. This is done to offset the three times maximum raise before the flop.
Note that there are a variety of pay tables for each type of bet. The ones listed are among the most common.
Heads Up Hold’em losing odds pay table
- Straight flush: 500
- Four of a kind: 50
- Full house: 10
- Flush: 6
- Straight: 5
Ultimate Texas Hold’em bad beat bonus side bet
The bad beat bonus in Ultimate Texas Hold’em is an optional side bet. That is why the payouts look much better.
- Straight flush: 10,000
- Four of a kind: 500
- Full house: 40
- Flush: 25
- Straight: 20
- Three of a kind: 9
Heads Up Hold’em has a pocket bonus
The player may make an optional side bet in Heads Up Hold’em based on the two cards dealt. The largest payout is pocket aces. There are also wins for getting dealt a suited ace with a face card kicker or any pocket pair.
- Pocket aces: 25
- Ace and face suited: 20
- Ace and face of different suits: 10
- Pocket pair other than aces: 5