Chris Ferguson's Heads Up Strategy
Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson is no stranger to success at the heads up poker
tables, twice runner up in the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
competing against the worlds best poker players. Ferguson, who holds a PhD in
Computer Science, came to prominence in the poker world by winning the World
Series Main Event in 2000. His relative lack of experience was more than
compensated for by his advanced understanding of poker mathematics and game
theory.
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While Chris Ferguson recommends an aggressive playing style, designed to put
maximum pressure on his opponents, he is also capable of adapting to more
passive play when the situation (and opponent tendencies) dictate. In addition
bankroll management plays a critical role in Ferguson’s overall poker strategy.
The importance of this was demonstrated by turning just $1 into $20,000 online
at the cash game tables.
Game theory is a mathematical model which calculates the ‘optimal’ strategy for
beating opponents in many competitive situations. In poker this can take many
forms, the simplest use being to calculate the distribution of cards dealt based
on mathematics.
An example of this that could be used at a heads-up table is that you ‘know’
your opponent would only put in a 3rd raise with 3 hands – Aces, Kings or
Ace-King. If you hold Queens then knowing the relative probability of each can
help you make the right decision at the table. Here there are 6 ways of being
dealt Aces, 6 of being dealt Kings and 16 of being dealt Ace-King. The ratio of
hands is thus 3 to 4 in favor of the non-pair. Combining these probabilities
with the pot odds on offer will often lead to a clear decision on whether to
call – where guess-work would not.
The ability to use aggressive moves while heads-up in combination with knowing
your opponents tendencies was demonstrated in the following hand in the final of
the NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005 – Ferguson’s opponent was the
eventual winner Phil Hellmuth Jr. Holding Jack-10 off-suit Ferguson took the
lead in the betting throughout the hand, betting progressively more on the flop
and turn. By the end of the hand the board read A-8-7-6-K with 3 diamonds.
Knowing that his opponent was capable
of ‘big lay-downs’ Ferguson continued his aggression on the river with a huge
bet – getting Hellmuth to lay down a pair of Jacks – the best holding throughout
the hand!
In an online heads-up match this may not be the optimal strategy, especially at
the lower limits where opponents are less likely to fold. However it clearly
demonstrates that an aggressive strategy, in combination with knowing your
opponent, can be rewarded.
A more passive style of play is recommended by Ferguson when you are in a
situation where you are either well ahead in the hand or well behind. The style
of checking and calling your opponents bets, for example heads-up with bottom
pair, will allow you to control the size of the pot. By giving your opponent the
opportunity to bluff you will win the maximum from your opponent’s busted draws
– yet lose the least when you are behind.
Finally the importance of discipline and good bankroll management is a key part
of Chris Ferguson’s strategy. Building a single dollar to $20,000 involved the
discipline to move down levels when a run of bad cards reduced his bankroll.
Moving up was accomplished only when 20 buy-ins for the next level was reached.
Following this strategy in your heads-up play will ensure that the natural
variance of the game does not decimate your bankroll.