Heads-up with a Huge Chiplead

I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere on the site, but I can't seem to find it. When playing heads-up, what chiplead-ratio would you need to put your opponent all-in with any two cards?

I've heard figures like 10-1, but surely it depends on the blind level. I'm thinking the higher the blinds, the less of a chiplead you need to make this a profitable end-game. And, obviously, the tightness of your opponent is going to make a big difference, too.

I'm wondering this because I recently found myself with a 10-1 chiplead on the last two people left in a STT. (lucky me) Obviously, I could be even more aggressive with 2nd-place prize money in the balance and these two remaining players so close in chips. I played aggressive, but careful, and the win was easy. Just wondering how others do it when these situations come up.

when im playing head up for a tourney and i have over 3 to 1 to 4 to 1 for a chip lead i will lean hard but i dont know cuz it depends on the blinds. if blinds are small in proportion to stack sizes i will play more small ball unless i have a huge hand and then i will most likely try some trapping or just heavy firing depending on the opponent. really if blinds are big set him in with any ace or k i would say. and the rest would be on your judgement. gl and play on.

10:1 would obviously be a fantastic figure, but it's not a situation you'll find yourself in very often.

I like to be holding a lead of at least 4:1 when the chips go in with a marginal hand, as that way even if my opponent doubles up, I'll still have a 3:2 lead over them.

Unless the blinds are very high, I'm not often doing that with ATC though. I don't need much of a hand (JT/QJ/Ax/any pair is probably enough) but I'd rather just surrender the blind and keep my lead than get in with 74o or something.

well, if you have a 3 to 1 chip lead, one double up puts you back to even. you don't want to commit your chips with a poor starting hand if it puts your opponent and yourself even.

a 4 to 1 lead, losing an all in situation would make your chip lead a 3 to 2 chip lead, again this is near even.

5 to 1 becomes 2 to 1 if you lose.. not too good either

6 to 1 becomes 5 to 2 if you lose, this is more ideal I'd guess. but I wouldn't shove with any 2 cards. I'd do it with K-8 or Q-9... 2 high cards.

Heads up with a big lead I'm playing: any pair, any ace, any suited king, Q9s+, and 87s+. That's my only standard. Everything else I base on my opponent.


If he's playing hyper-aggressive then I'll check and call more. If he's trying to hang on and waiting for good hands then I'll loosen up and bet/raise more. I'm never going to have a big enough lead to put my opponent all-in
with "any two cards". Why risk doubling him up with 82s?

I seldom go for a quick kill. Most players are so bad HU that you're better off letting them hang themselves. Give them rope.

^ this.