Poker is often enjoyed with a group of friends. Of course, online poker can be played from the comfort of your home or on the go, but you’re also playing against more than one other person. You may be home with a deck of playing cards and wondering if a two-player poker game is possible. Well, it is possible. In fact, it is called heads-up poker. 

Take a look at how to play poker with only two people. 

How Do You Play Poker With Two People?

Can you play poker with two people? It’s probably confusing at first because three buttons (dealer, small blind, and big blind) must be allocated between the two players. In two-player poker games, the dealer is the small blind while the other player posts the big blind. Players will then take turns to be the dealer each round. The first card is then dealt to the player in the big blind. The dealer will go first before the flop, and the big blind will go after the flop. In order to determine the dealer, you can pick a card from the deck. The one with the bigger card is the dealer. 

The Way the Cards Are Dealt

You can deal the cards now that you know how the blinds work. It is quite simple to deal cards in a normal poker game, but it changes for two-player poker games. 

Preflop

The dealer will always act first in a two-player poker game, just as in a regular poker game.

Postflop

After the flop, the dealer will always go last. This provides the dealer with more information on their opponent’s cards. When the cards are dealt, the players make their move. The big blind will go first, and the dealer follows. After you have played the round, the buttons are switched, and the next round begins. 

The Nature of Heads-Up Poker

Heads-up poker is typically faster than regular poker, as there are only two people in the game. You’ll see that the blinds are often much lower, which makes it a more aggressive game compared to regular poker. You are required to focus on hand reading since both players will most likely know what hand the other player has. This also means that bluffing becomes much less useful. 

Playing heads-up poker is a good way to practice and refine your poker skills. Since there is only one person to compete against for the pot, the pressure and intimidation are profoundly less compared to a regular poker game. 

How Many Decks Are Used in Two-Player Poker?

Two decks are usually used for two-player poker. While one deck is in use, the other one is shuffled beside the player who deals the next round. You can decide whether to use one or both jokers.

Card Games for Two People

It is always more fun to adapt the game rules to your situation. In this case, if you’re only two people and want to play poker, you can certainly do it. Here are some unique poker games for home play with two players. 

Texas Hold’Em

Texas hold’em is one of the most-played two-player poker games. Two cards are dealt face-down to both players, and five community cards are dealt face-up in three stages. Of course, a round of betting follows each stage. 

Five-Card Draw

Five-card draw is perhaps one of the easiest poker games for a beginner to play before moving on to variations like Texas hold’em. In five-card draw poker, both players must pay their designated ante before they start. Afterwards, five cards are dealt to each player. In five-card draw poker, the turn, flop, and river are replaced by two settings. After the cards are dealt to both players, you can discard up to three cards. Of course, no replacement cards are dealt to the players. There is then another round of betting, after which the cards are shown, and the player with the biggest hand takes the pot.

Pot-Limit Omaha

This poker variation has the same rules as Texas hold’em, with one or two exceptions. In pot-limit Omaha, both players are dealt four cards instead of three. Do take note that having a diamond card in your hand does not make a flush on a board with four diamond cards.

Play Two-Player Poker To Improve Your Poker Skills

There are many great benefits to playing two-player poker. It allows you to adapt the poker variations to only two players. It is also a great way to improve your poker skills so that you can confidently play online poker tournaments. So, start playing with two players and see the great rewards of developing your skill.

Play the Best Online Poker Games at Borgata Online

Whether you’re playing poker online to become a better team player or for the mere enjoyment of playing poker, Borgata Online has the best online poker games for you. Register and discover the fun range of online slots, casino table games, and many other poker online games.