1. You can chose not to play good players;

If you're in a six-max cash game with a mediocre player, two fish and two strong players, you're in a pretty favorable situation. Two weak players will make the game sufficiently profitable that you should stay, trying to avoid confrontations with the better players. In heads-up, it's usually immediately apparent if you're up against a skilled player, and you can opt out right away.

2. You can avoid short stacks (if you want to);

In a ring game, short stacks put you in a difficult situation. If the game is good and you'd like to stay, a short stack to your left is a serious hindrance. Heads-up, you can simply refuse to play short-stackers.

3. You learn to bet (and call) thin;

Once you master pre-flop play and head reading, one key to moving up in stakes is identifying marginally profitable spots for value bets or calldowns. Because people are missing flops so often heads-up there are many times when a pair of deuces, A high, or even K high is worth a call or a bet on the river. Heads-up offers a lot of practice in judgment call situations that occur less frequently in ring games.

4. You get to participate in every hand;

In 6-max games, many players quickly settle into the tight-aggressive style, folding at least 80% of their hands pre-flop. Obviously you won't be doing that heads-up. Even playing the most conservative style, you'll be raising 40+% of your hands and participating in dozens if not hundreds of hands per hour. Some players will raise 70+% of their hands on the button.

**Don't Forget:

Remember that heads-up is the most variable form of poker in terms of short-term swings, so consider having several dozen buy-ins available and moving down a bit from your usual stakes.

If you'd like to learn more about important heads up poker skills, you may be interested in reading our article on Implied Odds in Texas Holdem Poker.